Netlink Socket

Netlink socket (described in RFC 3549) is now the preferred interface between kernel and user-space for IP network configuration.

This is how to create a netlink socket:

socket(PF_NETLINK, SOCK_DGRAM, NETLINK_CONNECTOR);

Different protocols to be used for Netlink are defined in header file - "linux/netlink.h"

A steamy conversation on kerneltrap regarding the advantages of Netlink over Debugfs is found here - http://kerneltrap.org/node/6637

Linux Kernel 2.6.20 API Changes

Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux Kernel 2.6.20. More info on that - http://kerneltrap.org/node/7670

The following LWN article gives a very good summary of the API changes in the new 2.6.20 kernel -
http://lwn.net/Articles/219625/

Some of the things that are noteworthy -

* The workqueue interface has changed. There are now two different types of workqueues, depending on whether the delay featured is used ot not. Driver writers be aware!!! There is also a new "freezable" workqueue interface - workqueue that can be safely frozen during software suspend process.

* Much of the sysfs related code has changed to use struct device instead of struct class_device. The later will eventually go away. Driver writer be aware!!!

* slab allocator API has been cleaned up. Instead of using old kmem_cache_t, new struct kmem_cache should be used.

* paravirt_ops code has been merged in for easier suppor tof multiple hypervisors

* struct path changes have been marged. Now, instead of using file->f_dentry, file->f_path.dentry should be used.

KernelTrap Interview with Jens Axboe

Check this one out - http://kerneltrap.org/node/7637

I never knew drivers are written by people who are less familiar with Linux kernel. Its a good informative interview by the way.

First Thing First!!!

Ok, I don't have anything particular to write right now. But I thought I should kick off the blog instead of keeping it empty.  So here goes the first thing. I found a very useful article on installing and setting up a Fedora Core 5 box here -

http://stanton-finley.net/fedora_core_5_installation_notes.html.

I think this will be useful to even experienced people. I like the VLC player part :)