Subject: Re: [PATCH] configfs: Implement binary attributes (v3)
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From: Pantelis Antoniou <panto@antoniou-consulting.com>
In-Reply-To: <20141029025418.GA7842@kroah.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:58:59 +0200
Cc: Joel Becker <jlbec@evilplan.org>, Grant Likely <grant.likely@secretlab.ca>,
        Rob Herring <robherring2@gmail.com>,
        Matt Porter <matt.porter@linaro.org>,
        Koen Kooi <koen@dominion.thruhere.net>,
        Alison Chaiken <Alison_Chaiken@mentor.com>,
        Dinh Nguyen <dinh.linux@gmail.com>, Jan Lubbe <jluebbe@lasnet.de>,
        Alexander Sverdlin <alexander.sverdlin@nsn.com>,
        Michael Stickel <ms@mycable.de>, Guenter Roeck <linux@roeck-us.net>,
        Dirk Behme <dirk.behme@gmail.com>,
        Alan Tull <delicious.quinoa@gmail.com>,
        Sascha Hauer <s.hauer@pengutronix.de>,
        Michael Bohan <mbohan@codeaurora.org>,
        Ionut Nicu <ioan.nicu.ext@nsn.com>, Michal Simek <monstr@monstr.eu>,
        Matt Ranostay <mranostay@gmail.com>,
        linux-kernel <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>,
        Pete Popov <pete.popov@konsulko.com>,
        Dan Malek <dan.malek@konsulko.com>,
        Georgi Vlaev <georgi.vlaev@konsulko.com>
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References: <1414528232-7707-1-git-send-email-pantelis.antoniou@konsulko.com> <20141029025418.GA7842@kroah.com>
To: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@linuxfoundation.org>
Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org

Hi Greg,

> On Oct 29, 2014, at 04:54 , Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@linuxfoundation.org> wrote:
> 
> On Tue, Oct 28, 2014 at 10:30:32PM +0200, Pantelis Antoniou wrote:
>> ConfigFS lacked binary attributes up until now. This patch
>> introduces support for binary attributes in a somewhat similar
>> manner of sysfs binary attributes albeit with changes that
>> fit the configfs usage model.
>> 
>> Problems that configfs binary attributes fix are everything that
>> requires a binary blob as part of the configuration of a resource,
>> such as bitstream loading for FPGAs, DTBs for dynamically created
>> devices etc.
> 
> What's wrong with using the firmware interface for this instead?
> 

It is problem when the bitstream is provided by user-space due to namespace
issues. What happens if you have a container, from where do you get that firmware
file so that you can use it.

IIRC Joel didn’t object too much last time I posted it.

> What driver/subsystem wants to use configfs binary files?  Having a user
> for this api is essential if you want it to be merged.
> 

Device tree overlays for starters and the FPGA manager.

For the first please look at "OF: DT-Overlay configfs interface (v2)” posted
yesterday; you are in the CC list.

> thanks,
> 
> greg k-h

Regards

— Pantelis

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