> OK, you've still failed to convince me. why would we have to re > release the > kernel? If we were to change the way the socket handling works. It also involves splitting up the network module and giving it special status in the kernel. > Let's just restate what we're talking about here. > > The call to socket creates a socket. That's it. the code to do this > has NO > dependency on any protocols. Calling socket with no protocol modules > simply > gives an error. Adding a new protocol module gives us the ability to > call > socket for that protocol. Again - the code for socket never get > changed. Saying that the socket code is eternally immutable is surely unwarranted. True, it may not change often, but if we were to change it, the kernel would need to be rereleased. > I guess this is where I'm not understanding your argument. The socket > call > has been part of the kernel on unix for almost as long as sockets > have > existed and it's inclusion makes perfect sense when you think of the > low > level tinkering it has access to. Look at the (no offence meant here) > nasty > code that Philippe had to add for accept in libnet. Having accept in > the > kernel removes that mess and makes life much more straightforward. 1) BeOS != Unix 2) Admittedly, accept() could require a bit of hacking, although a well -placed open() call with some special flags could easily do the trick as well. > /dev/net/socket|stack was a hack that got us working, nothing more. > We'll > make the move as it makes sense. Now we have our own kernel code the > kernel > should no longer be viewed as a "back box" (yes I know only too well > they're > orange) but as a set of code we can modify to our needs. Let's take > advantage of that. Orange boxes notwithstanding, I still believe integration into the kernel proper is a mistake, because it (1) requires our flexibility in the long term, (2) splits up our code, and (3) makes networking a special kind of kernel module, which , in my opinion, is a mistake in terms of kernel design. -Nathan -- Fortune Cookie Says: When in panic, fear and doubt, Drink in barrels, eat, and shout.