ipq806x: add support for TP-Link Talon AD7200

[Bas Mevissen]

On 2020-10-12 11:40, Bjørn Mork wrote:
> Bas Mevissen <abuse at basmevissen.nl> writes:
> 
>> Nice work, but does it make sense to add a device that is already
>> EOL'ed by the manufacturer? I guess the installed base is also rather
>> small.
> 
> Definitely!
> 
> IMHO, it should me enough that there is one user with enough interest 
> to
> actually do the work, submit it and - hopefully - maintain it for a
> while.
> 

The latter, maintenance, is my biggest question mark. Technically 
keeping the sources compile is the smallest task. You need someone to 
actually use recent builds all the time and preferably in multiple use 
cases to catch regressions. Otherwise, it might give a false impression 
that the device is supported and working.

> In addition,
>  - each supported device serves as a template and example for
>    similar devices, simplifying support for other products.

It is not really an unique product. It looks like it was (just) created 
to be a showcase at CES2016.

>  - OpenWrt support is good for the environment by increasing the usable
>    lifetime of a device

True in itself. I have a very old TP-Link TL1043ND V1.x running (for 
which support will be removed soon because it gets very difficult to 
keep them going with current software sizes).

>  - you can still buy this device new, despite the EoL announcement
> 

But should you? I would be very reluctant with buying EOL devices, 
especially when being a "first" and with the price still up.

I think that OpenWRT should be careful not to spend resources on devices 
that have no large install base nor any chance of getting it. In that 
respect, I would prefer to prioritize on low RAM / low flash devices 
instead as they are everywhere and mostly running outdated insecure 
software. With things like ZRAM and an external flash drive, there life 
span could be meaningfully extended.

> 
> Bjørn

Bas.