Subject: Re: [PATCH net-next 2/2] nfp: separate the port's upper state with lower phy state

From: Jakub Kicinski <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2023 19:41:26 -0700

On Thu, 30 Mar 2023 01:56:13 +0000 Yinjun Zhang wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:24:22 -0700, Jakub Kicinski wrote:
> > On Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:45:48 +0200 Louis Peens wrote:  
> > > For nic application firmware, enable the ports' phy state at the
> > > beginning. And by default its state doesn't change in pace with
> > > the upper state, unless the ethtool private flag "link_state_detach"
> > > is turned off by:
> > >
> > >  ethtool --set-private-flags <netdev> link_state_detach off
> > >
> > > With this separation, we're able to keep the VF state up while
> > > bringing down the PF.  
> > 
> > This commit message is very confusing. Please rewrite it.  
> 
> How about
> "
> With this separation, the lower phy state of uplink port can be kept
> link-on no matter what the upper admin state is.

What is "upper", in this context? grep the networking code for upper,
is that what you mean?

> Thus the corresponding
> VFs can also link up and communicate with exterior through the uplink
> port.
> "