Re: [PATCH 9/15] BE NIC driver - Linux system abstraction files

On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 11:00:46PM +0530, subbu wrote:

The reason why we have these abstractions is 
because beclib functions are written as 
OS neutral code and that needs a helper to
do OS specific functions.  By eliminating
SA, we will need to make  beclib Linux
dependent - something that we would like avoid
for ease of maintenance.  Is this approach
not acceptable ?  What will is the recommended
way to have part so a driver OS independent ?

We do not recommend it,  but recommend to write Linux
specific drivers. Operating systems are quite different and you
get far better drivers if you really optimize them for specific OS.
That's especially important for performance critical drivers like
yours for high speed networking.

Also splitting drivers into generic and OS specific parts typically
leads to poor and overcomplicated design.

Anyways if you really want abstraction elsewhere then use the Linux
names for it. But it's really not recommended.

-Andi