On Sat, 27 Aug 2005 11:21:37 -0500, James Ketrenos wrote: > The order required of user space is: > > kernel hotplug hotplug script > ----------------------- -------------- ----------- > 1. module load > 2. netdev device registered > 3. new device > 4. ifconfig up > 5. open: load firmware, > 6. init device, etc. > 7. configure wireless > 8. scan > 9. associate > A. > link > > > B. carrier detected > C. configure link > (dhcp)
I don't agree with this scheme. Association should be started on explicit userspace request (*). As we definitely don't want to add a new WE (or some other) call to perform this, the only call we can use for telling the driver "ok, now it's the time to associate" is ifconfig up. So opening the card should follow its configuration. And yes, this brings up the problem with firmware loading. It should really be solved, but trying to solve it by requiring to bring the card up before it is configured is the bad way. Today, some cards require to be brought up before they are configured and some require it in the other order. Distributions have to deal with it if they want to support different devices. It definitely needs to be unified. And when the unification is performed, why not do this the right way? (*) Because it's not good idea to start association before wireless is fully configured. Trying to associate to some random AP because semi-entered configuration matches the AP settings is very unexpected behaviour. And there might arise some problems with allowed/forbidden channels as well. -- Jiri Benc SUSE Labs - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe netdev" in the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html