Subject: Re: 3 Questions
To: ThorsProvoni@aol.com (Joachim Martillo)
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 20:12:03 +0000 (GMT)
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org, martillo@telfordtools.com
In-Reply-To: <3C053888.89D3FD82@aol.com> from "Joachim Martillo" at Nov 28, 2001 02:18:32 PM
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Message-Id: <E169B3r-0005yK-00@the-village.bc.nu>
From: Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>
Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org

> 3) Aurora wants to track the driver in its source control system, but
> they have ISO 900X procedures that require maintaining the build
> environment under CVS.  The build environment is basically the kernel
> against which it is developed.  But new developer kernels are released
> fairly regularly (unlike new versions of Solaris or True64).  Do
> maintainers of such driver software commonly maintain development
> environments across a complete range (e.g., all 2.4.* kernels)?  Is
> there a FAQ with recommendations to help a hardware vendor deal with
> the nitty gritty details of making sure its driver software works
> properly across such a range of rapidly changing development
> environments?

Generally driver vendors only certify/support against "standard" vendor
released kernels. So instead of Linux they support "SuSE 7.3" "Red Hat 7.2"
etc..

Most also make a clear distinction between what is submitted to the GPL and
hacked about under the GPL, and what they will provide any guarantee on. 

Think of it like a car.
	The engine is only supported for the car it was designed for
	You can rebore the engine but you wont get support
	You can stick the engine in a different car but you wont get support

Alan
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