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SubjectRe: [PATCH] pch_gbe: Use a randomly generated MAC instead of failing probe


On 01/16/2012 04:31 AM, Alan Cox wrote:
>> Saving MAC address into external ROM is generic method, I think.
>> Though I know the ROM-less system using eg20t-pch, however I think
>> this system is not common.
>> So, I think pch_gbe shouldn't have auto-mac address assignment.
>
> The problem is the module load fails for those cases. You cannot load
> the module and use the standard ifconfig eth0 hw aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff
> interface. The better fix might be to make sure it loads.
>
> So change from
>
> memcpy(netdev->dev_addr, adapter->hw.mac.addr,
> netdev->addr_len);
> if (!is_valid_ether_addr(netdev->dev_addr)) {
> dev_err(&pdev->dev, "Invalid MAC Address\n");
> ret = -EIO;
> goto err_free_adapter;
> }
>
> to just printing a warning, and check the current address when a user
> tries to ifconfig it up and refuse to allow the port to go active.

I can go this route I suppose. I don't really understand the objection
to the use of a random mac addr in the special case given the prevalence
of this approach within existing drivers.

One reason I don't care for this alternative approach is that this
particular hardware is targeted at embedded use where we can't assume a
full init system is available, etc. It can be made to work of course, it
just isn't as automated.

David, would you orefer/accept an alternative patch which allows the
driver to load without a MAC address so the user can set it via ifconfig
after boot?

--
Darren Hart
Intel Open Source Technology Center
Yocto Project - Linux Kernel


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