[linux-dvb] Re: Weird problem

[Michael Hunold <hunold@convergence.de>]

Hello Aurelian,

> > Hmm, perhaps you can give the "dvb-kernel" CVS driver a try. This is
> > exactly the same dvb-core, the same frontend drivers and the same av7110
> > driver, only the saa7146 subsystem has been changed to support
> > Video4Linux-2 for full-featured cards for example. It's the basis for
> > the upcoming 2.6 kernel and the old av7110-saa7146-driver will be marked
> > as obsolete when 2.6 comes out.
> Ok, I have no problem with that. I'll try that...
Thanks. It's important that the in-kernel driver is tested by more 
critical users than the average one-dvb-s-card-user. (no offense 
intended... 8-)

> Forgive me, I have no intention to criticize anyone (I'm not in the best
> position to do that). 
> But I don't understant this quite right: am I wrong or is
> it so that there are 2 slightly different branches of the drivers (the
> "dvb-kernel" one, and this let's call it the "stand-alone" one)?
There is the "DVB" CVS driver, from which the official releases are 
build currently.

The "dvb-kernel" driver is basically the same, except that it has fixes 
workarounds and small improvements so that it works with both 2.4 and 
2.5 development kernels and that it has a different saa7146 backend.

Both follow the v3 api.

The "dvb-kernel" CVS driver is currently available in the Bitkeeper Tree 
of the official Linux kernel, ie. as linux-2.6.0-test1-bk, too.

Once 2.6 is officially out, I guess "dvb-kernel" will replace "DVB". 
Nevertheless "DVB" can then be still used for stable 2.4 configurations 
and will have bugfixes applied for quite some time.

> If this is so: won't it be better to have just one branch? (AFAIK ppl are
> working on Ver4 of these "stand-alone" drivers).
IMHO v4 is not in sight yet. I think that this won't happen before 2.6 
is out.

Sure it would be better to have one branch. But currently, many people 
out there use the DVB driver via an official release -- this is a plain 
Video4Linux-1 driver. They use vdr, kvdr and Video4Linux-1 applications 
for viewing and are happy with it.

"dvb-kernel", however, with the new saa7146 backend is a Video4Linux-2 
driver. Video4Linux-1 applications still work through the compatibility 
layer, but sometimes things go wrong.

For me, "dvb-kernel" replaces "DVB" completely, I haven't used "DVB" for 
half a year now. I'm using the command line tools, vdr, xawtv and 
ts-to-mplayer stuff.

But IMHO a good separation line between 2.4 and 2.6 and "DVB" and 
"dvb-kernel" is desirable, because breaking applications through a 
changed backend isn't nice. If users change to a new kernel, breaking 
things is more acceptable. Other drivers like bttv do the same.

> Just a thought... don't get mad on me :))
No problem. All your questions are perfectly valid.

> All the best,
> Aurelian
CU
Michael.



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