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DaveM's git tree have been moved into a named subdir 'netdev' to deal with allowing Jakub Kicinski to help co-maintain the trees. Link: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/networking/netdev-FAQ.html Signed-off-by: Jesper Dangaard Brouer <brouer@redhat.com> Signed-off-by: David S. Miller <davem@davemloft.net>
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273 lines
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.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
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.. _netdev-FAQ:
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==========
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netdev FAQ
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==========
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Q: What is netdev?
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------------------
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A: It is a mailing list for all network-related Linux stuff. This
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includes anything found under net/ (i.e. core code like IPv6) and
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drivers/net (i.e. hardware specific drivers) in the Linux source tree.
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Note that some subsystems (e.g. wireless drivers) which have a high
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volume of traffic have their own specific mailing lists.
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The netdev list is managed (like many other Linux mailing lists) through
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VGER (http://vger.kernel.org/) and archives can be found below:
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- http://marc.info/?l=linux-netdev
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- http://www.spinics.net/lists/netdev/
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Aside from subsystems like that mentioned above, all network-related
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Linux development (i.e. RFC, review, comments, etc.) takes place on
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netdev.
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Q: How do the changes posted to netdev make their way into Linux?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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A: There are always two trees (git repositories) in play. Both are
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driven by David Miller, the main network maintainer. There is the
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``net`` tree, and the ``net-next`` tree. As you can probably guess from
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the names, the ``net`` tree is for fixes to existing code already in the
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mainline tree from Linus, and ``net-next`` is where the new code goes
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for the future release. You can find the trees here:
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- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/netdev/net.git
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- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/netdev/net-next.git
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Q: How often do changes from these trees make it to the mainline Linus tree?
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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A: To understand this, you need to know a bit of background information on
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the cadence of Linux development. Each new release starts off with a
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two week "merge window" where the main maintainers feed their new stuff
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to Linus for merging into the mainline tree. After the two weeks, the
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merge window is closed, and it is called/tagged ``-rc1``. No new
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features get mainlined after this -- only fixes to the rc1 content are
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expected. After roughly a week of collecting fixes to the rc1 content,
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rc2 is released. This repeats on a roughly weekly basis until rc7
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(typically; sometimes rc6 if things are quiet, or rc8 if things are in a
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state of churn), and a week after the last vX.Y-rcN was done, the
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official vX.Y is released.
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Relating that to netdev: At the beginning of the 2-week merge window,
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the ``net-next`` tree will be closed - no new changes/features. The
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accumulated new content of the past ~10 weeks will be passed onto
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mainline/Linus via a pull request for vX.Y -- at the same time, the
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``net`` tree will start accumulating fixes for this pulled content
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relating to vX.Y
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An announcement indicating when ``net-next`` has been closed is usually
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sent to netdev, but knowing the above, you can predict that in advance.
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IMPORTANT: Do not send new ``net-next`` content to netdev during the
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period during which ``net-next`` tree is closed.
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Shortly after the two weeks have passed (and vX.Y-rc1 is released), the
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tree for ``net-next`` reopens to collect content for the next (vX.Y+1)
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release.
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If you aren't subscribed to netdev and/or are simply unsure if
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``net-next`` has re-opened yet, simply check the ``net-next`` git
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repository link above for any new networking-related commits. You may
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also check the following website for the current status:
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http://vger.kernel.org/~davem/net-next.html
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The ``net`` tree continues to collect fixes for the vX.Y content, and is
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fed back to Linus at regular (~weekly) intervals. Meaning that the
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focus for ``net`` is on stabilization and bug fixes.
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Finally, the vX.Y gets released, and the whole cycle starts over.
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Q: So where are we now in this cycle?
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Load the mainline (Linus) page here:
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https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git
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and note the top of the "tags" section. If it is rc1, it is early in
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the dev cycle. If it was tagged rc7 a week ago, then a release is
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probably imminent.
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Q: How do I indicate which tree (net vs. net-next) my patch should be in?
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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A: Firstly, think whether you have a bug fix or new "next-like" content.
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Then once decided, assuming that you use git, use the prefix flag, i.e.
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::
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git format-patch --subject-prefix='PATCH net-next' start..finish
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Use ``net`` instead of ``net-next`` (always lower case) in the above for
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bug-fix ``net`` content. If you don't use git, then note the only magic
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in the above is just the subject text of the outgoing e-mail, and you
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can manually change it yourself with whatever MUA you are comfortable
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with.
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Q: I sent a patch and I'm wondering what happened to it?
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--------------------------------------------------------
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Q: How can I tell whether it got merged?
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A: Start by looking at the main patchworks queue for netdev:
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http://patchwork.ozlabs.org/project/netdev/list/
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The "State" field will tell you exactly where things are at with your
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patch.
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Q: The above only says "Under Review". How can I find out more?
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----------------------------------------------------------------
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A: Generally speaking, the patches get triaged quickly (in less than
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48h). So be patient. Asking the maintainer for status updates on your
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patch is a good way to ensure your patch is ignored or pushed to the
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bottom of the priority list.
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Q: I submitted multiple versions of the patch series
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----------------------------------------------------
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Q: should I directly update patchwork for the previous versions of these
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patch series?
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A: No, please don't interfere with the patch status on patchwork, leave
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it to the maintainer to figure out what is the most recent and current
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version that should be applied. If there is any doubt, the maintainer
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will reply and ask what should be done.
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Q: I made changes to only a few patches in a patch series should I resend only those changed?
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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A: No, please resend the entire patch series and make sure you do number your
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patches such that it is clear this is the latest and greatest set of patches
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that can be applied.
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Q: I submitted multiple versions of a patch series and it looks like a version other than the last one has been accepted, what should I do?
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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A: There is no revert possible, once it is pushed out, it stays like that.
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Please send incremental versions on top of what has been merged in order to fix
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the patches the way they would look like if your latest patch series was to be
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merged.
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Q: How can I tell what patches are queued up for backporting to the various stable releases?
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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A: Normally Greg Kroah-Hartman collects stable commits himself, but for
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networking, Dave collects up patches he deems critical for the
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networking subsystem, and then hands them off to Greg.
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There is a patchworks queue that you can see here:
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http://patchwork.ozlabs.org/bundle/davem/stable/?state=*
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It contains the patches which Dave has selected, but not yet handed off
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to Greg. If Greg already has the patch, then it will be here:
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https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git
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A quick way to find whether the patch is in this stable-queue is to
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simply clone the repo, and then git grep the mainline commit ID, e.g.
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::
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stable-queue$ git grep -l 284041ef21fdf2e
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releases/3.0.84/ipv6-fix-possible-crashes-in-ip6_cork_release.patch
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releases/3.4.51/ipv6-fix-possible-crashes-in-ip6_cork_release.patch
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releases/3.9.8/ipv6-fix-possible-crashes-in-ip6_cork_release.patch
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stable/stable-queue$
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Q: I see a network patch and I think it should be backported to stable.
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Q: Should I request it via stable@vger.kernel.org like the references in
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the kernel's Documentation/process/stable-kernel-rules.rst file say?
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A: No, not for networking. Check the stable queues as per above first
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to see if it is already queued. If not, then send a mail to netdev,
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listing the upstream commit ID and why you think it should be a stable
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candidate.
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Before you jump to go do the above, do note that the normal stable rules
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in :ref:`Documentation/process/stable-kernel-rules.rst <stable_kernel_rules>`
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still apply. So you need to explicitly indicate why it is a critical
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fix and exactly what users are impacted. In addition, you need to
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convince yourself that you *really* think it has been overlooked,
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vs. having been considered and rejected.
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Generally speaking, the longer it has had a chance to "soak" in
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mainline, the better the odds that it is an OK candidate for stable. So
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scrambling to request a commit be added the day after it appears should
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be avoided.
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Q: I have created a network patch and I think it should be backported to stable.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Q: Should I add a Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org like the references in the
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kernel's Documentation/ directory say?
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A: No. See above answer. In short, if you think it really belongs in
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stable, then ensure you write a decent commit log that describes who
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gets impacted by the bug fix and how it manifests itself, and when the
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bug was introduced. If you do that properly, then the commit will get
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handled appropriately and most likely get put in the patchworks stable
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queue if it really warrants it.
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If you think there is some valid information relating to it being in
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stable that does *not* belong in the commit log, then use the three dash
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marker line as described in
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:ref:`Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst <the_canonical_patch_format>`
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to temporarily embed that information into the patch that you send.
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Q: Are all networking bug fixes backported to all stable releases?
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------------------------------------------------------------------
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A: Due to capacity, Dave could only take care of the backports for the
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last two stable releases. For earlier stable releases, each stable
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branch maintainer is supposed to take care of them. If you find any
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patch is missing from an earlier stable branch, please notify
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stable@vger.kernel.org with either a commit ID or a formal patch
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backported, and CC Dave and other relevant networking developers.
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Q: Is the comment style convention different for the networking content?
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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A: Yes, in a largely trivial way. Instead of this::
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/*
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* foobar blah blah blah
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* another line of text
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*/
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it is requested that you make it look like this::
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/* foobar blah blah blah
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* another line of text
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*/
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Q: I am working in existing code that has the former comment style and not the latter.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Q: Should I submit new code in the former style or the latter?
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A: Make it the latter style, so that eventually all code in the domain
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of netdev is of this format.
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Q: I found a bug that might have possible security implications or similar.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Q: Should I mail the main netdev maintainer off-list?**
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A: No. The current netdev maintainer has consistently requested that
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people use the mailing lists and not reach out directly. If you aren't
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OK with that, then perhaps consider mailing security@kernel.org or
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reading about http://oss-security.openwall.org/wiki/mailing-lists/distros
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as possible alternative mechanisms.
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Q: What level of testing is expected before I submit my change?
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---------------------------------------------------------------
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A: If your changes are against ``net-next``, the expectation is that you
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have tested by layering your changes on top of ``net-next``. Ideally
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you will have done run-time testing specific to your change, but at a
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minimum, your changes should survive an ``allyesconfig`` and an
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``allmodconfig`` build without new warnings or failures.
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Q: Any other tips to help ensure my net/net-next patch gets OK'd?
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
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A: Attention to detail. Re-read your own work as if you were the
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reviewer. You can start with using ``checkpatch.pl``, perhaps even with
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the ``--strict`` flag. But do not be mindlessly robotic in doing so.
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If your change is a bug fix, make sure your commit log indicates the
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end-user visible symptom, the underlying reason as to why it happens,
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and then if necessary, explain why the fix proposed is the best way to
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get things done. Don't mangle whitespace, and as is common, don't
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mis-indent function arguments that span multiple lines. If it is your
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first patch, mail it to yourself so you can test apply it to an
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unpatched tree to confirm infrastructure didn't mangle it.
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Finally, go back and read
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:ref:`Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst <submittingpatches>`
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to be sure you are not repeating some common mistake documented there.
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