[CentOS-devel] RFC: kmods SIG Proposal

On Sun, 2021-05-23 at 16:32 +0200, Peter Georg wrote:
> Thanks to everyone for the input so far. I updated the original
> proposal 
> to reflect your input. In case I forgot something, please let me
> know.
> 
> Short summary of changes:
> - Added information about kmod specific user space tools
> - Specify concrete license requirements for third-party kernel
> modules
> - Added working on a solution for signing kernel modules to the
> Roadmap
> - Put more emphasis on collaboration with other existing efforts
> 
> I am happy to hear all your comments and suggestions!
> 
> 
> The updated proposal:
> = kmods SIG =
> 
> == Goals ==
> The kmods SIG will focus on providing kernel modules currently not 
> available in CentOS Stream.
> 
> == Status ==
> Proposed: RFC and looking for a sponsoring Governing Board member

As a board member, I'll sponsor this.

> 
> == What's in scope ==
> This SIG is a good place for any kernel module that is beneficial to 
> CentOS Stream, but cannot be directly contributed to any of the
> involved 
> upstream projects. These kernel modules may be divided in three
> categories:
> 
> === Restore support for deprecated devices ===
> The CentOS Stream kernel includes several kernel modules for which
> the 
> list of supported devices has been limited by Red Hat. This SIG aims
> to 
> provide versions of these kernel modules with restored support for as
> many deprecated and removed devices as possible.
> 
> === In-kernel modules not enabled for CentOS Stream ===
> Many in-kernel modules are simply disabled for the CentOS Stream
> kernel. 
> This may either be due to  drivers being deprecated and removed
> compared 
> to older CentOS major releases or never being enabled in the first 
> place. This SIG aims to provide these in-kernel drivers as external 
> kernel modules to enable CentOS Stream running on a broader range of 
> available hardware and provide other beneficial functionality.
> 
> === Third-party external kernel modules ===
> This SIG also aims to provide third-party kernel modules for CentOS 
> Stream not (yet) available in upstream kernel.
> 
> === User space tools ===
> User space tools required by or specific to kernel modules provided
> by 
> this SIG, which are not suitable to be included in EPEL, shall be 
> provided by this SIG as well.
> 
> == What's not in scope ==
> Anything that can be contributed directly to any of the involved 
> upstream projects is not in scope. This includes, but is not limited
> to:
> 
> * Unrelated user space packages: These should be submitted to
> Fedora/EPEL
> * Support for new architectures currently not supported by CentOS
> Stream
> * Third-party kernel modules with a non GPL v2 compatible license
> 
> == Collaboration ==
> It is desired to work closely together with other groups working on 
> similar tasks within the CentOS Stream community and the broader 
> Enterprise Linux community. In particular this includes, but is not 
> limited to:
> 
> === kernel-plus ===
> Especially for in-kernel modules (the first two groups identified
> above) 
> it is desired to closely work together with the kernel-plus 
> developers/maintainers.
> 
> === CentOS Stream kernel ===
> A close collaboration with upstream is desired to get any valuable 
> kernel module directly into the CentOS Stream kernel.
> 
> === ELRepo ===
> There is a large overlap with ELRepo for many of the kernel modules
> to 
> be provided by this SIG for CentOS Stream. Hence we hope to establish
> a 
> good connection with the ELRepo community which shall be beneficial
> to 
> both sides.
> 
> == Roadmap ==
>   * Provide packages for in-kernel modules with restored support for 
> deprecated devices
>   * Provide packages for in-kernel modules that have been supported
> in 
> older CentOS major releases
>   * Provide packages for further beneficial kernel modules requested
> by 
> the community
>   * Work with other SIGs and others involved to establish a common 
> work-flow to sign kernels and/or kernel modules provided by SIGs.
> 
> == Resources ==
> TBD
> 
> == Communication ==
> The SIG uses the 
> [[
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.centos.org_mailman_listinfo_centos-2Ddevel-257Ccentos-2Ddevel&d=DwICAg&c=gRgGjJ3BkIsb5y6s49QqsA&r=OAMtP0DWou0nlXG7Kmxo2enjXJfwb1DXS9fwcaESuTE&m=gkQhKvdt62P5rFjKK6CgMej4uOutt5TIoS16FB4xSeA&s=solQuNd1VZcCZ5SZO9wtVAcV_-7CCavzxGaWbWKKYd8&e=
>  ]]
> mailing list for coordination and communication.
> 
> TBD: Add note about regular meetings once established.
> 
> == Membership ==
> The current set of members is:
> 
> ##begin-members
>   * ...
> ##end-members
> 
> The SIG is co-chaired by ... and ....
> 
> Everybody is welcome to join and contribute to the SIG. Membership
> can 
> be requested by asking on the 
> [[
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__lists.centos.org_mailman_listinfo_centos-2Ddevel-257Ccentos-2Ddevel&d=DwICAg&c=gRgGjJ3BkIsb5y6s49QqsA&r=OAMtP0DWou0nlXG7Kmxo2enjXJfwb1DXS9fwcaESuTE&m=gkQhKvdt62P5rFjKK6CgMej4uOutt5TIoS16FB4xSeA&s=solQuNd1VZcCZ5SZO9wtVAcV_-7CCavzxGaWbWKKYd8&e=
>  ]]
> mailing list. Any current member can raise objections and request a 
> simple majority vote on membership applications. SIG members are 
> expected to actively contribute or otherwise remain engaged with the 
> project. Stale members may be removed by a simple majority vote after
> six months of inactivity.
> 
> The SIG is co-chaired by two equal chairpersons elected by SIG
> members 
> for one year. Each chairperson is elected individually using a
> plurality 
> vote.
> 
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