linux/drivers/net
Bjørn Mork 8b0d2f9ed3 net: e100: ucode is optional in some cases
commit 9ac32e1b firmware: convert e100 driver to request_firmware()

did a straight conversion of the in-driver ucode to external
files.  This introduced the possibility of the driver failing
to enable an interface due to missing ucode. There was no
evaluation of the importance of the ucode at the time.

Based on comments in earlier versions of this driver, and in
the source code for the FreeBSD fxp driver, we can assume that
the ucode implements the "CPU Cycle Saver" feature on supported
adapters.  Although generally wanted, this is an optional
feature. The ucode source is not available, preventing it from
being included in free distributions. This creates unnecessary
problems for the end users. Doing a network install based on a
free distribution installer requires the user to download and
insert the ucode into the installer.

Making the ucode optional when possible improves the user
experience and driver usability.

The ucode for some adapters include a bugfix, making it
essential.  We continue to fail for these adapters unless the
ucode is available.

Signed-off-by: Bjørn Mork <bjorn@mork.no>
Signed-off-by: David S. Miller <davem@davemloft.net>
2012-07-19 10:48:07 -07:00
..
appletalk drivers: net: Remove casts to same type 2012-06-06 09:31:33 -07:00
arcnet
bonding bonding: refine IFF_XMIT_DST_RELEASE capability 2012-07-18 09:31:25 -07:00
caif caif-hsi: Fix merge issues. 2012-06-29 00:46:53 -07:00
can can: softing: softing_main: ensure a consistent return value in error case 2012-07-17 09:35:59 +02:00
cris net: Properly define functions with no parameters 2012-07-10 23:13:45 -07:00
dsa
ethernet net: e100: ucode is optional in some cases 2012-07-19 10:48:07 -07:00
fddi drivers: net: Remove casts to same type 2012-06-06 09:31:33 -07:00
hamradio drivers: net: Remove casts to same type 2012-06-06 09:31:33 -07:00
hippi
hyperv hyperv: Add support for setting MAC from within guests 2012-07-16 22:54:24 -07:00
irda drivers: net: Remove casts to same type 2012-06-06 09:31:33 -07:00
phy Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/davem/net 2012-07-10 23:56:33 -07:00
plip
ppp ppp: avoid false drop_monitor false positives 2012-05-19 02:32:30 -04:00
slip drivers: net: Remove casts to same type 2012-06-06 09:31:33 -07:00
team team: refine IFF_XMIT_DST_RELEASE capability 2012-07-18 11:28:46 -07:00
usb asix: AX88172A driver depends on phylib 2012-07-19 10:48:07 -07:00
vmxnet3 drivers: net: Remove casts to same type 2012-06-06 09:31:33 -07:00
wan drivers: net: Remove casts to same type 2012-06-06 09:31:33 -07:00
wimax drivers/net: Use eth_random_addr 2012-07-16 22:38:28 -07:00
wireless wireless: Use eth_random_addr 2012-07-16 22:38:28 -07:00
xen-netback xen/netback: only non-freed SKB is queued into tx_queue 2012-06-29 00:50:20 -07:00
dummy.c dummy: use IFF_LIVE_ADDR_CHANGE priv_flag 2012-06-30 01:08:00 -07:00
eql.c
ifb.c
Kconfig tokenring: delete all remaining driver support 2012-05-15 20:23:16 -04:00
LICENSE.SRC
loopback.c
macvlan.c Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/davem/net 2012-05-16 22:17:37 -04:00
macvtap.c macvtap: use prepare_to_wait/finish_wait to ensure mb 2012-06-07 13:18:54 -07:00
Makefile tokenring: delete all remaining driver support 2012-05-15 20:23:16 -04:00
mdio.c
mii.c
netconsole.c
rionet.c
sb1000.c
Space.c drivers/net: delete all code/drivers depending on CONFIG_MCA 2012-05-17 16:37:41 -04:00
sungem_phy.c
tun.c drivers/net: Use eth_random_addr 2012-07-16 22:38:28 -07:00
veth.c
virtio_net.c virtio_net: use IFF_LIVE_ADDR_CHANGE priv_flag 2012-06-30 01:08:00 -07:00
xen-netfront.c xen/netfront: teardown the device before unregistering it. 2012-06-27 01:25:41 -07:00