-* eal: several API and ABI changes are planned for ``rte_devargs`` in v17.11.
- The format of device command line parameters will change. The bus will need
- to be explicitly stated in the device declaration. The enum ``rte_devtype``
- was used to identify a bus and will disappear.
- The structure ``rte_devargs`` will change.
- The ``rte_devargs_list`` will be made private.
- The following functions are deprecated starting from 17.08 and will either be
- modified or removed in 17.11:
-
- - ``rte_eal_devargs_add``
- - ``rte_eal_devargs_type_count``
- - ``rte_eal_parse_devargs_str``, replaced by ``rte_eal_devargs_parse``
-
-* eal: An ABI change is planned for 17.11 to make DPDK aware of IOVA address
- translation scheme.
- Reference to phys address in EAL data-structure or functions may change to
- IOVA address or more appropriate name.
- The change will be only for the name.
- Functional aspects of the API or data-structure will remain same.
+* eal: certain structures will change in EAL on account of upcoming external
+ memory support. Aside from internal changes leading to an ABI break, the
+ following externally visible changes will also be implemented:
+
+ - ``rte_memseg_list`` will change to include a boolean flag indicating
+ whether a particular memseg list is externally allocated. This will have
+ implications for any users of memseg-walk-related functions, as they will
+ now have to skip externally allocated segments in most cases if the intent
+ is to only iterate over internal DPDK memory.
+ - ``socket_id`` parameter across the entire DPDK will gain additional meaning,
+ as some socket ID's will now be representing externally allocated memory. No
+ changes will be required for existing code as backwards compatibility will
+ be kept, and those who do not use this feature will not see these extra
+ socket ID's.
+
+* eal: both declaring and identifying devices will be streamlined in v18.11.
+ New functions will appear to query a specific port from buses, classes of
+ device and device drivers. Device declaration will be made coherent with the
+ new scheme of device identification.
+ As such, ``rte_devargs`` device representation will change.
+
+ - The enum ``rte_devtype`` was used to identify a bus and will disappear.
+ - Functions previously deprecated will change or disappear:
+
+ + ``rte_eal_devargs_type_count``