diff mbox

[v2] carl9170: Clarify kconfig text

Message ID 20160416171856.1769c0e16bcc75372407e06f@gmx.com (mailing list archive)
State Accepted
Delegated to: Kalle Valo
Headers show

Commit Message

Lauri Kasanen April 16, 2016, 2:18 p.m. UTC
The previous text was confusing, leading readers to think this
driver was a duplicate, and so didn't need to be enabled.

After the removal of the older staging driver, this is the only
driver in mainline for these devices.

Signed-off-by: Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com>
---
v2: Remove the mention of the previous driver, suggested by Christian.

 drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig | 8 +++-----
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

Comments

Christian Lamparter April 16, 2016, 3:32 p.m. UTC | #1
On Saturday, April 16, 2016 05:18:56 PM Lauri Kasanen wrote:
> The previous text was confusing, leading readers to think this
> driver was a duplicate, and so didn't need to be enabled.
> 
> After the removal of the older staging driver, this is the only
> driver in mainline for these devices.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com>
Acked-by: Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com>

> ---
> v2: Remove the mention of the previous driver, suggested by Christian.

Thanks!
 
>  drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig | 8 +++-----
>  1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> index 1a796e5..2e34bae 100644
> --- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> +++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> @@ -5,12 +5,10 @@ config CARL9170
>  	select FW_LOADER
>  	select CRC32
>  	help
> -	  This is another driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
> +	  This is the mainline driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
>  
> -	  This driver provides more features than the original,
> -	  but it needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw) to do that.
> -
> -	  The firmware can be downloaded from our wiki here:
> +	  It needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw), which can be downloaded
> +	  from our wiki here:
>  	  <http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/carl9170>
>  
>  	  If you choose to build a module, it'll be called carl9170.
> 

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Kalle Valo April 18, 2016, 3:45 p.m. UTC | #2
Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com> writes:

> The previous text was confusing, leading readers to think this
> driver was a duplicate, and so didn't need to be enabled.
>
> After the removal of the older staging driver, this is the only
> driver in mainline for these devices.
>
> Signed-off-by: Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com>
> ---
> v2: Remove the mention of the previous driver, suggested by Christian.
>
>  drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig | 8 +++-----
>  1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> index 1a796e5..2e34bae 100644
> --- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> +++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> @@ -5,12 +5,10 @@ config CARL9170
>  	select FW_LOADER
>  	select CRC32
>  	help
> -	  This is another driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
> +	  This is the mainline driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
>  
> -	  This driver provides more features than the original,
> -	  but it needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw) to do that.
> -
> -	  The firmware can be downloaded from our wiki here:
> +	  It needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw), which can be downloaded
> +	  from our wiki here:
>  	  <http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/carl9170>

Why even mention anything about a "special firmware" as the firmware is
already available from linux-firmware.git? That's default location for
all firmware images and I think most, if not all, distros should have it
available. So wouldn't it be better not to mention anything about
firmware at all?
Christian Lamparter April 18, 2016, 4:20 p.m. UTC | #3
On Monday, April 18, 2016 06:45:09 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com> writes:
> 
> > The previous text was confusing, leading readers to think this
> > driver was a duplicate, and so didn't need to be enabled.
> >
> > After the removal of the older staging driver, this is the only
> > driver in mainline for these devices.
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com>
> > ---
> > v2: Remove the mention of the previous driver, suggested by Christian.
> >
> >  drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig | 8 +++-----
> >  1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
> >
> > diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> > index 1a796e5..2e34bae 100644
> > --- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> > +++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> > @@ -5,12 +5,10 @@ config CARL9170
> >  	select FW_LOADER
> >  	select CRC32
> >  	help
> > -	  This is another driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
> > +	  This is the mainline driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
> >  
> > -	  This driver provides more features than the original,
> > -	  but it needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw) to do that.
> > -
> > -	  The firmware can be downloaded from our wiki here:
> > +	  It needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw), which can be downloaded
> > +	  from our wiki here:
> >  	  <http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/carl9170>
> 
> Why even mention anything about a "special firmware" as the firmware is
> already available from linux-firmware.git? 
Yes and no. 1.9.6 is in linux-firmware.git. I've tried to add 1.9.9 too
but that failed.
<http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.wireless.general/114639>

> That's default location for all firmware images and I think most, if not all,
> distros should have it available. So wouldn't it be better not to mention 
> anything about firmware at all?
Sure, but this could be a different patch then. I think Intel devices 
(iwlwifi, iwlegacy and ipw2x00) have a similar text about "download
firmware from this device from our homepage here" too. So if we want,
we can remove them altogether?

Regards,
Christian
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Kalle Valo April 18, 2016, 4:42 p.m. UTC | #4
Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:

> On Monday, April 18, 2016 06:45:09 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
>> Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com> writes:
>> 
>> > --- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
>> > +++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
>> > @@ -5,12 +5,10 @@ config CARL9170
>> >  	select FW_LOADER
>> >  	select CRC32
>> >  	help
>> > -	  This is another driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
>> > +	  This is the mainline driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
>> >  
>> > -	  This driver provides more features than the original,
>> > -	  but it needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw) to do that.
>> > -
>> > -	  The firmware can be downloaded from our wiki here:
>> > +	  It needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw), which can be downloaded
>> > +	  from our wiki here:
>> >  	  <http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/carl9170>
>> 
>> Why even mention anything about a "special firmware" as the firmware is
>> already available from linux-firmware.git? 
>
> Yes and no. 1.9.6 is in linux-firmware.git. I've tried to add 1.9.9 too
> but that failed.
> <http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.wireless.general/114639>

Rick's comment makes sense to me, better just to provide the latest
version. No need to unnecessary confuse the users. And if someone really
wants to use an older version that she can retrieve it from the git
history.

>> That's default location for all firmware images and I think most, if not all,
>> distros should have it available. So wouldn't it be better not to mention 
>> anything about firmware at all?
>
> Sure, but this could be a different patch then. I think Intel devices 
> (iwlwifi, iwlegacy and ipw2x00) have a similar text about "download
> firmware from this device from our homepage here" too. So if we want,
> we can remove them altogether?

So iwlwifi now has:

	  In order to use this driver, you will need a firmware
	  image for it. You can obtain the microcode from:

	          <http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi>.

Maybe that could be changed to mention about the wiki page in general:

	  The driver has a wiki page at:

	          <http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi>.

But I know iwlwifi updates the firmware images pretty often so Emmanuel
might see this differently.
Christian Lamparter April 18, 2016, 5:07 p.m. UTC | #5
On Monday, April 18, 2016 07:42:05 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
> 
> > On Monday, April 18, 2016 06:45:09 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> >> Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com> writes:
> >> 
> >> > --- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> >> > +++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
> >> > @@ -5,12 +5,10 @@ config CARL9170
> >> >  	select FW_LOADER
> >> >  	select CRC32
> >> >  	help
> >> > -	  This is another driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
> >> > +	  This is the mainline driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
> >> >  
> >> > -	  This driver provides more features than the original,
> >> > -	  but it needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw) to do that.
> >> > -
> >> > -	  The firmware can be downloaded from our wiki here:
> >> > +	  It needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw), which can be downloaded
> >> > +	  from our wiki here:
> >> >  	  <http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/carl9170>
> >> 
> >> Why even mention anything about a "special firmware" as the firmware is
> >> already available from linux-firmware.git? 
> >
> > Yes and no. 1.9.6 is in linux-firmware.git. I've tried to add 1.9.9 too
> > but that failed.
> > <http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.wireless.general/114639>
> 
> Rick's comment makes sense to me, better just to provide the latest
> version. No need to unnecessary confuse the users. And if someone really
> wants to use an older version that she can retrieve it from the git
> history.
Part of the fun here is that firmware is GPLv2. The linux-firmware.git has
to point to or add the firmware source to their tree. They have added every
single source file to it.... instead of "packaging" it in a tar.bz2/gz/xz
like you normally do for release sources.

If you want to read more about it:
<http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-wireless/msg101868.html>

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Kalle Valo April 20, 2016, 7:59 a.m. UTC | #6
Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:

> On Monday, April 18, 2016 07:42:05 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
>> Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
>> 
>> > On Monday, April 18, 2016 06:45:09 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
>> >
>> >> Why even mention anything about a "special firmware" as the firmware is
>> >> already available from linux-firmware.git? 
>> >
>> > Yes and no. 1.9.6 is in linux-firmware.git. I've tried to add 1.9.9 too
>> > but that failed.
>> > <http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.wireless.general/114639>
>> 
>> Rick's comment makes sense to me, better just to provide the latest
>> version. No need to unnecessary confuse the users. And if someone really
>> wants to use an older version that she can retrieve it from the git
>> history.
>
> Part of the fun here is that firmware is GPLv2. The linux-firmware.git has
> to point to or add the firmware source to their tree. They have added every
> single source file to it.... instead of "packaging" it in a tar.bz2/gz/xz
> like you normally do for release sources.
>
> If you want to read more about it:
> <http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-wireless/msg101868.html>

Yeah, that's more work. I get that. But I'm still not understanding
what's the actual problem which prevents us from updating carl9170
firmware in linux-firmware.
Christian Lamparter April 20, 2016, 9:11 p.m. UTC | #7
On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 10:59:44 AM Kalle Valo wrote:
> Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
> 
> > On Monday, April 18, 2016 07:42:05 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> >> Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
> >> 
> >> > On Monday, April 18, 2016 06:45:09 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Why even mention anything about a "special firmware" as the firmware is
> >> >> already available from linux-firmware.git? 
> >> >
> >> > Yes and no. 1.9.6 is in linux-firmware.git. I've tried to add 1.9.9 too
> >> > but that failed.
> >> > <http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.wireless.general/114639>
> >> 
> >> Rick's comment makes sense to me, better just to provide the latest
> >> version. No need to unnecessary confuse the users. And if someone really
> >> wants to use an older version that she can retrieve it from the git
> >> history.
> >
> > Part of the fun here is that firmware is GPLv2. The linux-firmware.git has
> > to point to or add the firmware source to their tree. They have added every
> > single source file to it.... instead of "packaging" it in a tar.bz2/gz/xz
> > like you normally do for release sources.
> >
> > If you want to read more about it:
> > <http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-wireless/msg101868.html>
> 
> Yeah, that's more work. I get that. But I'm still not understanding
> what's the actual problem which prevents us from updating carl9170
> firmware in linux-firmware.
I'm not sure, but why not ask? I've added the cc'ed Linux Firmware
Maintainers. So for those people reading the fw list:

What would it take to update the carl9170-1.fw firmware file in your
repository to the latest version?

Who has to sent the firmware update. Does it have to be the person who
sent the first request? (Xose)? The maintainer of the firmware (me)?
someone from Qualcomm Atheros? Or someone else (specific)? (the 
firmware is licensed as GPLv2 - in theory anyone should be able to
do that)

How should the firmware source update be handled? Currently the latest
.tar.xz of the firmware has ~130kb. The formated patches from 1.9.6 to
latest are about ~100kb (182 individual patches).

How does linux-firmware handle new binary firmware images and new 
sources? What if carl9170fw-2.bin is added. Do we need another
source directory for this in the current tree then? Because 
carl9170fw-1.bin will still be needed for backwards compatibility
so we basically need to duplicate parts of the source?

Also, how's the situation with ath9k_htc? The 1.4.0 image contains
some GPLv2 code as well? So, why is there no source in the tree, but 
just the link to it? Because, I would like to do basically the same
for carl9170fw and just add a link to the carl9170fw repository and
save everyone this source update "song and dance".

Regards,
Christian
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Lauri Kasanen May 18, 2016, 8:48 a.m. UTC | #8
On Tue, 03 May 2016 15:09:39 +0200
Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> wrote:

> On Thursday, April 21, 2016 03:22:15 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> > Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
> > 
> > > Maintainers. So for those people reading the fw list:
> > >
> > > What would it take to update the carl9170-1.fw firmware file in your
> > > repository to the latest version?
> > 
> > Thanks for following up on this. It would be good to solve this finally.
> Well, this was almost two weeks and no update yet.
> Kalle, can you please apply the "[PATCH v2] carl9170: Clarify kconfig text"
> patch from "Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com>" [0].
> 
> [0] <https://marc.info/?l=linux-wireless&m=146081633405880>

Seems we missed 4.7?

- Lauri
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Kalle Valo May 19, 2016, 1:08 p.m. UTC | #9
Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com> writes:

> On Tue, 03 May 2016 15:09:39 +0200
> Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Thursday, April 21, 2016 03:22:15 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
>> > Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
>> > 
>> > > Maintainers. So for those people reading the fw list:
>> > >
>> > > What would it take to update the carl9170-1.fw firmware file in your
>> > > repository to the latest version?
>> > 
>> > Thanks for following up on this. It would be good to solve this finally.
>> Well, this was almost two weeks and no update yet.
>> Kalle, can you please apply the "[PATCH v2] carl9170: Clarify kconfig text"
>> patch from "Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com>" [0].
>> 
>> [0] <https://marc.info/?l=linux-wireless&m=146081633405880>
>
> Seems we missed 4.7?

Yeah, I didn't consider this important enough and delayed it due to lack
of time. I now put the patch back to my queue for 4.8, but please check
that it's the correct version:

https://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/8861621/

But we really should figure out how to get the latest version to
linux-firmware, this is not good in the long run.
Christian Lamparter May 19, 2016, 1:55 p.m. UTC | #10
On Thursday, May 19, 2016 04:08:10 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com> writes:
> 
> > On Tue, 03 May 2016 15:09:39 +0200
> > Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> On Thursday, April 21, 2016 03:22:15 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> >> > Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
> >> > 
> >> > > Maintainers. So for those people reading the fw list:
> >> > >
> >> > > What would it take to update the carl9170-1.fw firmware file in your
> >> > > repository to the latest version?
> >> > 
> >> > Thanks for following up on this. It would be good to solve this finally.
> >> Well, this was almost two weeks and no update yet.
> >> Kalle, can you please apply the "[PATCH v2] carl9170: Clarify kconfig text"
> >> patch from "Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com>" [0].
> >> 
> >> [0] <https://marc.info/?l=linux-wireless&m=146081633405880>
> >
> > Seems we missed 4.7?
> 
> Yeah, I didn't consider this important enough and delayed it due to lack
> of time. I now put the patch back to my queue for 4.8, but please check
> that it's the correct version:
> 
> https://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/8861621/
Yes, this links to v2, which is the correct version.
 
> But we really should figure out how to get the latest version to
> linux-firmware, this is not good in the long run.
Well, none of my firmware patches were added/accepted and nobody
responded on how to add it to linux-firmware. I'm open for ideas.

Regards,
Christan
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Xose Vazquez Perez May 20, 2016, 6:18 p.m. UTC | #11
On 04/20/2016 11:11 PM, Christian Lamparter wrote:

> On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 10:59:44 AM Kalle Valo wrote:
>> Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
>>
>>> On Monday, April 18, 2016 07:42:05 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
>>>> Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
>>>>
>>>>> On Monday, April 18, 2016 06:45:09 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Why even mention anything about a "special firmware" as the firmware is
>>>>>> already available from linux-firmware.git? 
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes and no. 1.9.6 is in linux-firmware.git. I've tried to add 1.9.9 too
>>>>> but that failed.
>>>>> <http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel.wireless.general/114639>
>>>>
>>>> Rick's comment makes sense to me, better just to provide the latest
>>>> version. No need to unnecessary confuse the users. And if someone really
>>>> wants to use an older version that she can retrieve it from the git
>>>> history.
>>>
>>> Part of the fun here is that firmware is GPLv2. The linux-firmware.git has
>>> to point to or add the firmware source to their tree. They have added every
>>> single source file to it.... instead of "packaging" it in a tar.bz2/gz/xz
>>> like you normally do for release sources.
>>>
>>> If you want to read more about it:
>>> <http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-wireless/msg101868.html>
>>
>> Yeah, that's more work. I get that. But I'm still not understanding
>> what's the actual problem which prevents us from updating carl9170
>> firmware in linux-firmware.

> I'm not sure, but why not ask? I've added the cc'ed Linux Firmware
> Maintainers. So for those people reading the fw list:
> 
> What would it take to update the carl9170-1.fw firmware file in your
> repository to the latest version?
> 
> Who has to sent the firmware update. Does it have to be the person who
> sent the first request? (Xose)? The maintainer of the firmware (me)?
> someone from Qualcomm Atheros? Or someone else (specific)? (the 
> firmware is licensed as GPLv2 - in theory anyone should be able to
> do that)
> 
> How should the firmware source update be handled? Currently the latest
> .tar.xz of the firmware has ~130kb. The formated patches from 1.9.6 to
> latest are about ~100kb (182 individual patches).
> 
> How does linux-firmware handle new binary firmware images and new 
> sources? What if carl9170fw-2.bin is added. Do we need another
> source directory for this in the current tree then? Because 
> carl9170fw-1.bin will still be needed for backwards compatibility
> so we basically need to duplicate parts of the source?
> 
> Also, how's the situation with ath9k_htc? The 1.4.0 image contains
> some GPLv2 code as well? So, why is there no source in the tree, but 
> just the link to it? Because, I would like to do basically the same
> for carl9170fw and just add a link to the carl9170fw repository and
> save everyone this source update "song and dance".

Hi Ben, could you assist Christian ?

-thanks-
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Ben Hutchings May 25, 2016, 2:51 p.m. UTC | #12
On Wed, 2016-04-20 at 23:11 +0200, Christian Lamparter wrote:
> On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 10:59:44 AM Kalle Valo wrote:
> > Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
> > 
> > > On Monday, April 18, 2016 07:42:05 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> > > > Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com> writes:
> > > > 
> > > > > On Monday, April 18, 2016 06:45:09 PM Kalle Valo wrote:
> > > > > 
> > > > > > Why even mention anything about a "special firmware" as the firmware is
> > > > > > already available from linux-firmware.git? 
> > > > > 
> > > > > Yes and no. 1.9.6 is in linux-firmware.git. I've tried to add 1.9.9 too
> > > > > but that failed.
> > > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Rick's comment makes sense to me, better just to provide the latest
> > > > version. No need to unnecessary confuse the users. And if someone really
> > > > wants to use an older version that she can retrieve it from the git
> > > > history.
> > > 
> > > Part of the fun here is that firmware is GPLv2. The linux-firmware.git has
> > > to point to or add the firmware source to their tree. They have added every
> > > single source file to it.... instead of "packaging" it in a tar.bz2/gz/xz
> > > like you normally do for release sources.
> > > 
> > > If you want to read more about it:
> > > <http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-wireless/msg101868.html>
> > 
> > Yeah, that's more work. I get that. But I'm still not understanding
> > what's the actual problem which prevents us from updating carl9170
> > firmware in linux-firmware.
> I'm not sure, but why not ask? I've added the cc'ed Linux Firmware
> Maintainers. So for those people reading the fw list:
> 
> What would it take to update the carl9170-1.fw firmware file in your
> repository to the latest version?
> 
> Who has to sent the firmware update. Does it have to be the person who
> sent the first request? (Xose)? The maintainer of the firmware (me)?
> someone from Qualcomm Atheros? Or someone else (specific)? (the 
> firmware is licensed as GPLv2 - in theory anyone should be able to
> do that)

Given the licence, I don't particularly care.

> How should the firmware source update be handled? Currently the latest
> .tar.xz of the firmware has ~130kb. The formated patches from 1.9.6 to
> latest are about ~100kb (182 individual patches).

Either patches that 'git am' can handle, or a git branch.

> How does linux-firmware handle new binary firmware images and new 
> sources? What if carl9170fw-2.bin is added. Do we need another
> source directory for this in the current tree then? Because 
> carl9170fw-1.bin will still be needed for backwards compatibility
> so we basically need to duplicate parts of the source?

We still need to include the old binary for compatibility, and the old
source for GPL compliance.  (If there was a source version that could
build firmware for both ABI versions, then we could update both
binaries and have one set of source files.  But it doesn't sound like
that's the case.)

> Also, how's the situation with ath9k_htc? The 1.4.0 image contains
> some GPLv2 code as well?

I didn't realise that.

> So, why is there no source in the tree, but just the link to it?

An oversight which we need to fix.

> Because, I would like to do basically the same
> for carl9170fw and just add a link to the carl9170fw repository and
> save everyone this source update "song and dance".

Merely linking to upstream source doesn't satisfy GPLv2 source
requirements, at least not in case of commercial distribution.  Linux
distributors should be able to use a snapshot of linux-firmware as the
upstream source for a package, without worrying about whether there are
extra sources they need to include.

(I'm aware that there are several files that don't actually have clear
licences for.  But those are at least called out in WHENCE, and were
previously distributed as part of the kernel sources for years.)

Ben.
Kalle Valo June 4, 2016, 2:58 p.m. UTC | #13
Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com> wrote:
> The previous text was confusing, leading readers to think this
> driver was a duplicate, and so didn't need to be enabled.
> 
> After the removal of the older staging driver, this is the only
> driver in mainline for these devices.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Lauri Kasanen <cand@gmx.com>
> Acked-by: Christian Lamparter <chunkeey@googlemail.com>

Thanks, 1 patch applied to wireless-drivers-next.git:

83e41e77819b carl9170: Clarify kconfig text
diff mbox

Patch

diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
index 1a796e5..2e34bae 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/carl9170/Kconfig
@@ -5,12 +5,10 @@  config CARL9170
 	select FW_LOADER
 	select CRC32
 	help
-	  This is another driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
+	  This is the mainline driver for the Atheros "otus" 802.11n USB devices.
 
-	  This driver provides more features than the original,
-	  but it needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw) to do that.
-
-	  The firmware can be downloaded from our wiki here:
+	  It needs a special firmware (carl9170-1.fw), which can be downloaded
+	  from our wiki here:
 	  <http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/carl9170>
 
 	  If you choose to build a module, it'll be called carl9170.