Hi Paul, > -----Original Message----- > From: Paul Menzel [mailto:pmen...@molgen.mpg.de] > Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2017 3:12 PM > To: Raghava Aditya Renukunta > <raghavaaditya.renuku...@microsemi.com>; dl-esc-Aacraid Linux Driver > <aacr...@microsemi.com> > Cc: linux-scsi@vger.kernel.org; it+linux-s...@molgen.mpg.de > Subject: Re: Driver version for PMC Adaptec HBA in Linux and from vendor > > EXTERNAL EMAIL > > > Dear Raghava Aditya, > > > Thank you for your answer. > > Am 18.12.2017 um 19:09 schrieb Raghava Aditya Renukunta: > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Paul Menzel [mailto:pmen...@molgen.mpg.de] > >> Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2017 1:39 AM > >> To: Raghava Aditya Renukunta > >> <raghavaaditya.renuku...@microsemi.com>; dl-esc-Aacraid Linux Driver > >> <aacr...@microsemi.com> > >> Cc: linux-scsi@vger.kernel.org; it+linux-s...@vger.kernel.org > >> Subject: Re: Driver version for PMC Adaptec HBA in Linux and from > vendor > > >> Am 17.02.2017 um 20:29 schrieb Raghava Aditya Renukunta: > >> > >>>> Using a PMC Adaptec HBA 1000-8e with latest Linux, it only initializes > >>>> in sync mode, instead of async mode. > >>> > >>> The patches that enable async mode in HBA 1000-8e, have been > included in > >> the James Bottomley's linux-scsi Branch and are on track be > >>> Included into Linux 4.11. > >>> > >>> https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/jejb/scsi.git/ > >>> > >>>> ``` > >>>> $ git describe --tag > >>>> v4.10-rc8-47-g0722f57bf > >>>> $ dmesg > >>>> [ 21.359635] Adaptec aacraid driver 1.2-1[41066]-ms > >>>> [ 21.360017] aacraid 0000:04:00.0: can't disable ASPM; OS doesn't have > >>>> ASPM control > >>>> [ 21.363987] AAC0: Async. mode not supported by current driver, sync. > >>>> mode enforced. > >>>> [ 21.363987] Please update driver to get full performance. > >>>> [ 21.364949] AAC0: kernel 1.2-0[0] Nov 5 2015 > >>>> [ 21.365275] AAC0: monitor 0.0-0[0] > >>>> [ 21.371382] AAC0: bios 0.13-209[32000] > >>>> [ 21.371711] AAC0: serial 10F447 > >>>> [ 21.372035] AAC0: Non-DASD support enabled. > >>>> [ 21.372360] AAC0: 64bit support enabled. > >>>> [ 21.372688] AAC0: 64 Bit DAC enabled > >>>> […] > >>>> $ git grep 'AAC_DRIVER_BUILD 41066' > >>>> drivers/scsi/aacraid/aacraid.h:# define AAC_DRIVER_BUILD 41066 > >>>> ``` > >>>> > >>>> Searching the vendor Web site, there is *Linux Driver Source > >>>> 1.2.1-53005* available for download [1]. > >>> > >>> The latest upstream driver version is 50740. We will be reaching version > 53005 in couple of patch sets ( ~ 3). > >>> > >> > http://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/jejb/scsi.git/commit/?id=96f6a613 > >> 4766de0d42a98c7758736dde16e0add5 > >> > >> Thank you for the details. At our infrastructure we only want to use LTS > >> Linux kernels, and the latest in 4.14. So right now, Linux 4.14.6 > >> includes version 50834 [1], which is the same version currently in Linus > >> master branch (4.15-rc3). Is that save to use with async mode, or are > >> you aware of problems and we should always use the latest out of tree > >> driver, which is at version 55022 and can be download from the Microsemi > >> server [3]. > > > > Well at this point I am in the process of creating a patch set that solves a > kdump regression issue(Should be out before the new year), other than that > the upstream driver is pretty much up to date. If kdump support is a must > for you I would recommend that 55022 be used. > > From your answer the state of async support is unclear to me. Could you > please clarify, if that’s support in 4.14.x? (What source line do I need > to check?)
It is supported in 4.14, there is no single line specifically, but if the variable sa_firmware is set then async mode is enabled. > >>>> How does the upstream process work? Is there a git repository > somewhere > >>>> from Microsemi? Are the patches already up for review? (I didn’t find > them.) > >>> > >>> We try to push out patch sets to kernel.org for every major driver > release we make. Usually they go into the > >>> sub component maintainers branch (linux-scsi ) , which is then pushed > out to Linus when the merge > >>> window for opens (currently the merge window for 4.10 is closed , > barring fixes). So Linux version 4.11 should have > >>> full async support and more for HBA1000-8e. > >>> > >>> We do not maintain a git repository unfortunately, but we do release the > >>> source code for every release as you indicated. > >>> > >>> For further reference the patches are sent out in the scsi mailing list > linux-scsi@vger.kernel.org , > >>> the archive is here http://marc.info/?l=linux-scsi&r=1&w=2 . > >>> > >>> Hope I cleared up your doubts. Please do reach out if you have other > concerns or questions. > >> > >> Yes, thank you for your elaborate answer, which cleared up a lot of my > >> doubts. We would be even more satisfied if you moved your > development > >> fully to the Linux kernel tree, so that it always carries the latest > >> driver. If we can help with that by contacting certain people, please > >> tell us. > > > > We would love to, but we have lots of customers who are on the older > kernel versions 2.6.32, 3.10.0 etc and It becomes almost impossible for us to > fully move our development to the Linux kernel tree and support our > customers at the same time. Hopefully we will start being up to date with > the upstream kernel in the coming months. Hope that answered your > questions. > > I understand, but doesn’t it make more sense to adapt the model like > done for Linux Long Term Support (LTS) series to develop against the > latest Linux kernel, and then backport the corresponding patches? > > Maybe you should talk to Red Hat and SUSE? I guess that’s the systems > you have to support. Probably you already talk to them. That is a good thought, I can funnel back your feedback to my Team and Management. I certainly think there is value in it. Regards, Raghava Aditya > Kind regards, > > Paul > > > >>>> [1] https://storage.microsemi.com/en- > us/speed/raid/aac/linux/aacraid-linux-src-1_2_1-53005_tgz.php > >> [2] https://elixir.free- > electrons.com/linux/v4.14.6/source/drivers/scsi/aacraid/aacraid.h#L100 > >> [3] https://storage.microsemi.com/en- > us/downloads/linux_source/linux_source_code/productid=aha-1000- > 8e&dn=microsemi+adaptec+hba+1000-8e.php
