netdev - RE: [RFC PATCH net-next 1/9] ethtool: Add ethtool operation to write to a transceiver module EEPROM

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Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 11:51:27 +0000
From: Danielle Ratson <danieller@...dia.com>
To: Andrew Lunn <andrew@...n.ch>
CC: "netdev@...r.kernel.org" <netdev@...r.kernel.org>, "davem@...emloft.net"
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	<mlxsw@...dia.com>, Petr Machata <petrm@...dia.com>, Ido Schimmel
	<idosch@...dia.com>
Subject: RE: [RFC PATCH net-next 1/9] ethtool: Add ethtool operation to write
 to a transceiver module EEPROM

> > From: Ido Schimmel <idosch@...dia.com>
> >
> > Ethtool can already retrieve information from a transceiver module
> > EEPROM by invoking the ethtool_ops::get_module_eeprom_by_page
> operation.
> > Add a corresponding operation that allows ethtool to write to a
> > transceiver module EEPROM.
> >
> > The purpose of this operation is not to enable arbitrary read / write
> > access, but to allow the kernel to write to specific addresses as part
> > of transceiver module firmware flashing. In the future, more
> > functionality can be implemented on top of these read / write
> > operations.
> 
> My memory is dim, but i thought we decided that since the algorithm to
> program these modules is defined in the standard, all we need to do is pass
> the firmware blob, and have an in kernel implementation of the algorithm.
> There is no need to have an arbitrary write blob to module, which might, or
> might not be abused in the future.
> 
> Also, is the module functional while its firmware is being upgraded?
> Do we need to enforce the link is down?
> 
>    Andrew

This is part of the reasons why we kept a flag for module_fw_flash_in_progress. 
I think it should be down since the module is doing some sort of reset during the flashing process (after the Run Firmware Image).
So in order to avoid packet loss, this should be considered.

Ill consider the relevant scenarios for vetoing in the actual version.

Thanks.