Re: [patch] ata: libata: add per device private data

[Kristen Carlson Accardi <kristen.c.accardi@intel.com>]

Sorry for the delay in responding, I was on vacation.

On Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:07:30 -0400
Jeff Garzik <jgarzik@pobox.com> wrote:

> Kristen Carlson Accardi wrote:
> > Allow host controllers to store private data per device.
> > 
> > Signed-off-by:  Kristen Carlson Accardi <kristen.c.accardi@intel.com>
> > 
> > ---
> >  include/linux/libata.h |    3 +++
> >  1 file changed, 3 insertions(+)
> > 
> > Index: libata-dev/include/linux/libata.h
> > ===================================================================
> > --- libata-dev.orig/include/linux/libata.h	2007-09-24 16:13:33.000000000 -0700
> > +++ libata-dev/include/linux/libata.h	2007-09-24 16:15:24.000000000 -0700
> > @@ -474,6 +474,9 @@ struct ata_device {
> >  	/* error history */
> >  	struct ata_ering	ering;
> >  	int			spdn_cnt;
> > +
> > +	/* controller driver per device private data */
> > +	void 			*private_data;
> 
> I don't have any objections to this per se...  a lot of other subsystems 
> do this too, and I can certainly see a potential need.
> 
> But what about object lifetimes?  If a controller is hot-unplugged, does 
> anyone need notification to destroy dynamic objects, or does controller 
> cleanup take care of that?  If a device is unplugged, where should a 
> controller driver do its ->private_data cleanup?
> 
> This is /not/ a NAK, just a request to make clear the lifetime rules and 
> procedures...
> 
> 	Jeff
> 

I'll do this - and meanwhile go ahead and ignore this patch.  I've decided
to submit it as part of a series where I actually use the private data,
so we can review it in context.

Thanks,
Kristen