Re: why network devices don't do reference counting? (Re: [PATCH] Module use count must be updated as bridges are created/destroyed)

[Jan Engelhardt <jengelh@computergmbh.de>]

On Sep 26 2007 14:06, Stephen Hemminger wrote:
>> >
>> > No, network devices don't do reference counting.
>> 
>> Could you explain why, please?
>> 
>> After `udevd` on boot loads lots of unused crap, i surrendered, and use
>> $(rmmod `lsmod | just first column`). Networing bravely wipes away. OK,
>> there are lots of configs: udev, hotplug, modprobe, that somebody might
>> like to fix. But it came to the end with me. I just don't care. So,
>> please answer :)
>
>For hotplug and other reasons, the network developers decided that being
>able to remove a network module at any time was a good thing. It works.

Except that for ipv6.ko, it's all opposite. After modprobe,
it already got a refcount like 8 and you're wondering how
to get rid of that.

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