Re: [PATCH] doc: update minimum Linux kernel version

[Stephen Hemminger <stephen@networkplumber.org>]

On Thu, 11 Jan 2024 20:26:56 +0100
Morten Brørup <mb@smartsharesystems.com> wrote:

>  
> 
> When the documentation specifies a minimum required kernel version, it implicitly claims that DPDK works with that kernel version.
> 
> So we should either test with the specified kernel version (which requires significant effort to set up, so I’m not going to ask for it!), or add a big fat disclaimer/warning that DPDK is not tested with the mentioned kernel version, and list the kernel versions actually tested.

It is much less of an issue than it used to be since there should be no need for
DPDK specific kernel components. The kernel API/ABI is stable across releases 
(with the notable exception of BPF). Therefore the DPDK kernel version dependency
is much less than it used to be.

Poking around the source, still see some leftovers.

Like quick assist documentation wanting kernel version for sources?
Why does QAT depend on kernel source being present. Thats not right.

The other bad spot is the Intel GVE driver reading and passing
the OS version in. Looks like some host side validation.

Putting OS version anywhere in DPDK is a mistake.