Re: [PATCH] Blacklist binary-only modules lying about their license

[Randy.Dunlap]

On Sat, 1 May 2004 15:33:19 -0400 Sean Estabrooks <seanlkml@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

| On Sat, 1 May 2004 15:12:18 -0400
| Marc Boucher <marc@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
| 
| > It was already screwed up, and causing unnecessary support burdens
| > both on the community ("help! what does tainted mean") and vendors.
| > This thread and previous ones have shown ample evidence of that.
| 
| Tainting is working just like it is supposed to work.   The reduced
| support burden for senior Linux maintainers has been a benefit.
| 
| > Let's deal with the root problem and fix the messages, as Rik van Riel
| > has suggested.
| 
| The kernel maintainers will decide what's best for Linux.   They're the
| ones responsible for overseeing Linux.    But if we're going to change
| the message i'd prefer something along the lines of:
| 
| "Now loading a non GPL driver.   Please consider supporting vendors that
| provide open source drivers for their hardware.  Your kernel will now be
| marked as tainted, all this means is that you should send any support
| requests to the author of this driver."

I agree, this is better than the Aunt Tillie message.
(Second sentence could be omitted.  I agree with it,
but it's not in the right setting IMO.)

[snip]

| > > What's wrong with the printk setting workaround? Simply write a number
| > > to the appropriate file before you load the modules.
| > >
| > > I just tried googling for the relevant post, but failed...
| > >
| > > He doesn't need to wait for the patches to propogate. He can act on
| > > his own scripts immediately in readiness for the next version.
| > >
| > > Easy.
| > 
| > Not. We don't use a script to systematically load the modules,
| > because they are large and not always required, nor want to
| > interfere with the system's normal logging.
| >
| > Manipulating printk settings or redirecting the superfluous
| > messages elsewhere are also ugly hacks, which can
| > potentially also divert/hide important messages.

So why is the tainted message to be different?

--
~Randy
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