Merge tag 'asoc-v4.15' of https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/broonie/sound into for-linus

ASoC: Updates for v4.15

The biggest thing this release has been the conversion of the AC98 bus
to the driver model, that's been a long time coming so thanks to Robert
Jarzmik for his dedication there.  Due to there being some AC97 MFD
there's a few fairly large changes in input and the MFD layer, mainly to
the wm97xx driver.

There's also some drivers/drm changes to support the new AMD Stoney
platform, these are shared with the DRM subsystem and should be being
merged via both.

Within the subsystem the overwhelming bulk of the changes is in the
Intel drivers which continue to need lots of cleanups and fixes, this
release they've also gained support for their open source firmware.
There's also some large changs in the core as Morimoto-san continues to
mirror operations into the component level in preparation for conversion
of drivers to that.

 - The AC97 bus has finally caught up with the driver model thanks to
   some dedicated and persistent work from Robert Jarzmik.
 - Continued work from Morimoto-san on moving us towards being able to
   use components for everything.
 - Lots of cleanups for the Intel platform code, including support for
   their open source audio firmware.
 - Support for scaling MCLK with sample rate in simple-card.
 - Support for AMD Stoney platform.

44 files changed, 44 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/apc.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/apc.h
index 24e9a7d4d97e..aeb369b87fcd 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/apc.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/apc.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /* apc - Driver definitions for power management functions
  * of Aurora Personality Chip (APC) on SPARCstation-4/5 and 
  * derivatives
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/asi.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/asi.h
index 7ad7203deaec..d371b269571a 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/asi.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/asi.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_ASI_H
 #define _SPARC_ASI_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/bitsperlong.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/bitsperlong.h
index 40dcaa3aaa56..cd9a432278d2 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/bitsperlong.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/bitsperlong.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef __ASM_ALPHA_BITSPERLONG_H
 #define __ASM_ALPHA_BITSPERLONG_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/byteorder.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/byteorder.h
index ccc1b6b7de6c..216b8e59372f 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/byteorder.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/byteorder.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_BYTEORDER_H
 #define _SPARC_BYTEORDER_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/display7seg.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/display7seg.h
index 86d4a901df24..7e9fef0c6efe 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/display7seg.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/display7seg.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  *
  * display7seg - Driver interface for the 7-segment display
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/envctrl.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/envctrl.h
index 624fa7e2da8e..cf8aa0a14f40 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/envctrl.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/envctrl.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  *
  * envctrl.h: Definitions for access to the i2c environment
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/errno.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/errno.h
index 20423e172853..81a732b902ee 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/errno.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/errno.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_ERRNO_H
 #define _SPARC_ERRNO_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/fbio.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/fbio.h
index d6cea07afb61..0dafe2c1eab7 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/fbio.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/fbio.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _UAPI__LINUX_FBIO_H
 #define _UAPI__LINUX_FBIO_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/fcntl.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/fcntl.h
index 7e8ace5bf760..67dae75e5274 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/fcntl.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/fcntl.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_FCNTL_H
 #define _SPARC_FCNTL_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ioctl.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ioctl.h
index 7d6bd51321b9..96c598fe746e 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ioctl.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ioctl.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_IOCTL_H
 #define _SPARC_IOCTL_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ioctls.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ioctls.h
index f5df72b93bb2..2df52711e170 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ioctls.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ioctls.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _UAPI_ASM_SPARC_IOCTLS_H
 #define _UAPI_ASM_SPARC_IOCTLS_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ipcbuf.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ipcbuf.h
index 66013b4fe10d..9d0d125500e2 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ipcbuf.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ipcbuf.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef __SPARC_IPCBUF_H
 #define __SPARC_IPCBUF_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/jsflash.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/jsflash.h
index 0717d9e39d2d..68c98a54281a 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/jsflash.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/jsflash.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * jsflash.h: OS Flash SIMM support for JavaStations.
  *
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/kvm_para.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/kvm_para.h
index 14fab8f0b957..baacc4996d18 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/kvm_para.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/kvm_para.h
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #include <asm-generic/kvm_para.h>
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/mman.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/mman.h
index 9765896ecb2c..715a2c927e79 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/mman.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/mman.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _UAPI__SPARC_MMAN_H__
 #define _UAPI__SPARC_MMAN_H__
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/msgbuf.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/msgbuf.h
index efc7cbe9788f..b601c4f4d956 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/msgbuf.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/msgbuf.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_MSGBUF_H
 #define _SPARC_MSGBUF_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/openpromio.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/openpromio.h
index 917fb8e9c633..8817f7d1a70c 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/openpromio.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/openpromio.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef	_SPARC_OPENPROMIO_H
 #define	_SPARC_OPENPROMIO_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/param.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/param.h
index 0bc356bf8c50..057d7135e4d0 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/param.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/param.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _ASMSPARC_PARAM_H
 #define _ASMSPARC_PARAM_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/perfctr.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/perfctr.h
index 214feefa577c..316b837bcb8f 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/perfctr.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/perfctr.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*----------------------------------------
   PERFORMANCE INSTRUMENTATION  
   Guillaume Thouvenin           08/10/98
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/poll.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/poll.h
index 091d3ad2e830..72356c999125 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/poll.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/poll.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef __SPARC_POLL_H
 #define __SPARC_POLL_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/posix_types.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/posix_types.h
index 156220ed99eb..fec499d6efb7 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/posix_types.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/posix_types.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * This file is generally used by user-level software, so you need to
  * be a little careful about namespace pollution etc.  Also, we cannot
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/psr.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/psr.h
index 2f0ed856530b..e41f65f0aebd 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/psr.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/psr.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * psr.h: This file holds the macros for masking off various parts of
  *        the processor status register on the Sparc. This is valid
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/psrcompat.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/psrcompat.h
index 44b6327dbbf5..1eaffbe0d1e2 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/psrcompat.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/psrcompat.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC64_PSRCOMPAT_H
 #define _SPARC64_PSRCOMPAT_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/pstate.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/pstate.h
index cf832e14aa05..b6999c9e7e86 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/pstate.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/pstate.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC64_PSTATE_H
 #define _SPARC64_PSTATE_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ptrace.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ptrace.h
index 56fe4ea73feb..abe640037a55 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ptrace.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/ptrace.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _UAPI__SPARC_PTRACE_H
 #define _UAPI__SPARC_PTRACE_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/resource.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/resource.h
index fe163cafb4c7..cbe2de778838 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/resource.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/resource.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * resource.h: Resource definitions.
  *
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sembuf.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sembuf.h
index faee1be08d67..f49b0ffa0ab8 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sembuf.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sembuf.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_SEMBUF_H
 #define _SPARC_SEMBUF_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/setup.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/setup.h
index 533768450872..3c208a4dd464 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/setup.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/setup.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  *	Just a place holder. 
  */
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/shmbuf.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/shmbuf.h
index 83a16055363f..286631db705c 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/shmbuf.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/shmbuf.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_SHMBUF_H
 #define _SPARC_SHMBUF_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sigcontext.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sigcontext.h
index ae5704fa77ad..043dd4b92026 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sigcontext.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sigcontext.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * There isn't anything here anymore, but the file must not be empty or patch
  * will delete it.
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/siginfo.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/siginfo.h
index 157f46fe374f..896ce447d16a 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/siginfo.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/siginfo.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _UAPI__SPARC_SIGINFO_H
 #define _UAPI__SPARC_SIGINFO_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/signal.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/signal.h
index f387400fcfdf..ff9505923b9a 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/signal.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/signal.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _UAPI__SPARC_SIGNAL_H
 #define _UAPI__SPARC_SIGNAL_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/socket.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/socket.h
index b2f5c50d0947..d58520c2e6ff 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/socket.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/socket.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _ASM_SOCKET_H
 #define _ASM_SOCKET_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sockios.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sockios.h
index 990ea746486b..18a3ec14a847 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sockios.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/sockios.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _ASM_SPARC_SOCKIOS_H
 #define _ASM_SPARC_SOCKIOS_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/stat.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/stat.h
index 2f0583a2c689..b6ec4eb217f7 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/stat.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/stat.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef __SPARC_STAT_H
 #define __SPARC_STAT_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/statfs.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/statfs.h
index 55e607ad461d..20c8f5bd340e 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/statfs.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/statfs.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef ___ASM_SPARC_STATFS_H
 #define ___ASM_SPARC_STATFS_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/swab.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/swab.h
index 4c7c12d69bea..6b1b3f1ad725 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/swab.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/swab.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _SPARC_SWAB_H
 #define _SPARC_SWAB_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/termbits.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/termbits.h
index dd91642fcca7..ce5ad5d0f105 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/termbits.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/termbits.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _UAPI_SPARC_TERMBITS_H
 #define _UAPI_SPARC_TERMBITS_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/termios.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/termios.h
index ea6f09e51e53..ee86f4093d83 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/termios.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/termios.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 #ifndef _UAPI_SPARC_TERMIOS_H
 #define _UAPI_SPARC_TERMIOS_H
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/traps.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/traps.h
index a4eceace6ccf..930db746f8bd 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/traps.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/traps.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * traps.h:  Format of entries for the Sparc trap table.
  *
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/uctx.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/uctx.h
index dc937c75ffdd..13a13198e04f 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/uctx.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/uctx.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * uctx.h: Sparc64 {set,get}context() register state layouts.
  *
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/unistd.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/unistd.h
index ae77df75bffa..09acf0ddec10 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/unistd.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/unistd.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * System calls under the Sparc.
  *
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/utrap.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/utrap.h
index b10e527c22d9..d890b7fc6e83 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/utrap.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/utrap.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  * include/asm/utrap.h
  *
diff --git a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/watchdog.h b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/watchdog.h
index 5baf2d3919cf..497ac19a9e4e 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/watchdog.h
+++ b/arch/sparc/include/uapi/asm/watchdog.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0 WITH Linux-syscall-note */
 /*
  *
  * watchdog - Driver interface for the hardware watchdog timers