On Tue, Jul 02, 2013 at 11:43:13AM +0100, Huang Shijie wrote: > 于 2013年07月02日 17:56, Mark Rutland 写道: > > On Tue, Jul 02, 2013 at 07:30:26AM +0100, Huang Shijie wrote: > >> > The imx6 uart can supports the DMA, imx uart driver has added a new > >> > compatible property for the imx6 uart. > >> > > >> > In order to enable the DMA for some uart port in imx6, we rename the > >> > uart's compatible property to "fsl,imx6-uart". > > Doesn't this change break using these dts with an older kernel? You > is it reasonable to use a new dts with an old kernel? As long as everything required to boot is described in a fashion the old kernel understands, I see no reason it shouldn't be. I certainly see no reason to break compatibility with an old kernel by *removing* a compatible string ("fsl,imx21-uart") that should not break newer kernels if they choose to use the more-specific compatible string. > > > > remove the "fsl,imx21-uart" string older kernels understand. > > > > Given you already had "fsl,imx6q-uart" and "fsl,imx6sl-uart" strings, > > would it not have made more sense to just add these to the driver? > I think it's not a good idea. Are there instances of "fsl-imx6q-uart" or "fsl,imx6sl-uart" that aren't compatible with this new "fsl,imx6-uart" (i.e. are any not DMA capable)? If not, then using the existing binding gives the same behaviour without confusing everyone by adding a slightly different compatible string, without the churn caused by modifying the dts, and the cost to Linux is a single line. Boards with a pre-built dtb will get the new functionality by just changing the Linux image. I don't see what's wrong with this. Thanks, Mark. > > Shawn, what's your opinion about this? > > thanks > Huang Shijie > > > -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-serial" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html