Re: [PATCH 0/4] x86: add cpus_scnprintf function v2

[Mike Travis <travis@sgi.com>]

Ingo Molnar wrote:
> * Paul Jackson <pj@sgi.com> wrote:
> 
>> I still have some concerns with this cpus_scnprintf patch.
>>
>> I've taken them up with Mike offline for initial consideration.
>>
>> If others have questions, concerns or enthusiasms for this patch, Mike 
>> and I would be interested.
> 
> i dont mind the old patch either (which did an ugly temporary 
> allocation), if it keeps the ABI. I dont think it's a big deal, lets not 
> allow it to become a roadblock, and the overall goal of all these 
> patches [4096 CPU support in upstream Linux] is important and i'm 
> enthusiastic about that ;-)
> 
> 	Ingo

I have no stake in the ground for this either.  My assigned task was to
minimize the effect of bumping up the possible cpu count to a really
large amount.  This seemed to me to fall in this category.  A side goal
was to prepare for even larger cpu count systems.

An alternative that Paul had suggested was to introduce a new set of
file interfaces that produce the alternate format.  This would not
break existing interfaces and allow a transition, though how many
post-processors of the information would change is unclear.  Given
that fact, would the added code and complexity be worthwhile?

Thanks,
Mike