netdev - Re: wilc1000 MAC address is 00:00:00:00:00:00

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Date:   Thu, 9 Feb 2023 17:15:38 +0000
From:   <Ajay.Kathat@...rochip.com>
To:     <heiko.thiery@...il.com>, <Claudiu.Beznea@...rochip.com>
CC:     <kvalo@...nel.org>, <linux-wireless@...r.kernel.org>,
        <michael@...le.cc>, <netdev@...r.kernel.org>,
        <Amisha.Patel@...rochip.com>
Subject: Re: wilc1000 MAC address is 00:00:00:00:00:00

Hi Heiko,

On 2/8/23 07:24, Heiko Thiery wrote:
> EXTERNAL EMAIL: Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I'm using the WILC1000 wifi and with NetworkManager [1] I see issues
> in certain situations I see problems.
> 
> I was able to reduce the problem and have now found out that the cause
> is that the interface has the HW MAC address is 00:00:00:00:00 after
> startup. Only when the interface is startup (ip link set dev wlan0
> up), the driver sets a "valid" address.
> 

IIUC network manager(NM) is trying to read the MAC address and write the
same back to wilc1000 module without making the wlan0 interface up. right?

Not sure about the requirement but if NM has a valid MAC address to
assign to the wlan0 interface, it can be configured without making
interface up("wlan0 up"). "ip link set dev wlan0 address XX:XX:XX:XX:XX"
command should allow to set the mac address without making the interface
up.
Once the mac address is set, the wilc1000 will use that mac address [1]
instead of the one from wilc1000 NV memory until reboot. However, after
a reboot, if no MAC address is configured from application then wilc1000
will use the address from its NV memory.

> Is this a valid behavior and shouldn't the address already be set
> after loading the driver?
> 

Only when the interface is up(ifconfig wlan0 up), driver loads the
firmware to wilc1000 module and after that the WID commands which allows
to set/get the mac address from the wilc1000 works.

Regards,
Ajay

1.
https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c#L600