Re: [PATCH V3] netxen: fix ethtool rx_dropped information in ethtool get_ethtool_stats()

[Francois Romieu <romieu@fr.zoreil.com>]

Ethan Zhao <ethan.kernel@gmail.com> :
> ?? 2014??7??19????????2:21??Rajesh Borundia <rajesh.borundia@qlogic.com> ??????
[...]
> > I think ethtool stats are adapter specific. Driver does not maintain
> > rx_dropped stats and we also don't get it from adapter.  I am not
> > sure if ethtool stats should match ifconfig stats as ifconfig also
> > adds net core stats to adapter stats.
> I held the same point as yours before I read more drivers implementation
> under Ethernet dir, in fact there is no specification/convention that
> ethtool info is adapter specific. All information output by ethtool is
> based on the information name itself, one fact we want this patch is
> netxen defined 'rx dropped' field but output nothing.

It may be fine as a requirement of the day but it does not bode well
for the future as ethtool stats API won't get less messy.

I'd rather see ethtool stats provides one of those:
1. hardware stats only
2. driver dependent stats - anything you want - as long as the hardware
   only part of the stats is clearly identified

2. needs works. 1. hurts any requirement where it would priviously had
been so easy to add a few lines of code in the driver and push the mess
straight from kernel to the end user application.

-- 
Ueimor