Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 12:30:18 -0800
From: "Luis R. Rodriguez" <lrodriguez@atheros.com>
To: Luis Rodriguez <Luis.Rodriguez@Atheros.com>
CC: Peter Stuge <peter@stuge.se>, Ben Greear <greearb@candelatech.com>,
	"linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org" <linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org>,
	"ath9k-devel@venema.h4ckr.net" <ath9k-devel@venema.h4ckr.net>
Subject: Re: [ath9k-devel] [PATCH 3/3] ath9k: Keep track of stations for
 debugfs.
Message-ID: <20110107203018.GM21588@tux>
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 <4D267E4D.7000608@candelatech.com>
 <20110107024909.GD20431@tux>
 <4D2685CC.7020502@candelatech.com>
 <20110107153607.11061.qmail@stuge.se>
 <20110107200101.GE21588@tux>
 <20110107202531.GK21588@tux>
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Sender: linux-wireless-owner@vger.kernel.org

On Fri, Jan 07, 2011 at 12:25:31PM -0800, Luis Rodriguez wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 07, 2011 at 12:01:01PM -0800, Luis Rodriguez wrote:
> > On Fri, Jan 07, 2011 at 07:36:07AM -0800, Peter Stuge wrote:
> > > Ben Greear wrote:
> > > > > but at least other clueless users would not go over stable limit
> > > > > you have found.
> > > > 
> > > > I think it's very likely that the problems I find are general
> > > > issues that are just much easier to hit with lots of stations.
> > > 
> > > I strongly support this. I recognize several of your problems from my
> > > attempts at using ath9k with only a single STA which was all but stable.
> > 
> > Sure, see my other e-mail.
> > 
> > > > There is probably no 'safe' number of stations...just takes longer
> > > > to see bugs with fewer stations.
> > > > 
> > > > For instance, you still see the failure-to-stop-DMA errors with a
> > > > single station, right? And the tx locking stuff was just easier to
> > > > exercise with lots of stations, but it would have been possible to
> > > > hit it with 2 stations.
> > > > 
> > > > The current tx-hang stuff I'm chasing seems like logic bugs in the
> > > > queueing, probably nothing in particular about the chipset.
> > > 
> > > This is also my impression. Since it is important for Atheros to have
> > > bugzilla reports rather than discussion on list
> > 
> > I'm trying to tell you how you can more efficiently work with developers
> > on reporting issues, I'm not singling you out but I am telling you that
> > the energy you spend on complaining on things not being addressed can be
> > better put on reporting issues more efficiently.
> > 
> > Reporting issues on the list helps but what helps is a describin the
> > issue for a specific release but the most difficult thing to do sometimes
> > is to come up with a recipe for a way to reproduce a specific issue. Without
> > this it is harder to debug issues. If you can come up with ways to reproduce
> > issues then it becomes easier for engineers to start digging. Additionally
> > if an issue is seen that was not observed before the reporter may also
> > do a git bisect to try to identify the culprit commit. Be aware though that
> > bisecting on wireless-testing can only be done against the master-* tags,
> > and not on the entire tree due to the way John updates his tree. If you
> > see the issue on a stable kernel though you can just use Linus' tree or
> > the linux-2.6-allstable git tree which will have the stable extra versioned
> > kernels as well.
> > 
> > Reporting issues for stable kernels should go through the kernel bugzilla,
> > but can start off on the mailing list. ath9k-devel though is not ideal for
> > reporting major issues and I recommend linux-wireless to be used instead
> > for that. If an issue is reporting for wireless-testing with a good series
> > of reproducible steps chances are very high it will be addressed. Motivated
> > highly technical users willing to help further get bonus points if they go
> > the extra mile and bisect.
> > 
> > Furthermore, issues can be kept track on here:
> > 
> > http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ath9k/bugs
> > 
> > This keeps track of major issues reported, and what people are working on.
> 
> I'll also note:
> 
> http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Documentation/Reporting_bugs
> 
> If this needs update feel free to edit. The hope is to make it easier for
> users to identify issues and report them properly.

Oh and before I forget, last tip, using a new wpa_supplicant always helps me :)

  Luis