From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S1030281AbVHJVbE (ORCPT ); Wed, 10 Aug 2005 17:31:04 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S1030282AbVHJVbE (ORCPT ); Wed, 10 Aug 2005 17:31:04 -0400 Received: from perpugilliam.csclub.uwaterloo.ca ([129.97.134.31]:50871 "EHLO perpugilliam.csclub.uwaterloo.ca") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S1030281AbVHJVbD (ORCPT ); Wed, 10 Aug 2005 17:31:03 -0400 Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 17:31:01 -0400 To: Allen Martin Cc: Michael Thonke , linux mailing-list Subject: Re: NCQ support NVidia NForce4 (CK804) SATAII Message-ID: <20050810213101.GG31019@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> References: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.9i From: lsorense@csclub.uwaterloo.ca (Lennart Sorensen) Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Wed, Aug 10, 2005 at 01:53:47PM -0700, Allen Martin wrote: > Likely the only way nForce4 NCQ support could be added under Linux would > be with a closed source binary driver, and no one really wants that, > especially for storage / boot volume. We decided it wasn't worth the > headache of a binary driver for this one feature. Future nForce > chipsets will have a redesigned SATA controller where we can be more > open about documenting it. I never have been able to understand how some hardware that seems so simple can possibly have anything secret in it. 3D video drivers I can understand, sound chips I can't (well DSP algorithms maybe, but not plain doing input.output), network chips should be real simple, and well ide/sata controllers don't seem like they should be very complex to program either. But what do I know... I find it hard enough to get specs for some network chips under NDA when you are actually buying the darn chips from the company. Some companies appear to fail to realize they are _hardware_ companies making money selling hardware, not intellectual property companies. Well it will be nice to see fully open SATA/IDE controllers in future nvidia chipsets. I guess I will put off upgrading my athlon 700 until those come out. :) Len Sorensen