Bug#359813: linux-headers-2.6.16-1-686: attempt to build module (tp_smapi) does nothing; 2.6.15 headers worked OK

[Chip Salzenberg <chip@debian.org>]

retitle 359813 linux-headers-2.6.16-1-686: ".kernelrelease" is missing
severity 359813 normal
thanks

Found the problem.  linux-headers-2.6.16-1-686 omits the ".kernelrelease"
file.  This omission throws off the tp_smapi Makefile; it's using
$(KERNELRELEASE) [or the lack thereof] to decide whether it's in the
callback submake.

I have a workaround modification to tp_smapi now that I understand the
problem, and the problem seems to be rare, thus the severity downgrade.


On Wed, Mar 29, 2006 at 11:32:50AM +0200, Bastian Blank wrote:
> tags 359813 unreproducible moreinfo
> thanks
> 
> On Tue, Mar 28, 2006 at 04:54:04PM -0800, Chip Salzenberg wrote:
> > The failure mode is particularly mystifying: it is an apparently
> > "successful" accomplishment of nothing at all:
> > 
> >    $ make
> >    make -C /lib/modules/2.6.16-1-686/build M=/stuff/tp/tp_smapi-0.17 modules
> >    make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.16-1-686'
> >      Building modules, stage 2.
> >      MODPOST
> >    make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.16-1-686'
> 
> I can't reproduce this with a minimal testcase:
> | $ cat test.c 
> | #include <linux/module.h>
> | $ cat Makefile 
> | obj-m = test.o
> | $ make -C /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.16-1-686 M=$(pwd) modules
> | make: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.16-1-686'
> |   CC [M]  /tmp/source/test/test.o
> |   Building modules, stage 2.
> |   MODPOST
> |   CC      /tmp/source/test/test.mod.o
> |   LD [M]  /tmp/source/test/test.ko
> | make: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.16-1-686'
> 
> > I asked the maintainer of tp_smapi for help, and he reported that he could
> > not reproduce this failure on his (non-Debian) 2.6.16 kernel tree.  And of
> > course I built tp_smapi with the 2.6.15 header package, without problems.
> 
> Please either provide informations where to find the failing tree or
> send a minimal testcase.
> 
> Bastian
> 
> -- 
> Oblivion together does not frighten me, beloved.
> 		-- Thalassa (in Anne Mulhall's body), "Return to Tomorrow",
> 		   stardate 4770.3.



-- 
Chip Salzenberg <chip@debian.org>