Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Mon, 8 Oct 2001 11:58:47 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Mon, 8 Oct 2001 11:58:36 -0400 Received: from tmr-02.dsl.thebiz.net ([216.238.38.204]:14090 "EHLO gatekeeper.tmr.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id ; Mon, 8 Oct 2001 11:58:29 -0400 Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 11:54:00 -0400 (EDT) From: Bill Davidsen To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Breaking system configuration in stable kernels Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org I've beaten this dead horse before, but Linux will not look to management like a viable candidate for default o/s until whoever releases new versions of *stable* kernel series with cosmetic changes which break existing systems running earlier releases of the same stable kernel series. The last time I complained, it was about changing the name of a module itself, this time the names of the parameters of modules have been changed. Couldn't that have waited for 2.5, or for-bloody-ever? The names of the parameters to the cmpci module were changed, for example from "fm_io" to "fmio" which prevents the module from loading with a newer kernel. And if the "options" line in modules.conf is changed, then it won't load with older kernels. Maybe I'm to only one who has to roll back out of a new release? This is serious, because the module can't be loaded by hand if modules.conf has invalid parameters. So loading would have to be moved to rc.local, and done with correct parameters, which eliminates demand loading of the module. PITA when sound is only loaded to play a message to the operator to change the backup media. I love getting problems like this on my vacation, I'm pissed, and I really think it indicates a lack of attention to detail. I think I saw this in another module while doing a quick diff and grep, but it should be in any modules. Cosmetic changes which impact users can wait, even including fixes in spelling in error messages, since people *do* grep logs for them. Grrr! -- bill davidsen CTO, TMR Associates, Inc Doing interesting things with little computers since 1979. - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/