[3047] in linux-net channel archive
Persistent SLIP statistics
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Paul Gortmaker)
Wed May 29 10:50:24 1996
From: Paul Gortmaker <gpg109@rsphy6.anu.edu.au>
To: linux-net@vger.rutgers.edu
Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 22:36:46 +1000 (EST)
I just noticed a minor side effect of the dynamic SLIP devices as
compared to the static sl0 -> sl3 found in a v1.2.x kernel.
When the device goes down (even due to an inadvertent hangup followed
by an immediate redial), the statistics for that device are lost, and
reset to zero. While this doesn't upset me in any big way, the fact
remains that it is not consistent with the behaviour of any other
compiled in net device, such as ethernet cards. People like ISP's who
provide dedicated lines to clients might not like this.
To be consistent, the SLIP stats should be preserved across an
ifconfig down+up event, or the ether stats should be scrubbed between
an ifconfig down+up event. At present, the only case where ether stats are
scrubbed, is when you use modules, where persistent data is ugly
business. Besides, for modules it makes sense, seeing as using modules
allows "eth0" to be one of many physical devices, depending on what
module you loaded first.
Paul.
