FreeCalypso > hg > freecalypso-hwlab

annotate doc/Linux-DTR-RTS-flaw @ 144:429a8f80426e

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fc-uicc-tool: catch record length from manual select
author Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
date Sat, 06 Feb 2021 02:03:11 +0000
parents 95c2a67e1219
children fb2f6497ba53
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128
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
1 There is a fundamental flaw in the Linux kernel serial port handling subsystem
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
2 that affects anyone who builds special hardware in which DTR and/or RTS modem
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
3 control lines are repurposed for some non-traditional functions. The flaw is
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
4 that whenever a serial port is opened under Linux, the kernel immediately and
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
5 unstoppably asserts DTR and RTS (their initial power-up state prior to software
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
6 action is negated on every sane serial port hardware implementation), *without*
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
7 giving userspace applications any ability to say "no, please don't do it".
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
8
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
9 As long as DTR and RTS modem control outputs from the DTE are used for their
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
10 original RS-232 functions, automatically raising both signals on serial port
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
11 open is harmless - and because these signals often need to be asserted in order
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
12 for serial communication to take place, having them raised automatically on
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
13 open (without requiring an explicit TIOCMBIS ioctl) is a convenience which many
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
14 applications rely on - if this standard kernel behaviour were to be changed
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
15 for the general case (outside of special quirk configurations), a lot of
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
16 applications will break. Linux implements this standard behaviour as mandated
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
17 by POSIX and other similar standards, and those standards are in turn based on
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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18 the original 1970s UNIX where this architectural design originates.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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19
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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20 However, this standard Linux behaviour (and going all the way back to 1970s in
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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21 the greater UNIX family) is a total killer for custom hardware designs in which
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
22 DTR and/or RTS outputs from the UART are repurposed for some totally different
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
23 functions. Suppose that the hardware is wired in such a way that asserting the
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
24 control output causes an explosive charge to be set off, or causes a radio
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
25 transmitter to turn on (perhaps operating on some tightly regulated frequency
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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26 supporting mission-critical services, where spurious out-of-protocol
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
27 transmissions are not permissible), or applies a hard reset to some other
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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28 component that may be part of a live production system that must not be casually
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
29 reset - in all listed examples having such hardware wiring would be perfectly
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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30 safe in an OS-less environment where the custom application controls the custom
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
31 hardware as desired, without any OS inserting its own mind: the hardware design
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
32 of most serial ports (both traditional and USB-serial) guarantees that the
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
33 initial power-up state of both DTR and RTS outputs prior to software action will
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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34 always be negated, and the custom application thus gets to decide if and when
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
35 each of the two signals (independent of each other) should be asserted.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
36
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
37 Everything works great if the application runs on the bare metal and directly
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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38 controls the hardware (or runs under something like DOS, which is the same as
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
39 running on bare metal for the present purpose of operating serial ports), but
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
40 add Linux into the equation, and things quickly begin to break. The problem is
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
41 that the moment you open a serial port under Linux (and sadly, the same thing
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
42 happens under most other current OSes too), the kernel automatically asserts
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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43 both DTR and RTS immediately on the open operation itself, without giving
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
44 userspace applications any way to say "no, please don't do it". Some people
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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45 have been proposing new termios flags that would suppress this auto-assertion
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
46 on subsequent opens, but you have to open the port first in order to do termios
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
47 or other ioctls on it, and if the auto-assertion of DTR and RTS on that initial
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
48 open causes irreparable damage, then you are screwed no matter what you do.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
49
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
50 The only currently possible solution to this madness is to patch the kernel to
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
51 suppress this automatic assertion of DTR & RTS upon serial port open. But one
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
52 cannot simply change the standard behaviour for all serial ports, as lots of
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
53 standard applications for classic serial communication (where DTR and RTS do
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
54 need to be asserted) will break in that case. Instead the suppression of
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
55 automatic assertion of DTR & RTS on open needs to be conditionalized in some
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
56 way, so that the modified against-standards serial port open behaviour is
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
57 applied ONLY when special modem-control-repurposed hardware is being operated
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
58 on, and not for ordinary applications operating on ordinary serial ports.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
59
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
60 Given the current state of Linux and what is possible in the current reality,
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
61 if a patch is to be applied to the kernel, creating the ability to exempt
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
62 certain serial port open operations from the standard POSIX requirement of
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
63 automatically asserting DTR & RTS, there are only 3 practically feasible ways
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
64 to communicate to the kernel that a given serial port (or a given individual
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
65 open operation on a serial port) should be exempt from automatic assertion of
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
66 DTR & RTS:
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
67
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
68 1) Create a new open flag like O_NODTR, or reuse/abuse some existing open flag
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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69 like O_DIRECT which currently has no effect on serial ports.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
70
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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71 2) Create a sysfs attribute that is attached to every serial port, controlling
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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72 whether or not DTR & RTS should be automatically asserted on open, with the
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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73 default being standards-mandated traditional UNIX behaviour of
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
74 auto-assertion.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
75
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
76 3) In special cases where the custom DTR/RTS-repurposed hardware is inseparably
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
77 integrated (on the same custom PCB) with a USB-serial chip, such that the
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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78 EEPROM controlling the USB VID:PID of the USB-serial device identifies not
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
79 just the USB-serial converter part, but the entire product board as a whole,
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
80 including the circuits that repurpose DTR and RTS for non-serial purposes,
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
81 then the most sensible approach is to mark the USB-serial device as special
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
82 and disable auto-assertion of DTR & RTS on this special device when the
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
83 custom USB VID:PID is detected.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
84
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
85 As it happens, our own FreeCalypso hardware gadget with repurposed DTR & RTS
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
86 that requires suppression of auto-assertion of these signals (the optional boot
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
87 control feature of our DUART28 adapter) falls into the last special category
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
88 above (custom USB-serial device unambiguously distinguished by a custom USB ID),
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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89 hence this special case is the one that I (Mother Mychaela) have been focusing
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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90 on the most - as humans, we all have a natural right to put our own self-
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
91 interest first.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
92
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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93 I (Mother Mychaela) have no way of knowing whether or not there is even one
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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94 person alive on Earth today who has an active use case where a need exists to
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
95 suppress automatic assertion of DTR & RTS for some serial device, but that
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
96 device does not have the same quality of being inseparably integrated with a
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
97 custom USB ID as our DUART28C, i.e., an active use case where a need exists to
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
98 signal to the kernel "please don't auto-assert DTR & RTS on this serial port"
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
99 and moreover do this special signaling for "any" serial port, rather than one
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
100 identified by a custom USB VID:PID. For all I know, I may very well be the
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
101 only person alive on Earth today who has an active need for auto-DTR/RTS
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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102 suppression - but I need it ONLY for a device that has a unique distinctive USB
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
103 VID:PID, not for "any" serial port.
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
104
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
105 I currently run Slackware Linux 14.2 as my personal OS, running Linux kernel
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
106 version 4.4.14 around which this version of Slackware was built - when I tried
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
107 running newer 4.4.x kernels, I was getting crashes which I could not debug. I
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
108 currently run this elderly Linux kernel version with my own custom patch applied
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
109 to the ftdi_sio driver, a patch that adds support for FreeCalypso DUART28C
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
diff changeset
110 (custom USB ID) and applies the appropriate special quirk just for this USB ID,
95c2a67e1219 doc, linux-patch: update for failure to mainline DUART28C support
Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
parents:
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111 not affecting any other devices - a quirk that suppresses automatic DTR & RTS
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112 assertion on FT2232D Channel B, the UART channel on which these signals are
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113 repurposed on DUART28 hardware. Several different versions of this patch (made
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114 to apply cleanly to several different kernel versions) can be found in the
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115 linux-patch directory in the present source repository.
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116
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117 In 2020-09 I made a good-faith, due-diligence attempt to get the hardware
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118 support patch for DUART28C (a patch to ftdi_sio driver that recognizes the new
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119 USB ID and applies the necessary quirk, entirely contained inside this driver)
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120 mainlined - I submitted the patch to ftdi_sio maintainer Johan Hovold. I was
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121 quickly met with hostility, with Johan telling me to redesign my hardware (he
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122 was basically telling me to throw away 20 perfectly good boards) in some
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123 different way that would be more in line with the 1970s UNIX worldview for DTR
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124 and RTS, which is what Linux currently implements.
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125
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126 Some time later I was able to kinda-somewhat-partially convince Johan that the
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127 current handling of DTR and RTS is a serious problem for some users, and he was
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128 a little more agreeable to my patch - but instead of merging it as-is, he
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129 proposed an expanded patch (getting into the tty subsystem, outside of just
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130 USB-serial) that solves a more general problem. Johan's proposed patch
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131 introduced an internal flag telling the tty layer to suppress DTR & RTS
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132 assertion on open, and a sysfs attribute (added to all classic serial and USB-
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133 serial ports) that exposes this flag. A patch to ftdi_sio that recognizes my
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134 custom USB ID and sets this flag in the quirk function was still included in
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135 that proposed patch series, so I was happy with the proposal.
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136
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137 However, Johan's sysfs proposal was quickly shot down by other kernel
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138 maintainers who didn't like the sysfs approach, and Johan himself was not too
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139 interested in defending his sysfs proposal either - instead he favors a termios
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140 flag that would only affect second and subsequent repeated opens of a device,
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141 after the initial open to set that flag. Of course this termios flag idea does
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142 not help at all, given that the very first open of the serial port would still
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143 unstoppably assert DTR & RTS, causing irreparable damage - if these control
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144 signals are wired to set off explosives, for example, the user's house would be
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145 up in flames the moment he issues that magic stty command to set the new termios
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146 flag, and Johan's assurances that second and subsequent opens of the same
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147 serial port would not auto-assert DTR & RTS would be of little help to the poor
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148 guy who just lost his house.
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149
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150 By the end of 2021-01 I realized that my battle against Johan and Greg K-H is
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151 hopeless, so I give up. The only workable solution at this point is for all
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152 affected people to stop running unpatched mainline kernels and to apply our own
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153 local patches instead, preferably with our own coordination amongst ourselves
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154 so we have some degree of standardization among our kind. The whole discussion
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155 is archived here:
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156
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157 https://lore.kernel.org/linux-serial/X8iuCXYhOBVMGvXv@localhost/T/
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158
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159 I shall indefinitely, for as long as I am alive, maintain my ftdi_sio driver
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160 patch that adds support for FreeCalypso DUART28C hardware. And because I do
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161 not know whether or not there exists even one person on Earth who would benefit
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162 from an ability to suppress DTR & RTS assertion under Linux on "any" serial
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163 port, outside of tightly integrated USB-based devices with custom USB IDs, I
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164 also make the following conditional offer: *if* at least one person comes
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165 forward to me and demonstrates that he or she has an active use case of the
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166 kind I am talking about, *then* I will also dig up Johan's patch (the one
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167 rejected by other maintainers) adding a sysfs attribute, providing a working
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168 solution for "any" serial port, start actively supporting that sysfs patch, and
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169 maybe even make another attempt at convincing kernel maintainers to mainline it.
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170 But I will go down that path *only* if there is at least one person alive on
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171 Earth (just one person would be enough) who would actively benefit from this
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172 feature - otherwise there is no point.