From owner-freebsd-arch@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Jun 16 01:03:26 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: arch@FreeBSD.org Delivered-To: freebsd-arch@FreeBSD.ORG Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 030A916A479; Fri, 16 Jun 2006 01:03:26 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from dwhite@gumbysoft.com) Received: from carver.gumbysoft.com (carver.gumbysoft.com [66.220.23.50]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D4CAC43D45; Fri, 16 Jun 2006 01:03:25 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from dwhite@gumbysoft.com) Received: by carver.gumbysoft.com (Postfix, from userid 1000) id DEABF72DA5; Thu, 15 Jun 2006 18:01:59 -0700 (PDT) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by carver.gumbysoft.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id DCAAB72DA2; Thu, 15 Jun 2006 18:01:59 -0700 (PDT) Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2006 18:01:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug White To: Robert Watson In-Reply-To: <20060611141632.Y26634@fledge.watson.org> Message-ID: <20060615175853.Y52950@carver.gumbysoft.com> References: <20060611141632.Y26634@fledge.watson.org> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Cc: arch@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: MFC of socket/protocol reference improvements X-BeenThere: freebsd-arch@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Discussion related to FreeBSD architecture List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 01:03:26 -0000 On Sun, 11 Jun 2006, Robert Watson wrote: > (1) Normally, RELENG_* has significant constraints on changes to the kernel > APIs used by loadable modules -- especially for device drivers. In the > past, we've not made a lot of changes to the protocol switch interface, > and historically it hasn't been a run-time extensible interface. Andre > has recent made changes to allow IP protocols to be loaded at runtime, > such as IP divert, and these will be affected, however. Do we consider > modules programmed against these interfaces to be "breakable" -- i.e., > the > require a recompile and or changes in the RELENG_6 branch? >From a policy standpoint, breaking modules in a -STABLE branch is forbidden since it causes pain for 3rd party developers. Exceptions can be made for changes that provide more benefit than damage caused by breaking the ABI. Usually the question revolves around, "Does anyone actually distribute modules that use that interface?" :-) -- Doug White | FreeBSD: The Power to Serve dwhite@gumbysoft.com | www.FreeBSD.org