Re: [PATCH] bnx2: update bnx2-mips-09 firmware to bnx2-mips-09-6.2.1b

[Willy Tarreau <w@1wt.eu>]

Hi Eric,

On Wed, Aug 08, 2012 at 08:27:52AM +0200, Eric Dumazet wrote:
> On Wed, 2012-08-08 at 08:17 +0200, Willy Tarreau wrote:
> 
> > 
> > Well, if the drivers provided with the kernel don't work out of the box
> > anymore, maybe we should also move them to a separate repository. All it
> > is going to do otherwise is to cause invalid bug reports because users
> > don't understand why using the latest driver does not work.
> > 
> > That way it would be clear that an in-kernel driver has to be self-sustaining
> > to be maintainable, otherwise it has nothing to do there.
> 
> People compiling their own kernels are supposed to be able to handle
> this problem themselves.
> 
> If not, they can use a distro.

But similarly, people who compile their own kernels are also supposed to
be able to retrieve up-to-date drivers from another tree. I know many
people who use the intel NIC drivers from sf.net and (less) other ones
using myricom's drivers for instance.

I don't really see the value of keeping in the tree drivers that don't
work out of the box, if it's only causing issues and bug reports.

Regards,
Willy