Subject: Re: [PATCH net-next] net/mlx5e: Enable mac forwarding on uplink representor

From: Jakub Kicinski <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:44:00 -0700

On Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:10:37 -0700 Saeed Mahameed wrote:
> >> Mac forwarding in the sense of linux bridge mac forwarding mechanism which
> >> requires set_rx_mode ndo to be implemented.
> >>
> >> Linux-bridge --> mlx5-uplink-rep --> set_rx_mode --> set up mac in HW.  
> >
> >And the actual forwarding happens in SW bridge? This is just to
> >configure the Rx filter not to discard on Rx?  
> 
> Yes Forwarding happens on the SW bridge, just to register the mac so it
> won't get dropped.

Ah! Please respin with a better explanation and calling that out? 
I think it's fair for the reader to assume offload when reading
about representors.