Hi,
what's the difference between b43 and b43legacy ?
>From a first point a view, it seems b43 is for core >= 5 and b43legacy for the
other.
There is also firmware difference : b43 need v4 and b43legacy need v3.
But v4 firmware seems to support core 4 (pcm4 & ucode4) and b43 code got some
support for old chips (<5).
Is the split was made because nobody know how to use firmware v4 with core 4 or
because core 4 it so different from newer core.
In the latter case why code for older chip (<5) is not removed from the driver ?
Thanks
Matthieu
PS : sorry if the answer is already available on internet, I try to search it
without finding anything.
Matthieu CASTET wrote:
>
> what's the difference between b43 and b43legacy ?
>
>>From a first point a view, it seems b43 is for core >= 5 and b43legacy for the
> other.
> There is also firmware difference : b43 need v4 and b43legacy need v3.
The firmware difference is the primary one.
> But v4 firmware seems to support core 4 (pcm4 & ucode4) and b43 code got some
> support for old chips (<5).
The Broadcom V4 drivers do have core 4 firmware embedded in them and it is
extracted by b43-fwcutter; however, b43 will _NOT_ work with core 4 chips. The
firmware loader will only find firmware for core 5 and later. On the other hand,
core 5 devices have been tested with b43legacy. I have a local patch that I use
to switch my 14e4:4312 device so that it uses b43legacy. This allows me to test
any changes.
> Is the split was made because nobody know how to use firmware v4 with core 4 or
> because core 4 it so different from newer core.
> In the latter case why code for older chip (<5) is not removed from the driver ?
>From what I have heard, the older chips do not have the on-board memory to run
V4 firmware. Certainly, any chips that have core 2 cannot handle V4 firmware.
I suspect that any residual code for older chips left in b43 was missed. If you
want to prepare patches to remove such code, please do.
Larry
On Fri, May 29, 2009 at 12:19 PM, Matthieu CASTET
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> what's the difference between b43 and b43legacy ?
>
> From a first point a view, it seems b43 is for core >= 5 and b43legacy for the
> other.
> There is also firmware difference : b43 need v4 and b43legacy need v3.
>
> But v4 firmware seems to support core 4 (pcm4 & ucode4) and b43 code got some
> support for old chips (<5).
>
> Is the split was made because nobody know how to use firmware v4 with core 4 or
> because core 4 it so different from newer core.
> In the latter case why code for older chip (<5) is not removed from the driver ?
>
http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/b43
Luis
On Friday 29 May 2009 21:19:23 Matthieu CASTET wrote:
> In the latter case why code for older chip (<5) is not removed from the driver ?
Nobody cares to do so.
--
Greetings, Michael.
Larry Finger wrote:
> Matthieu CASTET wrote:
>> what's the difference between b43 and b43legacy ?
>>
>> >From a first point a view, it seems b43 is for core >= 5 and b43legacy for the
>> other.
>> There is also firmware difference : b43 need v4 and b43legacy need v3.
>
> The firmware difference is the primary one.
>
>> But v4 firmware seems to support core 4 (pcm4 & ucode4) and b43 code got some
>> support for old chips (<5).
>
> The Broadcom V4 drivers do have core 4 firmware embedded in them and it is
> extracted by b43-fwcutter; however, b43 will _NOT_ work with core 4 chips. The
> firmware loader will only find firmware for core 5 and later.
Ok but what prevent b43 to support core 4 chip with v4 firmware like the
broadcom driver does ?
I am aware that the current driver doesn't support it, but what are the
missing part to support it ?
If it is the difference from core4 from newer chip, why b43legacy
contains only few special case for core4 chip.
>
> I suspect that any residual code for older chips left in b43 was missed. If you
> want to prepare patches to remove such code, please do.
Yes, I could prepare such patches
Thanks
Matthieu
PS : I don't have core 4 chip nor plan to get some, I ask this out of
curiosity.
On Monday 01 June 2009 23:47:06 matthieu castet wrote:
> Ok but what prevent b43 to support core 4 chip with v4 firmware like the
> broadcom driver does ?
> I am aware that the current driver doesn't support it, but what are the
> missing part to support it ?
Recent broadcom drivers do not support <=rev4 anymore.
There are lots of differences between those devices and devices >=rev5.
So we chose to fork it.
That's it. It's as simple as that. Why does it surprise you that much? Lots
of other devices require a separate driver for legacy devices, too.
--
Greetings, Michael.
matthieu castet wrote:
> Larry Finger wrote:
>> Matthieu CASTET wrote:
>>> what's the difference between b43 and b43legacy ?
>>>
>>> >From a first point a view, it seems b43 is for core >= 5 and
>>> b43legacy for the
>>> other.
>>> There is also firmware difference : b43 need v4 and b43legacy need v3.
>>
>> The firmware difference is the primary one.
>>
>>> But v4 firmware seems to support core 4 (pcm4 & ucode4) and b43 code
>>> got some
>>> support for old chips (<5).
>>
>> The Broadcom V4 drivers do have core 4 firmware embedded in them and
>> it is
>> extracted by b43-fwcutter; however, b43 will _NOT_ work with core 4
>> chips. The
>> firmware loader will only find firmware for core 5 and later.
> Ok but what prevent b43 to support core 4 chip with v4 firmware like the
> broadcom driver does ?
> I am aware that the current driver doesn't support it, but what are the
> missing part to support it ?
The firmware loader code is the first step. Beyond that, I have no idea.
> If it is the difference from core4 from newer chip, why b43legacy
> contains only few special case for core4 chip.
I do not know other than that is what the specs called for.
> PS : I don't have core 4 chip nor plan to get some, I ask this out of
> curiosity.
I do have such a chip, but I use it to verify b43legacy code.
Larry
Michael Buesch wrote:
> On Monday 01 June 2009 23:47:06 matthieu castet wrote:
>> Ok but what prevent b43 to support core 4 chip with v4 firmware like the
>> broadcom driver does ?
>> I am aware that the current driver doesn't support it, but what are the
>> missing part to support it ?
>
> Recent broadcom drivers do not support <=rev4 anymore.
Which one ?
4.178.10.4 seem to support them [1].
attached is a patch that remove support for old core for b43.
[1]
$readelf -s wl_ap.o|grep -e d11.*4$
1261: 0000b8d0 2952 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11lp0initvals14
1406: 0000c458 288 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11lp0bsinitvals14
1516: 0000ee88 20128 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11ucode4
1520: 000018f8 3720 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11b0g0initvals4
1577: 0002f13c 30992 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11ucode14
1614: 00048060 1312 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11pcm4
1809: 00003640 56 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11a0g0bsinitvals4
1899: 00002780 56 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11b0g0bsinitvals4
1920: 000027b8 3720 OBJECT GLOBAL DEFAULT 5 d11a0g0initvals4
Signed-off-by: Matthieu CASTET <[email protected]>