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

[Helge Hafting <helge.hafting@aitel.hist.no>]

Stephen Hemminger wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:18:55 +0200 (CEST)
> Jan Engelhardt <jengelh@computergmbh.de> wrote:
>
>   
> > 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.
> >     
> ipv6 is not a network driver, it is a protocol. You might be able to remove it if you zap
> all the routes and applications, ...
>   
Wouldn't it be enough to down all the interfaces and close all the sockets?
No need to bring down every app.

Helge Hafting
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