[PATCH] virtio-net subcommittee proposal

[Parav Pandit <parav@nvidia.com>]

Modern applications demand low latency and high-performance
networking devices at scale. Modernizing virtio networking devices
involves developing many complex features. While the current methodology
for developing the specification has worked well, there is an
opportunity for better collaboration to support the complex scope of modernization.

Many hardware vendors and cloud providers have expressed interest in such virtio enhancements.
Hence, we propose to have a virtio net subcommittee.

Subcommittee mission: Produce backward compatible, low latency, scalable virtio net device spec which works well on hardware NIC and enables efficient use of CPU and memory.

Top objectives of the subcommittee (statement of purpose):
1. Chartered to develop the improved virtio-net device
(features, scale, performance) which adapts to ubiquitous PCIe + PCIe virtualization
2. Equal footing - not tied to an existing vendorâs HW implementation.
The result is a backward-compatible but functionally upgraded virtio-net 2.0.
3. Operates under virtio TC and integrate the work with master virtio specification
4. Discuss and resolve technical issues & brainstorm on ideas and their tradeoff for near + long term
5. Borrows best practices for workgroup progress such as NVMe, and PCI-SIG.

Subcommittee functions:
0. Consults virtio tc, feed and use master virtio specification for
   the standard functionality across devices when applicable
2. Continue to use OASIS open forums for spec development and reviews
3. Have virtual technical meet weekly or bi-weekly
4. Prioritize features design & reviews to have predictable outcomes
5. Converge promptly and use voting as necessary
6. A helping arm of virtio TC for virtio net device changes
7. Listens to feedback from other industry forums and standards for next gen updates
8. Governed by simple 4 phase review
   a. usecase/problem agreement,
   b. functionality/design reviews,
   c. spec change reviews by subcommittee
   d. submit to virtio tc for final review and vote using existing ballot
9. Follows OASIS guidance [1]

Spec wide bug fixes, cleanup etc continues as is.

Everyone is welcome to join virtio net subcommittee who wish to
contribute to above mission and purpose.

[1] https://www.oasis-open.org/policies-guidelines/tc-process-2017-05-26/#subcommittees

Signed-off-by: David Edmondson <david.edmondson@oracle.com>
Signed-off-by: Dust Li <dust.li@linux.alibaba.com>
Signed-off-by: Parav Pandit <parav@nvidia.com>
Signed-off-by: Satananda Burla<sburla@marvell.com>
Signed-off-by: Shahaf Shuler <shahafs@nvidia.com>
Signed-off-by: Xuan Zhuo <xuanzhuo@linux.alibaba.com>
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