[PATCH net-next v3 0/5] allocate dummy device dynamically

From: Breno Leitao
Date: Thu Apr 04 2024 - 07:50:40 EST


struct net_device shouldn't be embedded into any structure, instead,
the owner should use the private space to embed their state into
net_device.

But, in some cases the net_device is embedded inside the private
structure, which blocks the usage of zero-length arrays inside
net_device.

Create a helper to allocate a dummy device at dynamically runtime, and
move the Ethernet devices to use it, instead of embedding the dummy
device inside the private structure.

This fixes all the network cases except for wireless drivers.

PS: Due to lack of hardware, unfortunately all these patches are
compiled tested only.

---
Changelog:

v1:
* https://lore.kernel.org/all/20240327200809.512867-1-leitao@xxxxxxxxxx/

v2:
* Patch 1: Use a pre-defined name ("dummy#") for the dummy
net_devices.
* Patch 2-5: Added users for the new helper.
v3:
* Use free_netdev() instead of kfree() as suggested by Jakub.
* Change the free_netdev() place in ipa driver, as suggested by
Alex Elder.
* Set err in the error path in the Marvell driver, as suggested
by Simon Horman.

Breno Leitao (5):
net: create a dummy net_device allocator
net: marvell: prestera: allocate dummy net_device dynamically
net: mediatek: mtk_eth_sock: allocate dummy net_device dynamically
net: ipa: allocate dummy net_device dynamically
net: ibm/emac: allocate dummy net_device dynamically

drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.c | 13 +++--
drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/emac/mal.h | 2 +-
.../ethernet/marvell/prestera/prestera_rxtx.c | 15 ++++--
drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.c | 17 ++++--
drivers/net/ethernet/mediatek/mtk_eth_soc.h | 2 +-
drivers/net/ipa/gsi.c | 12 +++--
drivers/net/ipa/gsi.h | 2 +-
include/linux/netdevice.h | 3 ++
net/core/dev.c | 54 ++++++++++++-------
9 files changed, 85 insertions(+), 35 deletions(-)

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2.43.0