Binary modules for 2.6

Binary modules for 2.6

[Dumitru Stama]

Hello all
Everything i write in the next lines can be considered as a question
also since this is what i come to find out studying the latest 2.6
kernel.
With the current layout of the kernel modules there will be no way of
distributing binary kernel modules anymore. Considering the structures
that combine to describe the way module works and the alignement of
those depending on the processor type even if that processor is i386
compatible. Personally i think this is a good move for open source
community but what are we gona do with the proprietary drivers that do
not have the sources available ?
If i am mistaken by any chance please enlighten me.

Thanks
Dumitru Stama

Re: Binary modules for 2.6

[Jan-Benedict Glaw]

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On Wed, 2003-09-03 05:40:40 +0200, Dumitru Stama <dics@ecommerce.com>
wrote in message <123-216863213.20030903054040@ecommerce.com>:
> With the current layout of the kernel modules there will be no way of
> distributing binary kernel modules anymore. Considering the structures

No? If it were like this, I'd say I'd really like that:)

> that combine to describe the way module works and the alignement of
> those depending on the processor type even if that processor is i386
> compatible. Personally i think this is a good move for open source

Well, Linux aims towards source compatibility. If you want to ship
binary modules, you've got to do *lots* of compilation.

You've to compile for all and any large distributions, and additionally,
some people will ask you to compile with their very personal kernel tree
(thay might have added loads of patches) and their .config file.

> community but what are we gona do with the proprietary drivers that do
> not have the sources available ?

If it's like that, vendors of binary modules may face a lot of
recompilation then...

However, such things are usually done in another way. If you encounter
such situations, you'll write a binrary-only core module plus some glue
code which will compiled on the client's system. You hardcode your
binary interface, the customer compiles Linux' source-comparible
interface. That'll resolve the problem.

However, you see that it's a PITA to live with binary-only modules. It's
easier to release sources:)

MfG, JBG

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