[CentOS-devel] RFC: kmods SIG Proposal

Mon May 24 20:12:47 UTC 2021
Peter Georg <peter.georg at physik.uni-regensburg.de>


On 24/05/2021 16.38, Patrick Riehecky wrote:
> 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.

Your support is greatly appreciated. I'll update the status next time I 
post an update. Thanks!

> 
>>
>> == 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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>>   
> 
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