[LU-5712] Derive LGPL library from libcfs

• Type: Improvement
• Resolution: Duplicate
• Priority: Minor
• Assignee: WC Triage
• Reporter: Doug Oucharek (Inactive)

Description

Features like Dynamic LNet Config (LU-2456) create an LGPL library so user space users do not have to adopt the GPL in their own source. However, the libcfs library, which is GPL, is still depended upon for things like the ioctl communication layer for communicating with Lustre modules in kernel space.

This ticket is proposing the creation of a new LGPL library which replicates some features of libcfs but in a LGPL library. Two specific areas identified by the Dynamic LNet Config project for this library are:

1- ioctl interface layer
2- various conversion routines for dealing with things like NIDs in LNet

In addition, keeping this library leaner than libcfs will help reduce the required storage for user space applications.

Issue Links

• duplicates: LU-5969 Create an LGPL version of liblustreapi