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Date:      Fri, 22 Jan 1999 10:39:42 -0700
From:      Nate Williams <nate@mt.sri.com>
To:        "Gary T. Corcoran" <garycor@home.com>
Cc:        mobile@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Reclaiming irqs for unsupported PCI hardware?
Message-ID:  <199901221739.KAA21533@mt.sri.com>
In-Reply-To: <36A80B3F.80FA5E87@home.com>
References:  <199901220158.RAA12743@dingo.cdrom.com> <36A80B3F.80FA5E87@home.com>

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> > Perhaps we're just looking at this the wrong way?  We don't try to
> > detect when floppies are stupidly removed, perhaps we shouldn't try to
> > do it with pccard/cardbus cards either?
> > 
> > Commentary?  Are we trying too hard to do something that's not worth
> > the effort?
> 
> After following this thread, I've come to the conclusion that since
> the PCIC hardware _is not designed_ to allow arbitrary card removal
> (e.g. it doesn't auto-shutoff the IRQ line)

Sure it does.  IRQ's are no longer generated on that piece of hardware,
but it's possible that the IRQ routine was in the middle of processing
the previous (valid) IRQ that was generated 'just prior' to the removal.

> we're trying to come up
> with, at best, a workaround, for something that the user _just shouldn't
> do_.

What users shouldn't do and what they actually do are too different
things.  'But it works in Linux/Win95' is the response you'll get when
you explain to them why they shouldn't yank their 'active' cards.

(Although, as I understand it, Win98 no longer allows this and locks up
the computer, unlike Win95.  *Most* cards can be yanked under '95, but
some can't.)

> In other words, just make sure mobile users know they _must_
> shutdown a card before removing it, and forget about trying to handle
> stupid (or accidental) user actions.

The use of the IRQ makes it less painful *IF* the user yanks their
card.  Is it worth making it easier?  I don't know.


Nate

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