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Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/watchdog/convert_drivers_to_kernel_api.txt')
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diff --git a/Documentation/watchdog/convert_drivers_to_kernel_api.txt b/Documentation/watchdog/convert_drivers_to_kernel_api.txt new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..ae1e90036d06 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/watchdog/convert_drivers_to_kernel_api.txt @@ -0,0 +1,195 @@ +Converting old watchdog drivers to the watchdog framework +by Wolfram Sang <w.sang@pengutronix.de> +========================================================= + +Before the watchdog framework came into the kernel, every driver had to +implement the API on its own. Now, as the framework factored out the common +components, those drivers can be lightened making it a user of the framework. +This document shall guide you for this task. The necessary steps are described +as well as things to look out for. + + +Remove the file_operations struct +--------------------------------- + +Old drivers define their own file_operations for actions like open(), write(), +etc... These are now handled by the framework and just call the driver when +needed. So, in general, the 'file_operations' struct and assorted functions can +go. Only very few driver-specific details have to be moved to other functions. +Here is a overview of the functions and probably needed actions: + +- open: Everything dealing with resource management (file-open checks, magic + close preparations) can simply go. Device specific stuff needs to go to the + driver specific start-function. Note that for some drivers, the start-function + also serves as the ping-function. If that is the case and you need start/stop + to be balanced (clocks!), you are better off refactoring a separate start-function. + +- close: Same hints as for open apply. + +- write: Can simply go, all defined behaviour is taken care of by the framework, + i.e. ping on write and magic char ('V') handling. + +- ioctl: While the driver is allowed to have extensions to the IOCTL interface, + the most common ones are handled by the framework, supported by some assistance + from the driver: + + WDIOC_GETSUPPORT: + Returns the mandatory watchdog_info struct from the driver + + WDIOC_GETSTATUS: + Needs the status-callback defined, otherwise returns 0 + + WDIOC_GETBOOTSTATUS: + Needs the bootstatus member properly set. Make sure it is 0 if you + don't have further support! + + WDIOC_SETOPTIONS: + No preparations needed + + WDIOC_KEEPALIVE: + If wanted, options in watchdog_info need to have WDIOF_KEEPALIVEPING + set + + WDIOC_SETTIMEOUT: + Options in watchdog_info need to have WDIOF_SETTIMEOUT set + and a set_timeout-callback has to be defined. The core will also + do limit-checking, if min_timeout and max_timeout in the watchdog + device are set. All is optional. + + WDIOC_GETTIMEOUT: + No preparations needed + + Other IOCTLs can be served using the ioctl-callback. Note that this is mainly + intended for porting old drivers; new drivers should not invent private IOCTLs. + Private IOCTLs are processed first. When the callback returns with + -ENOIOCTLCMD, the IOCTLs of the framework will be tried, too. Any other error + is directly given to the user. + +Example conversion: + +-static const struct file_operations s3c2410wdt_fops = { +- .owner = THIS_MODULE, +- .llseek = no_llseek, +- .write = s3c2410wdt_write, +- .unlocked_ioctl = s3c2410wdt_ioctl, +- .open = s3c2410wdt_open, +- .release = s3c2410wdt_release, +-}; + +Check the functions for device-specific stuff and keep it for later +refactoring. The rest can go. + + +Remove the miscdevice +--------------------- + +Since the file_operations are gone now, you can also remove the 'struct +miscdevice'. The framework will create it on watchdog_dev_register() called by +watchdog_register_device(). + +-static struct miscdevice s3c2410wdt_miscdev = { +- .minor = WATCHDOG_MINOR, +- .name = "watchdog", +- .fops = &s3c2410wdt_fops, +-}; + + +Remove obsolete includes and defines +------------------------------------ + +Because of the simplifications, a few defines are probably unused now. Remove +them. Includes can be removed, too. For example: + +- #include <linux/fs.h> +- #include <linux/miscdevice.h> (if MODULE_ALIAS_MISCDEV is not used) +- #include <linux/uaccess.h> (if no custom IOCTLs are used) + + +Add the watchdog operations +--------------------------- + +All possible callbacks are defined in 'struct watchdog_ops'. You can find it +explained in 'watchdog-kernel-api.txt' in this directory. start(), stop() and +owner must be set, the rest are optional. You will easily find corresponding +functions in the old driver. Note that you will now get a pointer to the +watchdog_device as a parameter to these functions, so you probably have to +change the function header. Other changes are most likely not needed, because +here simply happens the direct hardware access. If you have device-specific +code left from the above steps, it should be refactored into these callbacks. + +Here is a simple example: + ++static struct watchdog_ops s3c2410wdt_ops = { ++ .owner = THIS_MODULE, ++ .start = s3c2410wdt_start, ++ .stop = s3c2410wdt_stop, ++ .ping = s3c2410wdt_keepalive, ++ .set_timeout = s3c2410wdt_set_heartbeat, ++}; + +A typical function-header change looks like: + +-static void s3c2410wdt_keepalive(void) ++static int s3c2410wdt_keepalive(struct watchdog_device *wdd) + { +... ++ ++ return 0; + } + +... + +- s3c2410wdt_keepalive(); ++ s3c2410wdt_keepalive(&s3c2410_wdd); + + +Add the watchdog device +----------------------- + +Now we need to create a 'struct watchdog_device' and populate it with the +necessary information for the framework. The struct is also explained in detail +in 'watchdog-kernel-api.txt' in this directory. We pass it the mandatory +watchdog_info struct and the newly created watchdog_ops. Often, old drivers +have their own record-keeping for things like bootstatus and timeout using +static variables. Those have to be converted to use the members in +watchdog_device. Note that the timeout values are unsigned int. Some drivers +use signed int, so this has to be converted, too. + +Here is a simple example for a watchdog device: + ++static struct watchdog_device s3c2410_wdd = { ++ .info = &s3c2410_wdt_ident, ++ .ops = &s3c2410wdt_ops, ++}; + + +Register the watchdog device +---------------------------- + +Replace misc_register(&miscdev) with watchdog_register_device(&watchdog_dev). +Make sure the return value gets checked and the error message, if present, +still fits. Also convert the unregister case. + +- ret = misc_register(&s3c2410wdt_miscdev); ++ ret = watchdog_register_device(&s3c2410_wdd); + +... + +- misc_deregister(&s3c2410wdt_miscdev); ++ watchdog_unregister_device(&s3c2410_wdd); + + +Update the Kconfig-entry +------------------------ + +The entry for the driver now needs to select WATCHDOG_CORE: + ++ select WATCHDOG_CORE + + +Create a patch and send it to upstream +-------------------------------------- + +Make sure you understood Documentation/SubmittingPatches and send your patch to +linux-watchdog@vger.kernel.org. We are looking forward to it :) + |