> Erik Trimble <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > There have been extensive discussions on loadable
> modules and licensing
> > w/r/t the GPLv2 in the linux kernel. nVidia,
> amongst others, pushed hard
> > to allow for non-GPL-compatible licensed code to be
> allowed as a Linux
> > kernel module. However, the kernel developers'
> consensus seems to have
> > come down against modifying the current kernel GPL
> license to allow for
> > non-GPL'd loadable modules.
>
> If ever, you would not need to modify the GPL (you
> are not allowed to do so
> anyway), but the Linux kernel code would need changes
> to have more clean
> interfaces.
It would be interesting to know whether the Linux kernel folks
are willing to accept this approach. I doubt it. It would be
easier if we can map all of the Solaris APIs that are used in
ZFS with Linux's. For instance, the VOP_XXX functions, and
the synchronization facility, spinlock_t to Solaris kmutex_t etc.
Then, we don't need to worry about whether ZFS is part of
Linux kernel project.
>
> Depending on the type of a loadable module and on the
> country where the Author
> is located (and the local Gopyright law), it looks
> like non-GPL modules are
> usually allowed unless you try to incorporate these
> modules into the
> Linux _project_ itself.
>
> The GPL only requires that all files from a single
> project ("Work") are
> under GPL.
>
> As I would call ZFS a separate project, it may be
> under a separate and
> different license.
>
> Note that if the people who like to disallow code
> under non-GPL lisenses
> like CDDLd code to be used together with GPLd
> projects, these people must
> (if they would be consistent) also demand that GPLd
> projects may not use
> LGPLd libraries (as these libs usually cannot be
> relicensed under GPL).
>
> Conclusion: it is a problem that lives in the mind of
> the Linux kernel people
> that cannot be fixed unless these people start having
> a more realistic view
> on the problem.
I understand the concern for the Linux kernel.. In order to
make ZFS to be part of Linux distribution, some of the
Linux kernel APIs may need to be changed. It is not an
easy task because there is so much code dependent on
the APIs.
>
> Jörg
>
> --
> EMail:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (home) Jörg
> Schilling D-13353 Berlin
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] (uni)
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] (work) Blog:
> http://schily.blogspot.com/
> URL: http://cdrecord.berlios.de/old/private/
> ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/schily
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>
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