[Openib-windows] RE: MTHCA firmware checks

[Leonid Keller]

It is planned in this release.
The driver will support "live fishes", i.e. our HCA in flashless mode,
when one can burn whatever he wants.
One can bring them to that mode by removing a jumper.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fab Tillier [mailto:ftillier at silverstorm.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 8:59 PM
> To: Leonid Keller
> Cc: openib-windows at openib.org
> Subject: MTHCA firmware checks
> 
> Hi Leo,
> 
> I tried loading the MTHCA driver on one of my Tavor HCAs and 
> it complained that the firmware was too old and failed 
> loading.  However, this introduces a chicken/egg problem, 
> where I can't update the firmware without the driver loaded, 
> and the driver won't load because the firmware is too old.
> 
> Could we rather define a way to create a "dumb" HCA - one 
> that only supports open/close CA, as well as create PD?  This 
> "dumb" HCA would map to the memory-controller mode of the 
> Tavor HCAs, and thus allow the firmware to be updated, but no 
> other functionality.
> 
> Do you have a better alternative?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> - Fab
> 
>