From: Holger Schurig <hs4233@mail.mn-solutions.de>
To: linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
Subject: libertas + cfg80211: road for kernel inclusion?
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:26:22 +0200
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Hi all !

Today I got a connection of libertas + cfg80211 to an AP in the 
modes WEP40, WEP104, WPA, WPA2 and also with no encryption at 
all.

I still have some loose odds and ends, but the initial work is 
done and we can consider if we want this feature included in the 
linux kernel --- or not.


However, an cfg80211-converted libertas has some missing 
features, that others migth think are important: no 
libertas-mesh, no monitor mode, no ad-hoc mode. Nothing of this 
is per-se impossible with cfg80211, it just needs to be 
implemented.

I see several possibilities:


1. Let it mature outside
   ---------------------
Keep libertas+cfg80211 out-of-tree until it supports some minimal 
functionality.

Pro: no one misses a feature
Cons: no widespread testing of the cfg80211 features


2. Take it as it is
   ----------------
Nah, not exactly at it is today, but let us stop by missing 
monitor-mode, adhoc etc --- for now. Implement that later, once 
libertas is in-kernel and people need it.

Pro: widespread testing of the cfg80211 features
Cons: people miss some functions when they upgrade the kernel


3. Make things configurable
   ------------------------
I could create a Kconfig "choice" entry, where one can select 
CONFIG_LIBERTAS_WEXT or CONFIG_LIBERTAS_CFG80211. I would then 
provide a bunch of cleanup patches, e.g. to move all things in 
struct "libertas_private" into one place that are WEXT-related.

Pro: no one misses his beloved feature (because it's in 
CONFIG_LIBERTAS_WEXT)
Pro: some people can test the cfg80211-features (with 
CONFIG_LIBERTAS_CFG80211)
Cons: we have a higher amount of #ifdef in Libertas code until 
either libertas-cfg80211 got all the features added OR until 
WEXT get's removed from the kernel.


-- 
http://www.holgerschurig.de