pkg/51549: Changes in NetBSD 7 kernel break all apps in PKGSRC using Network Statistics

[iradu%unix-world.org@localhost]

>Number:         51549
>Category:       pkg
>Synopsis:       Changes in NetBSD 7 kernel break all apps in PKGSRC using Network Statistics
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       critical
>Priority:       high
>Responsible:    pkg-manager
>State:          open
>Class:          sw-bug
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Mon Oct 10 09:05:00 +0000 2016
>Originator:     Radu
>Release:        7.0 / 7.0.1 with pkgsrc 2016-Q3
>Organization:
Unix-World.org
>Environment:
NetBSD uxm 7.0.1 NetBSD 7.0.1 (GENERIC.201605221355Z) amd64
>Description:
All applications from PKGSRC using network statistics are broken due recent changes in NetBSD 7.

After some investigations I presume this particular change was breaking all the apps:
* Change mii_statchg to take "struct ifnet *" instead of "device_t". [matt 20120722] 

Affected apps from pkgsrc 2014-Q2 up to 2016-Q3, includding current.
I know that the only affected OS is NetBSD 7.0 and 7.0.1.
Under the NetBSD 6.1.5 all works great !!

1. xosview, works but reports that no network interface was found
Reports errors:
xosview: !!! The kernel does not seem to have the symbols needed for the NetMeter.
xosview: !!! The NetMeter has been disabled.

2. libgtop, tested with mate-system-monitor or gnome-system-monitor
Reports errors:
LibGTop-Server: kvm_read (ifnet): Bad address
glibtop: read 2160 bytes: Undefined error: 0

The network statistics applet is broken in either Mate Desktop or Gnome Desktop because of this error and the Mate System Monitor or Gnome System Monitor can't start at all !!


>How-To-Repeat:
compile sysutils/xosview from pkgsrc (any pkgsrc current or in the last 2 years).

under NetBSD 6.1.5 will show the correct network interface statistics
under NetBSD 7.0 / 7.1.0 the network interface statistics will not be displayed, and reports that Network is DISABLED.

the same with libgtop + mate-system-monitor / gnome-system-monitor

I tested on the same hardware computer all 3 situations:
NetBSD 6.1.5, 6.0, 5.0 all work correctly
NetBSD 7.0, 7.0.1 fail
>Fix:
I don't know, either fix code in kernel, or need to patch a lot of apps in PKGSRC which now have broken their support for NetBSD NetStat ...