[PATCH v2] net: enable wireless core features with LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG

In embedded environments the requirements are to be able to pick and
chose which features one requires built into the kernel.  If an
embedded environment wants to supports loading modules that have been
kbuilt out of tree, there is a need to enable hidden configurations
for legacy wireless core features to provide the API surface for
them to load.

Introduce CONFIG_LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG to select all legacy wireless
extension core features by activating in turn all the associated
hidden configuration options, without having to specifically select
any wireless module(s).

Signed-off-by: Mark Salyzyn <redacted>
Cc: kernel-team@android.com
Cc: Johannes Berg <johannes@sipsolutions.net>
Cc: "David S. Miller" <davem@davemloft.net>
Cc: Marcel Holtmann <marcel@holtmann.org>
Cc: linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
Cc: netdev@vger.kernel.org
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org # 4.19
---
v2: change name and documentation to CONFIG_LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG
---
 net/wireless/Kconfig | 14 ++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+)

diff --git a/net/wireless/Kconfig b/net/wireless/Kconfig
index 67f8360dfcee..0d646cf28de5 100644
--- a/net/wireless/Kconfig
+++ b/net/wireless/Kconfig

@@ -17,6 +17,20 @@ config WEXT_SPY
 config WEXT_PRIV
 	bool
 
+config LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG
+	bool "allconfig for legacy wireless extensions"
+	select WIRELESS_EXT
+	select WEXT_CORE
+	select WEXT_PROC
+	select WEXT_SPY
+	select WEXT_PRIV
+	help
+	  Config option used to enable all the legacy wireless extensions to
+	  the core functionality used by add-in modules.
+
+	  If you are not building a kernel to be used for a variety of
+	  out-of-kernel built wireless modules, say N here.
+
 config CFG80211
 	tristate "cfg80211 - wireless configuration API"
 	depends on RFKILL || !RFKILL

-- 
2.23.0.187.g17f5b7556c-goog

On Fri, Sep 06, 2019 at 12:24:00PM -0700, Mark Salyzyn wrote:

How is this patch applicable to stable kernels???

On 9/6/19 4:30 PM, Greg KH wrote:

On Fri, Sep 06, 2019 at 12:24:00PM -0700, Mark Salyzyn wrote:

quoted

In embedded environments the requirements are to be able to pick and
chose which features one requires built into the kernel.  If an
embedded environment wants to supports loading modules that have been
kbuilt out of tree, there is a need to enable hidden configurations
for legacy wireless core features to provide the API surface for
them to load.

Introduce CONFIG_LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG to select all legacy wireless
extension core features by activating in turn all the associated
hidden configuration options, without having to specifically select
any wireless module(s).

Signed-off-by: Mark Salyzyn <redacted>
Cc: kernel-team@android.com
Cc: Johannes Berg <johannes@sipsolutions.net>
Cc: "David S. Miller" <davem@davemloft.net>
Cc: Marcel Holtmann <marcel@holtmann.org>
Cc: linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
Cc: netdev@vger.kernel.org
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org # 4.19
---
v2: change name and documentation to CONFIG_LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG
---
  net/wireless/Kconfig | 14 ++++++++++++++
  1 file changed, 14 insertions(+)

diff --git a/net/wireless/Kconfig b/net/wireless/Kconfig
index 67f8360dfcee..0d646cf28de5 100644
--- a/net/wireless/Kconfig
+++ b/net/wireless/Kconfig

@@ -17,6 +17,20 @@ config WEXT_SPY
  config WEXT_PRIV
  	bool
  
+config LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG
+	bool "allconfig for legacy wireless extensions"
+	select WIRELESS_EXT
+	select WEXT_CORE
+	select WEXT_PROC
+	select WEXT_SPY
+	select WEXT_PRIV
+	help
+	  Config option used to enable all the legacy wireless extensions to
+	  the core functionality used by add-in modules.
+
+	  If you are not building a kernel to be used for a variety of
+	  out-of-kernel built wireless modules, say N here.
+
  config CFG80211
  	tristate "cfg80211 - wireless configuration API"
  	depends on RFKILL || !RFKILL

-- 
2.23.0.187.g17f5b7556c-goog

How is this patch applicable to stable kernels???

A) worth a shot ;-}

B) there is a shortcoming in _all_ kernel versions with respect to 
hidden configurations options like this, hoping to set one precedent in 
how to handle them if acceptable to the community.

C) [AGENDA ALERT] Android _will_ be back-porting this to android-4.19 
kernel anyway, would help maintenance if via stable. <holding hat in hand>

D) Not an ABI or interface break, does not introduce instability, but 
rather keeps downstream kernels of any distributions from having to hack 
in their own alternate means of dealing with this problem leading to 
further fragmentation.

E) Timely discussion item for LPC?

Sincerely -- Mark Salyzyn

On Mon, Sep 09, 2019 at 07:24:29AM -0700, Mark Salyzyn wrote:

On 9/6/19 4:30 PM, Greg KH wrote:

quoted

On Fri, Sep 06, 2019 at 12:24:00PM -0700, Mark Salyzyn wrote:

quoted

In embedded environments the requirements are to be able to pick and
chose which features one requires built into the kernel.  If an
embedded environment wants to supports loading modules that have been
kbuilt out of tree, there is a need to enable hidden configurations
for legacy wireless core features to provide the API surface for
them to load.

Introduce CONFIG_LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG to select all legacy wireless
extension core features by activating in turn all the associated
hidden configuration options, without having to specifically select
any wireless module(s).

Signed-off-by: Mark Salyzyn <redacted>
Cc: kernel-team@android.com
Cc: Johannes Berg <johannes@sipsolutions.net>
Cc: "David S. Miller" <davem@davemloft.net>
Cc: Marcel Holtmann <marcel@holtmann.org>
Cc: linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
Cc: netdev@vger.kernel.org
Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org # 4.19
---
v2: change name and documentation to CONFIG_LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG
---
  net/wireless/Kconfig | 14 ++++++++++++++
  1 file changed, 14 insertions(+)

diff --git a/net/wireless/Kconfig b/net/wireless/Kconfig
index 67f8360dfcee..0d646cf28de5 100644
--- a/net/wireless/Kconfig
+++ b/net/wireless/Kconfig

@@ -17,6 +17,20 @@ config WEXT_SPY
  config WEXT_PRIV
  	bool
+config LEGACY_WEXT_ALLCONFIG
+	bool "allconfig for legacy wireless extensions"
+	select WIRELESS_EXT
+	select WEXT_CORE
+	select WEXT_PROC
+	select WEXT_SPY
+	select WEXT_PRIV
+	help
+	  Config option used to enable all the legacy wireless extensions to
+	  the core functionality used by add-in modules.
+
+	  If you are not building a kernel to be used for a variety of
+	  out-of-kernel built wireless modules, say N here.
+
  config CFG80211
  	tristate "cfg80211 - wireless configuration API"
  	depends on RFKILL || !RFKILL

-- 
2.23.0.187.g17f5b7556c-goog

How is this patch applicable to stable kernels???

A) worth a shot ;-}

Not nice, please, you know better :)

B) there is a shortcoming in _all_ kernel versions with respect to hidden
configurations options like this, hoping to set one precedent in how to
handle them if acceptable to the community.

That's fine, but it's a new feature, not for stable.

C) [AGENDA ALERT] Android _will_ be back-porting this to android-4.19 kernel
anyway, would help maintenance if via stable. <holding hat in hand>

That's fine, lots of distros backport loads of stuff for new features
for stuff that is upstream.  That's trivial to do, don't try to abuse
the stable tree for new features like this please.  It only makes
maintainers grumpy when you do so :(

D) Not an ABI or interface break, does not introduce instability, but rather
keeps downstream kernels of any distributions from having to hack in their
own alternate means of dealing with this problem leading to further
fragmentation.

Again, new feature, not fixing a bug, so not applicable for stable.

For penance I require a handwritten copy of:
    https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/stable-kernel-rules.html

thanks,

greg k-h