Re: [PATCH v2] dt-binding: ipmi: add fallback to npcm845 compatible

[Tomer Maimon <tmaimon77@gmail.com>]

On Sun, 7 Aug 2022 at 15:11, Corey Minyard <minyard@acm.org> wrote:
>
> On Sun, Aug 07, 2022 at 11:03:56AM +0300, Tomer Maimon wrote:
> > Hi Corey,
> >
> > Thanks for your comment.
> >
> > On Fri, 5 Aug 2022 at 14:58, Corey Minyard <minyard@acm.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > On Thu, Aug 04, 2022 at 09:18:00PM +0300, Tomer Maimon wrote:
> > > > Add to npcm845 KCS compatible string a fallback to npcm750 KCS compatible
> > > > string becuase NPCM845 and NPCM750 BMCs are using identical KCS modules.
> > > >
> > > > Signed-off-by: Tomer Maimon <tmaimon77@gmail.com>
> > > > ---
> > > >  Documentation/devicetree/bindings/ipmi/npcm7xx-kcs-bmc.txt | 2 +-
> > > >  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
> > > >
> > > > diff --git a/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/ipmi/npcm7xx-kcs-bmc.txt b/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/ipmi/npcm7xx-kcs-bmc.txt
> > > > index cbc10a68ddef..4fda76e63396 100644
> > > > --- a/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/ipmi/npcm7xx-kcs-bmc.txt
> > > > +++ b/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/ipmi/npcm7xx-kcs-bmc.txt
> > > > @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ used to perform in-band IPMI communication with their host.
> > > >  Required properties:
> > > >  - compatible : should be one of
> > > >      "nuvoton,npcm750-kcs-bmc"
> > > > -    "nuvoton,npcm845-kcs-bmc"
> > > > +    "nuvoton,npcm845-kcs-bmc", "nuvoton,npcm750-kcs-bmc"
> > >
> > > This is just wrong.  The compatible is supposed to identify the device,
> > > not the board the device is on.  I think compatible here should be
> > > "npcm7xx-kcs-bmc", and just use that everywhere.  It's fine if that is
> > > used on a board named npcm845.
> > The NPCM8XX is not a board, The Nuvoton NPCM8XX is a fourth-generation
> > BMC SoC device family.
>
> Ok, but same principle applies.
>
> If the device is exactly the same, then you would only use one of the
> "npcm7xx-kcs-bmc" and put that in both device trees.  You can use
> "nuvoton,npcm750-kcs-bmc", it's really not that important.  Or even
> "nuvoton,npcm-kcs-bmc"
If we use "nuvoton, npcm-kcs-bmc" we should take care of backward dts
compatibility, and I am not sure we like to change NPCM KCS driver.
>
> If the device has a minor difference that can be expressed in a
> parameter, then create a parameter for it.
>
> If the device has enough differences that a parameter or two doesn't
> cover it, then you put either nuvoton,npcm750-kcs-bmc or
> nuvoton,npcm750-kcs-bmc in the device tree.  Not both.  Then you need
> two entries in the of_device_id array and you use the data field or
> something to express the difference.
>
> Since there appears to be no difference, just put
> "nuvoton,npcm750-kcs-bmc" in the npcm845 and I will drop the patch
> adding all this.  Then a patch can be added saying it applies to both
> the 7xx and 8xx series of BMC SOCs.  If you want to change the name,
> then a patch will be needed for that, but then you will need multiple
> entries in your device tree, but you would not document it as such, as
> there would only be one that applies for this kernel.

It little bit confusing to use nuvoton,npcm750-kcs-bmc that are
related to NPCM7XX for NPCM8XX KCS.
We can use the generic name "nuvoton, npcm-kcs-bmc" as you suggested
above but we should take care of backward dts compatibility, and I am
not sure we like to change NPCM KCS driver.

We had a disscation with Arnd, Arnd asked us to use a fallback as we
did here if NPCM8XX device module is similar to NPCM7XX module:
https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20220522155046.260146-5-tmaimon77@gmail.com/

I think we should use a fallback to describe the NPCM8XX KCS in the
dt-binding document.
>
> I'm pretty sure the only reason to have muliple compatible entries in a
> device tree is to cover multiple kernels where the name changed.
>
> -corey
>
> > >
> > > -corey
> > >
> > > >  - interrupts : interrupt generated by the controller
> > > >  - kcs_chan : The KCS channel number in the controller
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > 2.33.0
> > > >
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Tomer

Best regards,

Tomer