On Thu, Jan 23, 2020 at 08:18:08AM +0000, Michal Kalderon wrote: > > From: linux-rdma-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <linux-rdma- > > owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Leon Romanovsky > > Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2020 8:21 PM > > To: Michal Kalderon <mkalderon@xxxxxxxxxxx> > > Cc: Ariel Elior <aelior@xxxxxxxxxxx>; davem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; > > netdev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; linux-rdma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; linux- > > scsi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Subject: Re: [EXT] Re: [PATCH net-next 14/14] qed: bump driver version > > > > On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 04:39:26PM +0000, Michal Kalderon wrote: > > > > From: Leon Romanovsky <leon@xxxxxxxxxx> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2020 6:14 PM > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > -- On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 05:26:27PM +0200, Michal Kalderon wrote: > > > > > The FW brings along a large set of fixes and features which will > > > > > be added at a later phase. This is an adaquete point to bump the > > > > > driver > > > > version. > > > > > > > > > > Signed-off-by: Ariel Elior <ariel.elior@xxxxxxxxxxx> > > > > > Signed-off-by: Michal Kalderon <michal.kalderon@xxxxxxxxxxx> > > > > > --- > > > > > drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qed/qed.h | 2 +- > > > > > 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) > > > > > > > > > > > > > We discussed this a lot, those driver version bumps are stupid and > > > > have nothing close to the reality. Distro kernels are based on some > > > > kernel version with extra patches on top, in RedHat world this "extra" > > > > is a lot. For them your driver version say nothing. For users who > > > > run vanilla kernel, those versions are not relevant too, because > > > > running such kernels requires knowledge and understanding. > > > > > > > > You definitely should stop this enterprise cargo cult of "releasing > > software" > > > > by updating versions in non-controlled by you distribution chain. > > > > > > > > Thanks > > > Due to past discussions on this topic, qedr driver version was not added > > and not bumped. > > > However, customers are used to seeing a driver version for qed/qede We > > > only bump major version changes (37 -> 42) and not the minor versions > > anymore. > > > This does give a high-level understanding of the driver supports, helps us > > and the customers. > > > > It is worth to talk with customers instead of adding useless work for > > everyone involved here. > Hi Leon, > > I understand your arguments, and for new drivers I agree it is best to start without a driver version, having said that > Customers are used to what is already out there. > > Ethtool displays a driver version, and customers go by driver version, not kernel version. > Mlx drivers haven't bumped the driver version, but it is still displayed when running ethtool. Yes, it is needed to be fixed. > > Having this version in upstream driver also helps us to understand the level of changes in the inbox driver. > As you mentioned, in some distributions like RHEL, kernel version has no meaning as they backport much newer functionality from upstream. > It is difficult to know based on RedHat kernel/driver, how the driver compares with the upstream driver or what functionality is there. > We have seen that the driver version greatly helps customers here. > > Of course if a decision is taken to remove all ethernet driver versions from all vendors and remove the version display from ethtool > We won't object, but since it is still there, and the driver version until now does correlate in the high-level sense to functionality, > I don't see the harm in this single patch. > > Dave, what is your take on this ? Dave was clear about it. https://lore.kernel.org/linux-rdma/20200122.201241.1054821076123160712.davem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Thanks, > Michal > > > > > Thanks > > > > >