[Bridge] Re: why network devices don't do reference counting?

[David Miller]

From: Stephen Hemminger <shemminger at linux-foundation.org>
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:33:30 -0700

> ipv6 is not a network driver, it is a protocol. You might be able to
> remove it if you zap all the routes and applications, ...

It is purposefully set to have a permanent elevated reference
count because it is not designed to be unloaded safely.

It has been unloadable forever.