Comment Linux driver architecture (Score 1) 273
One of the things that has already frustrated me the most about Linux is the design of the networking subsystem -- at least from the point of view of a system administrator. The Linux 'ifconfig' command is crippled; it doesn't allow one to set such common options as speed or duplex (and one has to rely on the wireless-tools package for controlling wireless interfaces). Userspace programs don't respond to changes in carrier status -- so laptops never aquire a new dhcp lease when plugged into a new network without manual intervention.
Do you see any of this changing in the near future? Obviously the new hotplug system offers a clean solution to the carrier change issue, if only network drivers would take advantage of it. Will we ever be bale to do something like "ifconfig eth0 ssid 'mynetwork' station 'foo'"? And what about the seldom-used 'ip' command -- where does it fit into things these days?
Do you see any of this changing in the near future? Obviously the new hotplug system offers a clean solution to the carrier change issue, if only network drivers would take advantage of it. Will we ever be bale to do something like "ifconfig eth0 ssid 'mynetwork' station 'foo'"? And what about the seldom-used 'ip' command -- where does it fit into things these days?
