Messages in this thread | | | From | Jim Freeman <> | Subject | Re: STREAMS: interface versus implementation | Date | Fri, 18 Sep 1998 07:47:00 -0600 (MDT) |
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Ted writes: > If I'm not mistaken, the whole LiS implementation requires kernel > patches, and installation of the STREAMS networking layer in the kernel. > That's already been ruled out of court due to the performance impacts of > STREAMS model. (See the kernel FAQ, or ask Davem how badly Linux > trounces the Solaris networking layer these days. :-)
The patches are minimal (a few lines) and back-port 2.1 functionality into 2.0. LiS then builds as a loadable module, exporting STREAMS DDI entry points. 2.0.36 may include the necessary patches (dunno - haven't looked, but I understand it at least includes the {get,put}pmsg syscall entries).
STREAMS supplanting Linux's native networking is not the point. Exploiting extant code bases is. GCOM (who maintains LiS these days) have legacy (slow) connectivity h/w that has a substantial code base in STREAMS - FR, X.25, SNA, ... - all low bandwidth stuff that doesn't need the SCREAMING PERFORMANCE of Linux networking.
There are likewise big chunks of telephony STREAMS code out there that can live and perform acceptably well in LiS. NetWare for Linux (with its big chunks of STREAMS code) is targeted at small business - mega-performance is not required.
For such STREAMS code bases, having Linux accomodate (but not include) LiS lets vendors "try the Linux waters" without having to re-tool. (Granted, they should just have a clue and be able to figure out all by themselves that Linux is for real, but hey ... they're vendors). Once they find success in the Linux market, there will be an obvious incentive to release subsequent products written to native Linux networking. Any of them sufficiently ignorant of Linux politics and sensibilities to subsequently release "serious" (ie; ostensibly performant) product based on STREAMS would then be publicly pilloried, flailed, derided, scorned, etc. into Linux oblivion (a la the LSA).
If any of this is a re-hash of an earlier (dramatic?) STREAMS thread on this list (I'm sorry to have missed it), I well and truly apologize for wasting your bandwidth.
...jfree
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