Changes from 1.1.72 to 1.1.73

These changes are archived on ftp.crynwr.com:pub/kchanges and http://www.crynwr.com/kchanges. I cannot answer questions about Linux -- I merely summarize the kernel patches after reading them. I try to make them useful to everyone, but kernel hackers should take them with a grain of salt and read the patches themselves. The patch file is patch73.gz

• Save a little more information about the processor type.
• Someone works very hard to eliminate speling erors in the kernel.
• Don't allow most ioctl's if the serial port isn't initialized.
• Don't clear the IER if the serial port isn't initialized.
• Don't try to block on the dialin port if the serial port isn't initialized.
• Fix bug when linking onto and off of the tty_drivers list.
• More changes to VESA power saving mode.
• Selection code changed also.
• Networking: 8390, SLIP, and SLHC drivers modularized.
• Added recognition of DE101 (DEPCA)
• fix multicast bug in DEPCA drivers.
• Added check/snarf_region code to EWRK3 (Digital EtherWorks 3) driver.
• SLIP code cleaned up. TTY driver buffering reduced from 4096 to 256 bytes, improving SLIP response time.
• SMC Ultra enables and disables memory as needed.
• SCSI - always use sg_free, since we might have big buff.
• Buslogic driver goes from version 1.13 to version 1.14. Mostly code cleanups, but DMA improvements. Now accepts parameters from lilo (buslogic=).
• More SCSI code cleanups in hosts.c
• Qlogic driver goes from version 0.37 to version 0.38a. It also works with loadable SCSI as a module.
• SCSI block drivers try harder to avoid deadlock.
• Also allow file memory mapping on executables.
• Someone got nervous about waiting on a filesystem buffer when writing to the buffer, and commented it out.
• If trying to get write access and an error occurred, write the inode out.
• Kernel profiling added as /proc/profile.
• Lots more info returned by /proc/cpuinfo.
• When reading directory entries in the umsdos filesystem, round the number of bytes up to a word size (32 bits).
• Some small alpha architecturefixes.
• Sparc include files added.
• Networking:
  • Semantics of SO_LINGER aren't state moved to close when you look carefully. With this fixed and the accept bug fixed some RPC stuff seems happier.
  • More improvements to IP multicasting (e.g. always in group 224.0.0.1).
  • SNMP reporting typo fixed.
  • Giant 15 minute/60 second timer error
  • Small whoops in selecting before an accept.
  • Kept the state trace facility since its handy for debugging.
  • More reset handler fixes.
  • Started rewriting the code based on the RFC's. For other useful protocol references see: Comer, KA9Q NOS, and for a reference on the difference between specifications and how BSD works see the 4.4lite source.
  • Don't time wait on completion of tidy close.

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