Regression, i.MX7 boot failure, Linux v6.1.77

Regression, i.MX7 boot failure, Linux v6.1.77

[Francesco Dolcini]

Hello Sasha,
kernel v6.1.77 introduces a regression, with a boot failure, on i.MX7,
with commit db30f469ae8b ("ARM: dts: imx7s: Fix nand-controller #size-cells").

The issue is known [1][2], changing `#size-cells = <0>` is formally
correct, but do not play well with the firmware that are deployed on
those embedded devices, leading to a boot failure.

A mitigation was implemented in the Linux kernel,
commit 84549c816dc3 ("mtd: parsers: ofpart: add workaround for #size-cells 0")
that was merged into v6.3, the firmware was also fixed, however existing
device using old firmware will not boot anymore if updating to a newer
kernel.

I would ask you to drop such a patch from any stable patches queue and
not backport it to any older kernel.

To fix v6.1.y I see two options:
 - backport 84549c816dc3
 - revert db30f469ae8b

What do you prefer? Should I send myself a patch?

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/all/Y4dgBTGNWpM6SQXI@francesco-nb.int.toradex.com/
[2] https://lore.kernel.org/all/20221202071900.1143950-1-francesco@dolcini.it/

Francesco


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Re: Regression, i.MX7 boot failure, Linux v6.1.77

[Greg Kroah-Hartman]

On Tue, Feb 13, 2024 at 12:21:46PM +0100, Francesco Dolcini wrote:
> Hello Sasha,
> kernel v6.1.77 introduces a regression, with a boot failure, on i.MX7,
> with commit db30f469ae8b ("ARM: dts: imx7s: Fix nand-controller #size-cells").
> 
> The issue is known [1][2], changing `#size-cells = <0>` is formally
> correct, but do not play well with the firmware that are deployed on
> those embedded devices, leading to a boot failure.
> 
> A mitigation was implemented in the Linux kernel,
> commit 84549c816dc3 ("mtd: parsers: ofpart: add workaround for #size-cells 0")
> that was merged into v6.3, the firmware was also fixed, however existing
> device using old firmware will not boot anymore if updating to a newer
> kernel.
> 
> I would ask you to drop such a patch from any stable patches queue and
> not backport it to any older kernel.
> 
> To fix v6.1.y I see two options:
>  - backport 84549c816dc3
>  - revert db30f469ae8b
> 
> What do you prefer? Should I send myself a patch?

Backport would be best, that way we are in sync with newer releases.

I'll go queue it up now, thanks.

greg k-h

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