Re: [PATCH] ioctl SIOCGIFNETMASK: ip alias bug 2.4.9 and 2.2.19

[David Weinehall <tao@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, Sep 10, 2001 at 08:26:03AM -0400, Wietse Venema wrote:
> David Weinehall:
> > Are you saying that Linux should implement compability with _new_
> > features in FreeBSD 4.x, while at the same time frowning at the fact
> > that Linux introduces a new API?! The mind boggles at the thought.
> 
> SIOCGIFNETMASK is not "new". It exists in systems as ancient as
> SunOS 4.x, which pre dates FreeBSD 4.x by about 10 years. 
> 
> Evidence: RTFM the Postfix source code :-)
> 
> In other words, SIOCGIFNETMASK existed long before Linux could plug
> into a network.

"[snip] old and the new stuff, please name precisely the objections
against portability and compatibility with FreeBSD 4.x aliasing."
                                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This is what lead me to my conclusion. Care to clarify? If you simply
meant SIOCGIFNETMASK, why not write that instead instead of involving
FreeBSD 4.x?!


/David Weinehall
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