Re: [PATCH net-next 1/3] net: marvell: prestera: bump supported firmware version to 3.0

On Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 04:18:52PM +0200, Andrew Lunn wrote:

quoted

Regarding the distribution issue when the driver version might be released
earlier than the firmware, it looks like that the probability of such
case is very low because the distributor of the target Linux system will
keep track (actually this is how I see it) that driver and firmware
versions are aligned.

You really expect Debian, Redhat, openWRT, SuSE to keep a close eye on
your kernel driver and update their packages at a time you suggest?

No, I don't think these distros will keep track it because they are
targeted for wider usages).
But I think that NOS specifc distro (which may be based on top of which
you listed) will do it (sure this is just my assumption).

I'm also not sure your management port argument is valid. This is an
enterprise switch, not a TOR. It is probably installed in some broom
cupboard at a satellite facility. The management port is not likely to
have its own dedicated link back to the central management
site. Upgrades are going to be applied over the network, and you have
a real danger of turning it into a remote brick, needing local access
to restore it.

I really think you need to support two firmware generations.

  Andrew

I am just trying to clarify if it really worth of it because it will
lead to the hairy code and keep structs for previous FW version.
Ofcourse it may have not a big impact if it will be possible to handle
FW differences in prestera_hw.c only.

I really appreciate your comments, just sharing some concerns/doubts
to discuss.

Thanks,
Vadym Kochan