Bug 219958

Summary: Certain networking (eg: wireless) drivers requiring more than 4k stack
Product: [Fedora] Fedora Reporter: Gerry Reno <greno>
Component: kernelAssignee: Kernel Maintainer List <kernel-maint>
Status: CLOSED NOTABUG QA Contact: Brian Brock <bbrock>
Severity: medium Docs Contact:
Priority: medium    
Version: 6CC: wtogami
Target Milestone: ---Keywords: Reopened
Target Release: ---   
Hardware: All   
OS: Linux   
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Fixed In Version: Doc Type: Bug Fix
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Last Closed: 2006-12-23 00:38:11 UTC Type: ---
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oVirt Team: --- RHEL 7.3 requirements from Atomic Host:
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Description Gerry Reno 2006-12-17 19:12:02 UTC
Description of problem:
Certain networking drivers are requiring more than 4k stack size.  Many users do
not know (and probably never will) how to build a custom kernel with increased
stack size so they can get their networking drivers working.  Suggest that the
stack size in the default kernels in the distributions be increased to probably 16k.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):


How reproducible:


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Comment 1 Dave Jones 2006-12-19 04:03:31 UTC
You neglected to point to a single example of a driver requiring excessive
amounts of stack.   If one exists, it needs to be fixed, not band-aided around
with ugly hacks.

(And NDISWrapper doesn't count as a 'driver' btw).


Comment 2 Gerry Reno 2006-12-21 02:39:08 UTC
Ok, the one that I am familiar with is the Broadcom wireless driver bcm43xx
which I personally have not been able to get working with the xen kernel.  I
also went looking for more information and came across this page at Linuxant:
http://www.linuxant.com/driverloader/wlan/full/downloads-fc6-i686.php
As you can see they are even distributing modified FC6 kernels in order to try
to help people get their wireless cards working and stable.  The forums are full
of lengthy discussion on this issue as people are struggling to get wireless
workin  If Broadcom who has a big chunk of the market needs more stack size,
then Redhat needs to have a conversation with them as to why that is necessary
and either Broadcom or Redhat needs to make some adjustment.  Just telling
people that they need a custom kernel to get wireless working isn't a good solution.


Comment 3 Dave Jones 2006-12-23 00:38:11 UTC
I see no evidence of excessive stack usage in bcm43xx.

What other vendors decide to do with their kernels is irrelevant to the Fedora
kernel.  The Fedora kernel isn't changing to accomodate the ease of use of
binary drivers.