Subject: Re: [PATCH net-next V7 07/14] devlink: Add parent dev to devlink API

From: Jakub Kicinski <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 08:57:38 -0800

On Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:28:14 +0000 Cosmin Ratiu wrote:
> > > +		/* Drop the parent devlink lock but don't release
> > > the reference.
> > > +		 * This will keep it alive until the end of the
> > > request.
> > > +		 */  
> > 
> > To be clear -- devlink instances do not behave like netdev instances.
> > netdev instances prevent unregistration of the netdev.
> > devlink refs are normal refs, they just keep the memory around.
> > If memory serves me..  
> 
> If no reference is held, a concurrent user op could release the parent
> devlink instance altogether, and free its memory, that's the reason for
> keeping a ref alive for the duration of this request.

I suppose my comment was more about using the word "alive" 
in networking context. I associate "alive" with registered. 
See dev_isalive(). Here you're just keeping the object
from being freed.