RE: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Jaursch, Bill
Your point is well taken.

I will probably end of with a system daemon (User Space), but pass
communication via a Kernel module (Kernel Space).  The application can
call the kernel module, passing data back to the daemon (User Space).
Once I have hw, I may just use the kernel module.

Thanks again.

-Original Message-
From: Stefan Richter [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 11:29 AM
To: Jaursch, Bill
Cc: Adrian Bunk; Leon Woestenberg; linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on
2.6 kernel

Jaursch, Bill wrote:
> The reason to even consider a driver for this "Software only" driver
> was to start the work of writing a kernel space driver (loadable
> module).  So more specifically, I wanted to know if there is a way
> to use calls to the kernel to access a loadable module that is
> running code in User Space (to take advantage of libraries, tools,
> prevention of kernel crashes, etc.).

Since you plan to use this for a PCI device eventually, it sounds like
UIO would be of help.

> I am running 2.6.20, so many of the new User Space Driver features
> don't appear to be available (UIO, User Space API, etc.).  And at
> this point I don't expect my end users to upgrade to a newer kernel.

Perhaps you can backport UIO or can get someone to do it for you.
-- 
Stefan Richter
-=-=-=== ==-- --==-
http://arcgraph.de/sr/
--
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Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Stefan Richter
Jaursch, Bill wrote:
> The reason to even consider a driver for this "Software only" driver
> was to start the work of writing a kernel space driver (loadable
> module).  So more specifically, I wanted to know if there is a way
> to use calls to the kernel to access a loadable module that is
> running code in User Space (to take advantage of libraries, tools,
> prevention of kernel crashes, etc.).

Since you plan to use this for a PCI device eventually, it sounds like
UIO would be of help.

> I am running 2.6.20, so many of the new User Space Driver features
> don't appear to be available (UIO, User Space API, etc.).  And at
> this point I don't expect my end users to upgrade to a newer kernel.

Perhaps you can backport UIO or can get someone to do it for you.
-- 
Stefan Richter
-=-=-=== ==-- --==-
http://arcgraph.de/sr/
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
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Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Stefan Richter
Adrian Bunk wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 05, 2007 at 01:29:23AM -0500, Jaursch, Bill wrote:
>> I have am in the process of writing a driver that is software only.
>> I would like to avoid the caveats of a kernel mode installable module.
>>...
> 
> What is "a driver that is software only"
> (all kernel code is also software only...)?
> 
> You must describe what you want to do for people being able to actually 
> help you.

Although "software only" is a wrong term here, it's certainly clear from
context what he meant.  However, what's missing is information about the
kind of device he plans to support.  Is it a USB device or is it sitting
behind a similar bus?  Or is it a device on a local bus like PCI?  In
the latter case, is DMA involved?

>> I found FUSD (http://svn.xiph.org/trunk/fusd/), but would like to know
>> if this is a stable project.

This question should be directed to the authors or maintainers of FUSD.
 Note, AFAIU from its documentation, FUSD is not a means to implement
arbitrary kinds of device drivers in userspace.  It allows for "proxying
*device file* callbacks into user-space, allowing *device files* to be
implemented by" userspace programs (emphasis is mine).  I.e. FUSD gives
userspace programs only the ability to supply a character special file
to other userspace programs.  In order to drive real hardware, the FUSD
client would additionally need to access other userspace interfaces of
the kernel, provided by actual kernelspace drivers.
-- 
Stefan Richter
-=-=-=== ==-- --==-
http://arcgraph.de/sr/
--
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Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Leon Woestenberg
> If you have any other suggestions on projects, articles, etc. on Linux User 
> Space Device Drivers, I would greatly appreciate the information.
>

A suggestion:

UIO: user-space drivers, since kernel version 2.6.21

http://lwn.net/Articles/232575/

Regards,
--
Leon
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Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Adrian Bunk
On Wed, Dec 05, 2007 at 01:29:23AM -0500, Jaursch, Bill wrote:
> I have am in the process of writing a driver that is software only.  I would 
> like to avoid the caveats of a kernel mode installable module.
>...

What is "a driver that is software only"
(all kernel code is also software only...)?

You must describe what you want to do for people being able to actually 
help you.

> Thanks,
> Bill

cu
Adrian

-- 

   "Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out
of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days.
   "Only a promise," Lao Er said.
   Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed

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Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Adrian Bunk
On Wed, Dec 05, 2007 at 01:29:23AM -0500, Jaursch, Bill wrote:
 I have am in the process of writing a driver that is software only.  I would 
 like to avoid the caveats of a kernel mode installable module.
...

What is a driver that is software only
(all kernel code is also software only...)?

You must describe what you want to do for people being able to actually 
help you.

 Thanks,
 Bill

cu
Adrian

-- 

   Is there not promise of rain? Ling Tan asked suddenly out
of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days.
   Only a promise, Lao Er said.
   Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed

--
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the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Leon Woestenberg
 If you have any other suggestions on projects, articles, etc. on Linux User 
 Space Device Drivers, I would greatly appreciate the information.


A suggestion:

UIO: user-space drivers, since kernel version 2.6.21

http://lwn.net/Articles/232575/

Regards,
--
Leon
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line unsubscribe linux-kernel in
the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Stefan Richter
Adrian Bunk wrote:
 On Wed, Dec 05, 2007 at 01:29:23AM -0500, Jaursch, Bill wrote:
 I have am in the process of writing a driver that is software only.
 I would like to avoid the caveats of a kernel mode installable module.
...
 
 What is a driver that is software only
 (all kernel code is also software only...)?
 
 You must describe what you want to do for people being able to actually 
 help you.

Although software only is a wrong term here, it's certainly clear from
context what he meant.  However, what's missing is information about the
kind of device he plans to support.  Is it a USB device or is it sitting
behind a similar bus?  Or is it a device on a local bus like PCI?  In
the latter case, is DMA involved?

 I found FUSD (http://svn.xiph.org/trunk/fusd/), but would like to know
 if this is a stable project.

This question should be directed to the authors or maintainers of FUSD.
 Note, AFAIU from its documentation, FUSD is not a means to implement
arbitrary kinds of device drivers in userspace.  It allows for proxying
*device file* callbacks into user-space, allowing *device files* to be
implemented by userspace programs (emphasis is mine).  I.e. FUSD gives
userspace programs only the ability to supply a character special file
to other userspace programs.  In order to drive real hardware, the FUSD
client would additionally need to access other userspace interfaces of
the kernel, provided by actual kernelspace drivers.
-- 
Stefan Richter
-=-=-=== ==-- --==-
http://arcgraph.de/sr/
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line unsubscribe linux-kernel in
the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/


Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Stefan Richter
Jaursch, Bill wrote:
 The reason to even consider a driver for this Software only driver
 was to start the work of writing a kernel space driver (loadable
 module).  So more specifically, I wanted to know if there is a way
 to use calls to the kernel to access a loadable module that is
 running code in User Space (to take advantage of libraries, tools,
 prevention of kernel crashes, etc.).

Since you plan to use this for a PCI device eventually, it sounds like
UIO would be of help.

 I am running 2.6.20, so many of the new User Space Driver features
 don't appear to be available (UIO, User Space API, etc.).  And at
 this point I don't expect my end users to upgrade to a newer kernel.

Perhaps you can backport UIO or can get someone to do it for you.
-- 
Stefan Richter
-=-=-=== ==-- --==-
http://arcgraph.de/sr/
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line unsubscribe linux-kernel in
the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/


RE: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on 2.6 kernel

2007-12-06 Thread Jaursch, Bill
Your point is well taken.

I will probably end of with a system daemon (User Space), but pass
communication via a Kernel module (Kernel Space).  The application can
call the kernel module, passing data back to the daemon (User Space).
Once I have hw, I may just use the kernel module.

Thanks again.

-Original Message-
From: Stefan Richter [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 11:29 AM
To: Jaursch, Bill
Cc: Adrian Bunk; Leon Woestenberg; linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: FW: Guidance on resources for User Space Device Drivers on
2.6 kernel

Jaursch, Bill wrote:
 The reason to even consider a driver for this Software only driver
 was to start the work of writing a kernel space driver (loadable
 module).  So more specifically, I wanted to know if there is a way
 to use calls to the kernel to access a loadable module that is
 running code in User Space (to take advantage of libraries, tools,
 prevention of kernel crashes, etc.).

Since you plan to use this for a PCI device eventually, it sounds like
UIO would be of help.

 I am running 2.6.20, so many of the new User Space Driver features
 don't appear to be available (UIO, User Space API, etc.).  And at
 this point I don't expect my end users to upgrade to a newer kernel.

Perhaps you can backport UIO or can get someone to do it for you.
-- 
Stefan Richter
-=-=-=== ==-- --==-
http://arcgraph.de/sr/
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line unsubscribe linux-kernel in
the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/