[ofw] ibnetdiscover output: Windows vs. Linux

[Fab Tillier]

Smith, Stan wrote on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 at 17:38:12

> From: ofw-bounces at lists.openfabrics.org
> [mailto:ofw-bounces at lists.openfabrics.org] On Behalf Of Smith, Stan
> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 5:38 PM
> 
>  Hello,
>    Woody noticed in some IB-diags testing that Linux ibnetdiscover
> outputs a hostname plus the HCA card name where Windows outputs only the
> HCA card name?
> Current speculation is the HCA driver fills in the NodeDescription
> fields while processing a received NodeRecord Info request MAD?

The SMI in IBAL used to filter NodeDescription requests and reply with the machine name.  This was removed in r538 to fix Mkey check compliance test C14-018.  It was not replaced with setting the NodeDescription to the HCA, which IMO should have been done.

> Do you know why the WIndows driver supplies only the HCA name where the
> Linux HCA driver supplies the actual hostname (as in output from the
> hostname cmd) plus the HCA name?

I believe the HCA name is the default node description in the HCA.  This can be overridden, though I don't know how you set it.

> How difficult would it be to correct the Windows HCA drivers to supply
> the Hostname in addition to the HCA name?

Probably not too difficult - there was past code (before r538) that got the machine name.  This code could be reused and then whatever needs to be done (SET NodeDescription?) could then program it into the HCA.

-Fab