From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Jeff Garzik Subject: [PATCH 0/5] forcedeth: several proposed updates for testing Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2007 11:12:50 -0400 Message-ID: <20071006151250.GA17020@havoc.gtf.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Cc: LKML , Andrew Morton To: netdev@vger.kernel.org, Ayaz Abdulla Return-path: Received: from havoc.gtf.org ([69.61.125.42]:59336 "EHLO havoc.gtf.org" rhost-flags-OK-OK-OK-OK) by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1760050AbXJFPMw (ORCPT ); Sat, 6 Oct 2007 11:12:52 -0400 Content-Disposition: inline Sender: netdev-owner@vger.kernel.org List-Id: netdev.vger.kernel.org The 'fe-lock' branch of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jgarzik/netdev-2.6.git fe-lock contains the following changes that I would like to get tested: [netdrvr] forcedeth: make NAPI unconditional [netdrvr] forcedeth: interrupt handling cleanup [netdrvr] forcedeth: process TX completions using NAPI [netdrvr] forcedeth: internal simplification and cleanups [netdrvr] forcedeth: timer overhaul These are intended for feedback and testing, NOT for merging. The goals of these changes are: * move the driver towards a more sane, simple, easy to verify locking setup -- irq handler would often acquire/release the lock twice for each interrupt -- and hopefully * to eliminate a rarely used, apparently fragile locking scheme that includes heavy use of disable_irq(). this tool is most often employed during NIC reset/reconfiguration, so satisfying this goal implies changing the way NIC reset and config are accomplished. Miscellaneous notes: * using the new napi_struct stuff in net-2.6.24, the TX completion process has been moved to a -separate- NAPI polling channel. thus there are now two napi_structs, one for RX and one for TX, independent of each other. * I feel TX NAPI is a useful tool, because it provides an independent TX process control point and system load feedback point. Thus I felt this was slightly superior to tasklets. * But who knows if this is a good idea? :) I am interested in feedback and criticism on this issue.