Subject: Re: [PATCH] r8152: Add support for setting MAC to system's Auxiliary MAC address

From: Andrew Lunn <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2016 00:27:03 +0200

On Wed, Jun 01, 2016 at 04:50:44PM -0500, Mario Limonciello wrote:
> Dell systems with Type-C ports have support for a persistent system
> specific MAC address when used with Dell Type-C docks and dongles.
> This means a dock plugged into two different systems will show different
> (but persistent) MAC addresses.  Dell Type-C docks and dongles use the
> r8152 driver.
> 
> This information for the system's persistent MAC address is burned in when
> the HW is built and avilable under _SB\AMAC in the DSDT at runtime.
> 
> More information about the technology is available here:
> http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/SLN301147
> 
> Signed-off-by: Mario Limonciello <[email-masked]>
> ---
>  drivers/net/usb/Kconfig |  1 +
>  drivers/net/usb/r8152.c | 37 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>  2 files changed, 38 insertions(+)
> 
> diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/Kconfig b/drivers/net/usb/Kconfig
> index cdde590..c320930 100644
> --- a/drivers/net/usb/Kconfig
> +++ b/drivers/net/usb/Kconfig
> @@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ config USB_RTL8150
>  config USB_RTL8152
>  	tristate "Realtek RTL8152/RTL8153 Based USB Ethernet Adapters"
>  	select MII
> +	depends on ACPI

Hi Mario

That seems a bit heavy handed. What about ARM or MIPS machines which
don't use ACPI but do have USB ports where i could plug in a USB
dongle with this chipset.

I think it would be better to make use of ACPI if it is available, but
don't require it in order the build the driver.

      Andrew