Subject: RE: [EXT] Re: [PATCH net-next 5/7] net: marvell: prestera: add LAG support

From: Tobias Waldekranz <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2021 22:44:58 +0100

On Wed, Feb 10, 2021 at 10:41, Mickey Rachamim <[email-masked]> wrote:
>> Until that day arrives, are there any chances of Marvell opening up CPSS in the same way DSDT was re-licensed some years back?
> The CPSS code is available to everyone on Marvell Extranet (Requires simple registration process)

Right, but "available" is not the same as "open" unfortunately. Being
able to study the source is better than nothing, but it is a far cry
from having the ability to modify it and, most importantly, publish
those changes.

So, to restate my question more precisely: Can we expect that Marvell
will provide CPSS under a license that is compatible with the Linux
kernel?

If that is not possible, will Marvell at least commit to allow the
publishing of drivers developed from functional specifications and other
chip documentation?

> Anyway, as the transition process will progress - it will be less required.

Yes, but it makes it hard for smaller players to get on the ride early.

>> Being able to clone github.com/Marvell-switching/prestera-firmware (or
>> whatever) and build the firmware from source would go a long way to alleviate my fears at least.
> I understand your concerns but at this stage - we also concerned about others that might build not reliable FW images.

Totally fair. That problem should be solvable by some kind of taint
concept though. Presumably you have this problem already with the
existing SDK model? Customers can build things on top of CPSS that are
broken in a million ways.

> I also agree that at some point we should ensure most of the concerns are being addressed.
>
> Mickey.