On Thu, Sep 23, 2004 at 05:39:51PM -0600, Von Fugal wrote: > * Michael Halcrow [Thu, 23 Sep 2004 at 07:37 -0500] > > On Wed, Sep 22, 2004 at 10:10:27PM -0700, stuporglue wrote: > > > > Unloading modules is, at best, a dubious practice, and you should > > > > avoid doing so in general. The kernel developers have even > > > > entertained the idea of completely removing the ability to rmmod, > > > > because it unnecessarily complicates the kernel. > > > > > > That may be the case, but if I couldn't I'd have to reboot after each > > > suspend. On my iBook, if I want scan/monitor mode, I have to compile > > > the airport modules separately, and have them inserted at boot (or > > > when I need them). When I put it to sleep, and then use it again, I > > > won't be able to use wireless till I remove the module, insert it > > > again, and restart the service. Just restarting the service won't do > > > it either. > > > > That sounds like a bug in the driver, and that should be reported to > > LKML so that it is fixed. You should never be constrained to unload a > > module. > > Nevertheless, sometimes it's what you have to do. I have a similar > problem using ndiswrapper. Sometimes my driver just wigs out, and I > have to rmmod and re- modprobe the driver to get it working again. > I'd hate to see that ability dissapear.
The developers could really care less about proprietary, binary-only
drivers, and for good reason. They are frequently the source of
instability, they break whenever the kernel internal ABI changes
(which is all the time), and the developers can't do a thing about it
without the source code.
For a poignant illustration of this fact, refer to the recent pwc
issue. I support Greg K-H's actions attitude wholeheartedly, and I
have *no* sympathy for people who buy hardware that requires
proprietary, closed-source drivers. Tough luck; you should have
patronized a company that ``gets it.'' Do not expect the kernel
developers to bend over backwards to help companies who keep their
specs secret at the detriment of their customers.
Mike
.___________________________________________________________________.
Michael A. Halcrow
Security Software Engineer, IBM Linux Technology Center
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The sum of the Universe is zero.
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