Linux Virtualization - Mar 2019 - [RFC PATCH net-next] failover: allow name change on IFF_UP slave interfaces

On Tue, Mar 05, 2019 at 11:35:50AM -0800, si-wei liu
wrote:
> 
> 
> On 3/5/2019 11:24 AM, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
> > On Tue, 5 Mar 2019 11:19:32 -0800
> > si-wei liu <si-wei.liu at oracle.com> wrote:
> > 
> > > > I have a vague idea: would it work to *not* set
> > > > IFF_UP on slave devices at all?
> > > Hmm, I ever thought about this option, and it appears this
solution is
> > > more invasive than required to convert existing scripts, despite
the
> > > controversy of introducing internal netdev state to differentiate
user
> > > visible state. Either we disallow slave to be brought up by user,
or to
> > > not set IFF_UP flag but instead use the internal one, could end
up with
> > > substantial behavioral change that breaks scripts. Consider any
admin
> > > script that does `ip link set dev ... up' successfully just
assumes the
> > > link is up and subsequent operation can be done as usual.
How would it work when carrier is off?
> While it *may*
> > > work for dracut (yet to be verified), I'm a bit concerned
that there are
> > > more scripts to be converted than those that don't follow
volatile
> > > failover slave names. It's technically doable, but may not
worth the
> > > effort (in terms of porting existing scripts/apps).
> > > 
> > > Thanks
> > > -Siwei
> > Won't work for most devices.  Many devices turn off PHY and link
layer
> > if not IFF_UP
> True, that's what I said about introducing internal state for those
driver
> and other kernel component. Very invasive change indeed.
> 
> -Siwei
Well I did say it's vague.
How about hiding IFF_UP from dev_get_flags (and probably
__dev_change_flags)?