linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 2/2] spi: bcm-mspi: Add support for Broadcom MSPI driver.

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Date:	Thu, 14 May 2015 11:55:37 -0700
From:	Jonathan Richardson <jonathar@...adcom.com>
To:	Scott Branden <sbranden@...adcom.com>
CC:	Florian Fainelli <f.fainelli@...il.com>,
	Mark Brown <broonie@...nel.org>,
	Dmitry Torokhov <dtor@...gle.com>,
	Anatol Pomazau <anatol@...gle.com>,
	"Rob Herring" <robh+dt@...nel.org>,
	Pawel Moll <pawel.moll@....com>,
	Mark Rutland <mark.rutland@....com>,
	Ian Campbell <ijc+devicetree@...lion.org.uk>,
	"Kumar Gala" <galak@...eaurora.org>,
	<linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>, <linux-spi@...r.kernel.org>,
	bcm-kernel-feedback-list <bcm-kernel-feedback-list@...adcom.com>,
	<devicetree@...r.kernel.org>, <cernekee@...il.com>,
	<computersforpeace@...il.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/2] spi: bcm-mspi: Add support for Broadcom MSPI driver.

On 15-05-14 11:36 AM, Scott Branden wrote:
> On 15-05-14 11:28 AM, Florian Fainelli wrote:
>> On 14/05/15 11:19, Scott Branden wrote:
>>> Hi Mark,
>>>
>>> On 15-05-14 03:31 AM, Mark Brown wrote:
>>>> On Wed, May 13, 2015 at 05:19:06PM -0700, Scott Branden wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> The purpose of this mspi interface is to connect to NOR flash.  There
>>>>> are
>>>>> other SPI interfaces on the devices used to connect to other SPI
>>>>> devies.  We
>>>>> don't have any need to support full duplex slaves on this port (NOR
>>>>> have any
>>>>> hardware wired this way - pun realized after typing this).
>>>>
>>>> Chip vendors often say this sort of thing and then get surprised by
>>>> what
>>>> their users choose to do, and even if it only ever gets used with flash
>>>> all it would take is some new flash command which can use full duplex
>>>> for something.  Please write the code so it at least tries to handle
>>>> full duplex operation, if you can't test it fully that's not the end of
>>>> the world.  It doesn't look like it should be particularly difficult.
>>>>
>>> Yes, there is always room for improvements in code.  In this case - it
>>> really is not worth our time to add code we can't test.  We try to
>>> deliver code that we can test and actually works.  Yes, if anyone needs
>>> to use the mspi for full duplex operation code can be added in the
>>> future - it is software.  This block has gone through many generations
>>> of our SoCs and has only been used for this purpose - the bootROM boots
>>> from this SPI only.  It is dedicated for this purpose.
>>>
>>> Also, there are other SPI blocks on the SoC that are used for connect
>>> other SPI devices.  These SPI blocks are properly designed for
>>> full-duplex operation.  This mspi block is designed for connecting to
>>> NOR flash.
>>
>> This is an implementation detail and architectural choice that is
>> specific to the Cygnus SoCs where a single MSPI is present, right?
>>
>> This same MSPI block is instantiated multiple times in BCM7xxx chips to
>> interface to general purpose SPI slaves, ranging from Ethernet switches
>> to bluetooth chips etc... those will definitively want full-duplex to be
>> working.
>>
>> I would greatly appreciate if some thought to supporting full duplex
>> transfers was given in this driver drop. If you cannot test that, then
>> maybe just flag the driver has been half-duplex only for now...
>>
>> Thank you.
>>
> Hi Florian,
>  Yes, we can flag that - but we have no understanding of how the block
> operates in this mode.  It would be great if your team could add the
> necessary full duplex support in a patch enhancement to the driver?
> 

Going blind on this one isn't the way to go. If I had a real full duplex
slave I could experiment with it to get it working. But with the docs I
have on this and considering how finicky the block is I think we're
wasting our time.

Jon

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