Subject: Re: kern/32342: OpenBSD firmware loading framework
To: None <kern-bug-people@netbsd.org, gnats-admin@netbsd.org,>
From: Jason Thorpe <thorpej@shagadelic.org>
List: netbsd-bugs
Date: 12/20/2005 03:55:02
The following reply was made to PR kern/32342; it has been noted by GNATS.
From: Jason Thorpe <thorpej@shagadelic.org>
To: matthew green <mrg@eterna.com.au>
Cc: Iain Hibbert <plunky@rya-online.net>, kern-bug-people@netbsd.org,
gnats-admin@netbsd.org, netbsd-bugs@netbsd.org, gnats-bugs@netbsd.org
Subject: Re: kern/32342: OpenBSD firmware loading framework
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 19:49:54 -0800
On Dec 19, 2005, at 5:02 PM, matthew green wrote:
>
> 1. It seems to me that it would be better to read such a
> firmware file one
> time and free it after use than to waste a chunk of memory (even
> if paged
> out) for ever.
> u
>
> some drivers need to reload the firmware "semi-often". ie, when
> my iwi(4) craps out, reloading the firmware fixes it usually. so
> getting rid of it isn't always isn't a good idea.
Yes, drivers should control the memory allocated for the firmware
image so that they can make their own decisions about when it should
stay or go.
-- thorpej