On Wed, 2007-09-05 at 13:38 +0100, Karanbir Singh wrote:
Hi guys,
I have been thinking about starting something that brings in extra Hardware compatibility and drivers to the stock centos kernel. Perhaps doing this as a SIG might be a good idea.
The aim would be ( but not limited to ):
Find and coordinate the efforts by various hardware vendors to support CentOS
Publish a comprehensive ( as much as possible ) install time DriverDisk ( both
as an .img and .iso )
- Create, test and publish a mechanism to follow kernel updates ( might need
someone to actually have access to some of this hardware, but it should be manageable specially if we can get the attention of hardware vendors ).
- Create a feedback-loop that makes it easy for users to request drivers /
functionality in the stock and plus kernels. How we deliver on this is perhaps a discussion in itself, and something we can consider when we come to it.
Seems that kernels/drivers/modules diverging from the upstream would need to be in [a] separate repo[s], something like Johnny's 100Hz kernels.
- Bring together into 1 place all the various opensource drivers being published
by Vendors ( 3ware, areca, tyan, supermicro etc ) for newer versions of their products that are not in the upstream version as yet. This might mean setting up an ftp location somewhere (?)
Could get sticky, depending on license issues. Why not just maintain a set of links to the latest sources from the vendors?
- I would also not mind looking at the very dark grey area of providing updated
drivers for some components ( like the recent bcm and marvell ethernet drivers that really do need updating in the upstream kernel ) - but this again depends on how people feel about it - in lots of cases, we might end up step into and through a redhat patch.
Now, what does everyone else think ? If I start this, is it going to be only me there or is someone else going to come along for the ride as well ?
Overall, your objectives sound great. The dark-gray territory would be a challenge, but seems like good CentOS value-added if done carefully, with appropriate caveats, and (obviously) kept outside the core repos. Just not sure what the advantage of a SIG is over keeping it on centos-devel. Please elaborate.
Phil