Re: [PATCH] bridge: Module use count must be updated as bridges are created/destroyed

["Jan Beulich" <JBeulich@novell.com>]

>>> On 29.04.11 at 09:25, David Miller <davem@davemloft.net> wrote:
> From: "Jan Beulich" <JBeulich@novell.com>
> Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:21:14 +0100
> 
>> Otherwise 'modprobe -r' on a module having a dependency on bridge will
>> implicitly unload bridge, bringing down all connectivity that was using
>> bridges.
>> 
>> Signed-off-by: Jan Beulich <jbeulich@novell.com>
>> Cc: Jeff Mahoney <jeffm@suse.com>
> 
> All network device drivers behave exactly the same way, when you rmmod
> the thing we unconfigure all the routes, addresses, etc. going through
> that device and let you unload it.
> 
> And this behavior is very much intentional.
> 
> Don't add an exception here.

You talk of rmmod on the very module, but the issue is about
modprobe -r on a dependent module. I cannot believe you consider
it correct that *implicit* unloading of bridge.ko should happen when
bridges are configured.

If the solution proposed isn't satisfactory, can you suggest a better
alternative still serving the purpose?

Jan