[openib-general] [PATCH] kDAPL: cleanup dat/ a bit more

[Christoph Hellwig]

On Fri, Jun 03, 2005 at 04:38:15AM -0700, Caitlin Bestler wrote:
> OpenRDMA discussed with the DAT Collaborative the idea
> of subsuming the responsibilities of the DAT Registry, so that
> the OpenRDMA directory could take the 'dat_xxx' calls
> directly. When the device dependent logic used a dynamically
> loaded verbs, those would be invoked directly. When the
> device dependent logic required a full DAT Provider (because
> it did not provide a recognized verbs interface) then the
> existing dynamic DAT dispatch would be used.

There's no way we're gonna add support for legacy APIs in a new
subsystems.  We have enough problems with transitions of existing
legacy APIs.

> That approach is certainly applicable for OpenIB as well.
> The key is recognizing the need for a transition plan.
> Customers have DAT Providers installed now, they
> cannot synchronize getting new DAT Providers from
> their suppliers with a new Linux release.

Then you customers have lost, period.  Their fault for using
badly designed APIs from industry consortia without any taste
and a horrible corporate culture.  Maybe they'll learn one day.