FreeBSD-6.2 & PLIP - does it still work ?

[Julian Stacey]

Reference:
> From:		ghozzy <ghozzy at gmail.com> 
> Date:		Fri, 8 Jun 2007 22:59:26 +0400 
> Message-id:	<a066eefc0706081159t1929b615j4391d91f48df4acc at mail.gmail.com> 

ghozzy wrote:
> On 6/8/07, Julian Stacey <jhs at berklix.org> wrote:
> > Anyone seen PLIP working on FreeBSD-6.2 release ?
> > I've tested my PLIP cable between 2 x 4.11 boxes.  I'm trying to
> > install a laptop with 6.2 boot flops (with failed pcmcia/ether
> > recognition) I cant get that laptop & a 6.2 tower to talk to each
> > other.  Neither will those 2 x 6.2 talk to 4.11.  I havent quite
> > done all exhaustive tests, (but am exhausted & seems worth asking :-)
> >
> > Julian
> > --
> > Julian Stacey. Munich Computer Consultant, BSD Unix C Linux. http://berklix.com
> >   HTML mail=spam. Ihr Rauch=mein allergischer Kopfschmerz. Dump cigs 4 snuff.
> 
> It seems to me PLIP has been broken somwhere after branching RELENG_5.
> Between two RELENG_4 it worked fine (used from about 4.3 to latest 4.11).
> If any end was using RELENG_5 or RELENG_6 it didn't work any more.
> I thought first, maybe there were some incompatible changes in protocol
> or something, i tried to use the same FreeBSD versions on two ends
> (both RELENG_5 or both RELENG_6), but that was not the case.
> 
> My tests were not exhaustive either, but i actually tried to fire it up again
> numerous times, enough for my own assurance.
> 
> If anybody could shed some light, i would be curious.
> I could also make tests if needed.

Thanks for confirmation ghozzy,
Can anyone say eg "No it works for me" ? 
Or now we know PL-IP is broken, Options:
  - Post net at freebsd for specialists,
  - Post mobile at freebsd (where it most hurts, as PLIP really needed when 
    pcmcia slots not recognised on older laptops so cant install FreeBSD).
  - Send-pr for manual to declare plip broken.
  - Read & compare source of 4.11 & 6.2 Release src/sys/dev/ppbus/if_plip.c
	(interesting, but short of time, & others who've hacked / broken 
	 it might fix quicker ?)
    I viewed with /usr/ports/textproc/mgdiff & diff not that big, eg
	diff -c 4.11/usr/src/sys/dev/ppbus/if_plip.c.~1~ \
		6.1/usr/src/sys/dev/ppbus/if_plip.c.~1~ | wc
     		481    1466   11651
Julian
-- 
Julian Stacey. Munich Computer Consultant, BSD Unix C Linux. http://berklix.com