[OpenBIOS] /packages/disk-label, /packages/sun-parts and /packages/misc-files

[Mark Cave-Ayland]

Hi folks,

Is there some kind of specification for the above packages or are we 
free to design the interface as we choose? The reason I ask is that the 
current interposition order doesn't seem to be particularly logical. At 
the moment, the order goes like this for a CDROM:

cdrom -> deblocker -> disk-label -> (misc-files or sun-parts or pc-parts)

But I think it makes more sense to do this:

cdrom -> deblocker -> disk-label -> (sun-parts or pc-parts) -> misc-files

The reason for suggesting a change is because by placing misc-files 
directly after disk-label, all partition offsets have to be bubbled back 
up the chain using a series of get-info words to the device. If this 
could be reordered, it should be possible to remove most of this logic 
and simply pass the read/seeks back up to the parent.

Otherwise, like at the moment, there is lots of code in misc-files that 
has to work out whether you are accessing a file or a partition directly 
and act differently which can't be a good thing.


ATB,

Mark.

-- 
Mark Cave-Ayland - Senior Technical Architect
PostgreSQL - PostGIS
Sirius Corporation plc - control through freedom
http://www.siriusit.co.uk
t: +44 870 608 0063

Sirius Labs: http://www.siriusit.co.uk/labs