Template Version: @(#)sac_nextcase 1.68 02/23/09 SMI
This information is Copyright 2010 Sun Microsystems
1. Introduction
1.1. Project/Component Working Name:
first-phy MII property
1.2. Name of Document Author/Supplier:
Author: Garrett D'Amore
1.3 Date of This Document:
03 January, 2010
4. Technical Description
Problem
The MII common layer (PSARC 2009/319) currently assumes that the "preferred"
phy for a NIC driver will exist at address 1 or above. (It assumes that
an internal PHY will reside at address 0. This address is only chosen
if no other addresses are matched.)
This is true for many drivers, but not for one important driver -- hme.
As a result, on some systems (Netra T1 105 at least) the wrong PHY is
selected, because the external PHY is in use and resides at address 0.
This is detailed in CR 6913787.
Solution
We propose to provide a mechanism whereby NIC drivers can change the
starting address for the PHY search. (The first address matched is
identified.) This is done via a driver property ("first-phy"), which
indicates the address of the first PHY to be checked. (By default the
first address searched will be 1, going through 31, and then finally
searching at 0.) Note that all 32 addresses will checked; the search
starts at the first-phy (or 1 if not set), checks each address in ascending
order, loops around at 31 and continues the search at address 0.
The new property, "first-phy" will remain Consolidation Private, along
with the rest of the MII interfaces.
Note that existing drivers will not have this property exported, and thus
will not be affected by any new search order.
6. Resources and Schedule
6.4. Steering Committee requested information
6.4.1. Consolidation C-team Name:
ON
6.5. ARC review type: Automatic
6.6. ARC Exposure: open
