netdev - Re: [sky2, solved] transmit timeouts and firmware update...

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Date:	Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:46:12 +0100
From:	"Daniel J Blueman" <daniel.blueman@...il.com>
To:	"Krzysztof Oledzki" <ole@....pl>
Cc:	"Stephen Hemminger" <shemminger@...tta.com>,
	"Linux Netdev" <netdev@...r.kernel.org>,
	"Linux Networking" <linux-net@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: [sky2, solved] transmit timeouts and firmware update...

2008/8/25 Krzysztof Oledzki <ole@....pl>:
> On Mon, 25 Aug 2008, Daniel J Blueman wrote:
>
>> I (and a lot of other users) have been experiencing the frequent sky2
>> transmit timeout problem [1] (on 88E8053/Yukon2 EC gig hardware); this
>> is a result of the embedded NIC controller locking up, and I've found
>> that updating the firmware addresses this issue. I'm still seeing a
>> previous and different issue [2] from time to time though (silicon
>> bug?).
>
> Thanks for the info. I've been dealing with this problem for some long time,
> hopefully sky driver from the latest kernels is able to recover from such
> hangs, so it is not that critical problem now.

It can recover eventually, but for (eg) NFS, the exponential-backoff
causes a 30-60s hang, which if your homedir is mounted, will hit you.

>> Marvell shipping broken firmware is completely unpublicised or
>> acknowledged, however updated firmware is available through your
>> motherboard vendor, so all hope it not lost after all...
>
> Unfortunately not through all vendors. :( Or maybe not *yet*?

At least Gigabyte and Jetway have them for download, as the issue
seems widespread:

http://tw.giga-byte.com/FileList/FAQ/mb_faq/faq_marvell_eeprom.zip
http://download.jetway.com.tw/faq/EEP8056_109.zip

I can imagine that most motherboard vendors will have encountered
support for this problem, so would have the files; it's worth trying
to contact them...

>> My 8053/EC is using firmware 2.2 (previously 1.9) - you can check in
>> DOS with 'yukondg.exe' from
>> http://www.marvell.com/drivers/files/yukondg_v6.53.4.3.zip .
>
> Stephen, is it possible for sky2 driver to check and print the firmware
> version?

I agree - this would be useful indeed!

> Best regards,
>
>                                Krzysztof Olędzki
-- 
Daniel J Blueman