OpenWrt 21.02.0 Fourth release candidate - DSA docs

[Perry]

Hi all,

On 9/17/21 1:30 PM, Rich Brown wrote:
> Hi Arınç
> 
>> On Sep 17, 2021, at 3:17 AM, Arınç ÜNAL <arinc.unal at arinc9.com> wrote:
>>
>> The current naming used on LuCI/UCI is inaccurate and confusing. The “interfaces” under Network → Interfaces actually represent networks. The actual interfaces are called “device”.
> 
> I agree that the terminology is confusing. I really struggled with the names when I added them into the preface to the DSA Mini-tutorial (https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/dsa/dsa-mini-tutorial). I did some research looking at the original DSA documentation: it didn't offer much in the way of definitions. So I followed my usual practice of documenting the lingo of whatever application I'm using.
> 
> After looking hard at how LuCI seemed to work, I wrote:
> 
> --------
> 	• Devices are physical connections that convey bits/frames to other computers. They operate at layer 2 in the protocol stack, have a MAC address along with several other configurable parameters...
> 		
> 	• Interfaces route IP packets and operate at layer 3 in the protocol stack. An interface is associated with a single device that sends/receives its packets. Interfaces get their IP address parameters by the choice of protocol...
> ---------
> 
> I haven't heard any corrections from others about these assertions, so I am hopeful that I got those definitions right. 
> 
> When you say that "interfaces... actually represent networks" I think you mean that they're "subnets" (and have a subnet address range, IP address, and other characteristics). Is that what you mean? Although I'm neither a Linux OS or network expert, I can see an explanation for using the terms "devices" and "interfaces" as defined above.

This is not always the case.  For example, it is possible to have a tun
or tap interface which does not have a corresponding ip address.  This
is more than just a device, because layer 3 packets can arrive on such
an interface.

Another example, from Freifunk, are mesh (either Ad-Hoc or 802.11s)
interfaces.  These are interfaces which have a static IP address, but
the netmask is 255.255.255.255.  This is not a network in the sense most
people are used to using, but still a completely valid configuration.

I think staying with the terminology "device" and "interface" is the
right way to go.

Greets,
Perry



> 
> In this case, I believe it will be difficult to change the terminology used in OpenWrt/LuCI. I think that train has left the station. Perhaps our efforts will be best used toward documenting the syntax and GUI as it is today, so that people can configure their gear the way they want.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Rich
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