Short answer: You cannot use the Linux code (even header file
definitions) within a Solaris kernel.
Long answer:
Some GPL advocates (e.g. Donald Becker) claim that loading a kernel
module is creating a derivative work; therefore GPL code cannot be used
in any kernel that is not GPL or GPL compatible.
(Technically, IIUC, its not the *use* that creates the problem -- you
can do whatever you want with the GPL bits. Its *distribution* that is
limited. You can't distribute the resulting bits of a derivative work.)
Certain GPL/Linux folks (Donald Becker comes to mind again) have
promised to aggressively litigate to prevent inclusion of GPL sources in
any non-GPL-compatible kernel. (Note: CDDL is not deemed to be GPL
compatible.)
While I don't know of any specific cases where this has been tested in
court (the definition of "derivative" work, and dynamic linking vs.
static linking seems -- to me at least -- to be somewhat debatable),
Sun's policy is to prohibit any GPL or GPL-derived code in the kernel.
(I believe this policy holds true for library code as well, but I'm not
as certain.)
-- Garett
max at bruningsystems.com wrote:
> Hi Edward,
>
> Edward O'Callaghan wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Wow yes please ! What terms is it under?
>>
>>
>>
> This is one of the reasons I posted about this. I'll explain what I did.
> My intention (hope?) is to make the kernel driver (actually, a STREAMS
> module on top of the hid driver) CDDL. But I am using the Linux
> X input driver (xdrv) source slightly modified (basically, different
> ioctl calls
> to my wacom streams module. So, I guess the xdrv stuff would be GPL.
> To do this, I am including a header file (input.h) in my driver. So, am
> I allowed
> to do this? Do I need to re-write the xdrv code? Can I use a linux
> header file
> (for #defines) in my kernel module, or do I need to re-write the streams
> module
> as well?
>
> thanks,
> max
>
>
>> Regards,
>> Edward O'Callaghan.
>>
>> 2008/12/19 max at bruningsystems.com <max at bruningsystems.com>:
>>
>>
>>> Hi.
>>> I sent the following to the driver list, (and one or two other mailing
>>> lists), and
>>> it was suggested I post something here...
>>>
>>> I have written a driver (and X input extension library) for Wacom pen
>>> tablets. The driver works with gimp, and basically does most everything
>>> that the equivalent software does on Linux. There are still a
>>> few issues... Currently, the tablet must be identified in an xorg.conf
>>> file. I am trying to figure out how
>>> to do this with hal and an fdi file, but haven't figured that out yet.
>>> Also, I have only tested with 2 different tablets (Intuos 3 and
>>> Bamboo). I am (slowly) porting Xara Xtreme
>>> (see http://www.xaraxtreme.org/ for info).
>>>
>>> So, is anyone interested in this? What steps do I need to take to get
>>> this into OpenSolaris? Is someone in Sun already working on this?
>>>
>>> thanks,
>>> max
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> xwin-discuss mailing list
>>> xwin-discuss at opensolaris.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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> driver-discuss at opensolaris.org
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>
