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Networking change causes distribution headachesNetworking change causes distribution headachesPosted Oct 29, 2008 2:51 UTC (Wed) by PaulWay (✭ supporter ✭, #45600)In reply to: Networking change causes distribution headaches by rfunk Parent article: Networking change causes distribution headaches
Because the intention is not to wallpaper over the mistake and forget about it, the intention is to alert the user that they have non-compliant hardware on their network and they should upgrade.
Because Linux is not an operating system that says "well, it sort of kind of works, that's good enough, why change it?" to decisions like this. Reverting back to the previous behaviour is good to fix the problem short-term, but a long-term solution needs to be developed.
IMO patching device drivers and kernels to make them work with hardware in the machine is (vaguely) acceptable; the further the device is from the machine, the more it's not the kernel's responsibility.
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Networking change causes distribution headaches Posted Oct 29, 2008 4:31 UTC (Wed) by jamesh (subscriber, #1159) [Link]
In this particular case, there are multiple ways to structure a packet that are considered equally valid according to the RFC and have the same code complexity.
One of the options happens to avoid a bug in certain hardware, probably due to matching the behaviour of a certain competing operating system. Why on earth wouldn't you choose that option?
Your suggestion would result in more complex code that has the potential to be slower and more buggy.
Networking change causes distribution headaches Posted Oct 30, 2008 7:00 UTC (Thu) by grahammm (guest, #773) [Link]
So what happens when (as is sure to happen some time) option A is needed to avoid a bug in one particular hardware and option B to avoid a bug in a different hardware?
Networking change causes distribution headaches Posted Oct 30, 2008 14:44 UTC (Thu) by mrshiny (subscriber, #4266) [Link]
Worry about that when it happens. Until then, zero-cost workarounds that prevent loss of functionality are more desirable than some sort of notion of purity.
Networking change causes distribution headaches Posted Oct 29, 2008 12:59 UTC (Wed) by epa (subscriber, #39769) [Link] the intention is to alert the user that they have non-compliant hardware on their network and they should upgrade.Yes, that's exactly what the intention is. Clearly, what the users want most of all is not to get their work done, but to receive useful and informative messages about hardware purchases they need to make in order to remain fully standards-compliant. Imagine a new user's heartfelt shame on first installing Linux and finding out they had been running a router that didn't strictly follow the RFCs, soon turning to joy and gratitude that Linux had revealed their sins and given them an opportunity to buy a replacement, helping to financially support honest manufacturers who test their products with all the world's wide diversity of operating systems. Compared to these noble goals, it would be baseness and narrow-mindedness indeed for anyone to complain that Linux "doesn't work" or does not let them access networks that seemingly worked with Microsoft Windows. Indeed, we should surely add more of these features to the kernel, righteously refusing to work with any hardware or program that doesn't correctly implement standards, to lead us further towards the goal of a world where all computers work harmoniously together. Let Linux lead the way! (Excuse the excess of sarcasm, I'm really missing the Linux Hater's Blog since he stopped posting.)
Networking change causes distribution headaches Posted Oct 29, 2008 18:49 UTC (Wed) by ncm (subscriber, #165) [Link]
Imagine, further, the joy in the detective work to identify and locate the owner of each intermediate router discarding one's packets, and the further joy of warm human contact achieved while persuading said owners to upgrade their equipment, and said owners' joy in locating and installing upgrades, and in finally having compliant equipment.
Such an outpouring of joy could not but uplift Ubuntu's standing in the world.
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