2015-06-01 18:51:17

by Felix Fietkau

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: Uses of Linux backports in the industry

On 2015-05-29 04:54, Luis R. Rodriguez wrote:
> Me and Julia are working on a paper which evaluates use of Coccinelle
> on backports, a preliminary draft of such paper can be found on github
> [0]. We are making some tweaks to this, one of which is covering the
> uses of Linux backports [1] in the industry, for this we'd like to try
> to get feedback as to where and how folks are using backports. Please
> let me and Julia know -- or if the information is not sensitive please
> feel free to just reply to this thread and share with others. All
> feedback is greatly appreciated. If you are OK in having us list or
> generalize your usage please indicate so.
In OpenWrt, we use backports to stay up to date with current wireless
drivers without being forced into frequently updating the kernels as
well. We support many different platforms, and sometimes it takes a
while to update the kernel on them.
Using backports significantly reduces the amount of effort that we need
to put into maintaining the wireless drivers.
When making changes to wireless drivers or mac80211, which I submit
upstream, I also develop them in our most recent backports snapshot
first (typically generated from wireless-testing). When they are done, I
port them to a proper git tree and submit them from there.

In OpenWrt, we typically update the backports snapshot outside of the
normal kernel release cycle (always to latest wireless-testing) and
stabilize that by cherry-picking individual patches on top of it.

- Felix


2015-06-01 20:03:30

by Julia Lawall

[permalink] [raw]
Subject: Re: Uses of Linux backports in the industry



On Mon, 1 Jun 2015, Felix Fietkau wrote:

> On 2015-05-29 04:54, Luis R. Rodriguez wrote:
> > Me and Julia are working on a paper which evaluates use of Coccinelle
> > on backports, a preliminary draft of such paper can be found on github
> > [0]. We are making some tweaks to this, one of which is covering the
> > uses of Linux backports [1] in the industry, for this we'd like to try
> > to get feedback as to where and how folks are using backports. Please
> > let me and Julia know -- or if the information is not sensitive please
> > feel free to just reply to this thread and share with others. All
> > feedback is greatly appreciated. If you are OK in having us list or
> > generalize your usage please indicate so.
> In OpenWrt, we use backports to stay up to date with current wireless
> drivers without being forced into frequently updating the kernels as
> well. We support many different platforms, and sometimes it takes a
> while to update the kernel on them.
> Using backports significantly reduces the amount of effort that we need
> to put into maintaining the wireless drivers.
> When making changes to wireless drivers or mac80211, which I submit
> upstream, I also develop them in our most recent backports snapshot
> first (typically generated from wireless-testing). When they are done, I
> port them to a proper git tree and submit them from there.
>
> In OpenWrt, we typically update the backports snapshot outside of the
> normal kernel release cycle (always to latest wireless-testing) and
> stabilize that by cherry-picking individual patches on top of it.

Thanks for the feedback!

julia

Subject: Re: Uses of Linux backports in the industry

Am 01.06.2015 um 20:50 schrieb Felix Fietkau:

> We support many different platforms, and sometimes it takes a
> while to update the kernel on them.

Just curious: what makes these platforms so different from each other,
so it takes so much time to port to new kernel ? Are there things so
special, that they can't go into mainline ?

In a few weeks, I'll (hopefully) have a few weeks off and plan to play
around w/ some spare DSL routers. Maybe we can have a talk on how to
get more things mainlined, if you wish :)

> Using backports significantly reduces the amount of effort that we need
> to put into maintaining the wireless drivers.
> When making changes to wireless drivers or mac80211, which I submit
> upstream, I also develop them in our most recent backports snapshot
> first (typically generated from wireless-testing). When they are done, I
> port them to a proper git tree and submit them from there.

How much has changed from your old baseline compared to current
mainline ? I could imagine, in your area it might not be as much
as in others (eg. graphics or v4l subsystem).

> In OpenWrt, we typically update the backports snapshot outside of the
> normal kernel release cycle (always to latest wireless-testing) and
> stabilize that by cherry-picking individual patches on top of it.

Can you estimate the required workforce ?
Some statistics on that would be really nice.


cu
--
Enrico Weigelt, metux IT consult
+49-151-27565287
MELAG Medizintechnik oHG Sitz Berlin Registergericht AG Charlottenburg HRA 21333 B

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