Re: [net-next PATCH 00/15] eth: fbnic: Add network driver for Meta Platforms Host Network Interface

[Jiri Pirko <jiri@resnulli.us>]

Tue, Apr 09, 2024 at 10:51:42PM CEST, kuba@kernel.org wrote:
>On Wed, 03 Apr 2024 13:08:24 -0700 Alexander Duyck wrote:
>> This patch set includes the necessary patches to enable basic Tx and Rx
>> over the Meta Platforms Host Network Interface. To do this we introduce a
>> new driver and driver and directories in the form of
>> "drivers/net/ethernet/meta/fbnic".
>
>Let me try to restate some takeaways and ask for further clarification
>on the main question...
>
>First, I think there's broad support for merging the driver itself.
>
>IIUC there is also broad support to raise the expectations from
>maintainers of drivers for private devices, specifically that they will:
> - receive weaker "no regression" guarantees
> - help with refactoring / adapting their drivers more actively

:)


> - not get upset when we delete those drivers if they stop participating

Sorry for being pain, but I would still like to see some sumarization of
what is actually the gain for the community to merge this unused driver.
So far, I don't recall to read anything solid.

btw:
Kconfig description should contain:
 Say N here, you can't ever see this device in real world.


>
>If you think that the drivers should be merged *without* setting these
>expectations, please speak up.
>
>Nobody picked me up on the suggestion to use the CI as a proactive
>check whether the maintainer / owner is still paying attention, 
>but okay :(
>
>
>What is less clear to me is what do we do about uAPI / core changes.
>Of those who touched on the subject - few people seem to be curious /
>welcoming to any reasonable features coming out for private devices
>(John, Olek, Florian)? Others are more cautious focusing on blast
>radius and referring to the "two driver rule" (Daniel, Paolo)?
>Whether that means outright ban on touching common code or uAPI
>in ways which aren't exercised by commercial NICs, is unclear. 

For these kind of unused drivers, I think it would be legit to
disallow any internal/external api changes. Just do that for some
normal driver, then benefit from the changes in the unused driver.

Now the question is, how to distinguish these 2 driver kinds? Maybe to
put them under some directory so it is clear?
drivers/net/unused/ethernet/meta/fbnic/


>Andrew and Ed did not address the question directly AFAICT.
>
>Is my reading correct? Does anyone have an opinion on whether we should
>try to dig more into this question prior to merging the driver, and
>set some ground rules? Or proceed and learn by doing?
>