USB support in NDIS -- IFF_NEEDSGIANT?

[Robert Watson]

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009, Weongyo Jeong wrote:

>> As you know, I've been gradually working to eliminate all non-MPSAFE
>> network device driver infrastructure for 8.0, having removed non-MPSAFE
>> network protocol infrastructure in 7.0.  In reviewing remaining drivers
>> using IFF_NEEDSGIANT, I spotted this in the NDIS code:
...
>> Having taken a glance, it looks like this was added specifically to support
>> USB devices attached via NDIS.
>
> AFAIK all of usb wireless drivers had it so I couldn't avoid it when I had 
> implemented.
>
>> With the new USB code, are NDIS drivers still supported?
>
> I think that it would be supported at 8.0
>
>> And in the new world order, is this IFF_NEEDSGIANT still required?
>
> Probably we can remove the IFF_NEEDSGIANT flags at the new USB code.
>
>> Can I simply remove it once the old USB code is on the way out the door?
>
> IMHO yes I think.

Dear all:

A few weeks have passed, so I wanted to check in and see how this project was 
going -- are we at a point yet where removing IFF_NEEDSGIANT won't cause 
significant loss of functionality?

Thanks,

Robert N M Watson
Computer Laboratory
University of Cambridge