Re: [PATCH 2.6.19.2] r8169: support RTL8169SC/8110SC

[許恆嘉 <edward_hsu@realtek.com.tw>]

Francois Romieu 提到:

>edward_hsu@realtek.com.tw :
>[...]
>  
>
>>ANS_2:
>>So, do you think that it is a good idea to keep other vendos's PID and
>>DID in the part?
>>    
>>
>
>Yes.
>  
>

ANS_3:

OK! I will do it.

>[...]
>  
>
>>ANS_2:
>>
>>Sure! You are right. RTL8110SC, RTL8111B and RTL8101E have modest
>>differences, now. However, RTL8101E is a PCI-E fast ethernet controller.
>>I don't think is a good idea to merge its Linux driver into r8168.c or
>>r8169.c. RTL8110SC is the final version of Realtek PCI gigabit ethernet
>>controller. Moreover, due to the increasing popularity of PCI-E, Realtek
>>is going to design several generations of PCI-E ethernet controllers to
>>satisfy customer requests. I have discussed this issue with my hardware
>>colleagues. They believe that both MAC register layout and tx/rx
>>descriptor layout will be changed a lot in new PCI-E ICs. Actually, they
>>already did. Therefore, the hardwares of RTL8111B(PCI-E gigabit
>>ethernet) and RTL8101E(PCI-E fast ethernet) will have frequent and
>>drastic changes. So, I think that it's a good moment to separate their
>>Linux drivers, and r8169.c can become stable.
>>    
>>
>
>Well, code and facts will tell. :o)
>
>Since you asked for questions:
>
>- will the ~7k limit for the jumbo frames be fixed ? One can hardly call
>  it a feature.
>  
>
ANS_3:

Realtek does implement 7k limit for jumbo frames. I think there is no standard to require how large a jumbo frame should be implemented.


>- out of curiosity, did you try the current in-kernel r8169 driver with
>  a 8111B or a 8101E ?
>  
>
ANS_3:
Yes I did! I tried Linux kernel 2.6.19. It seems that r8169.c supports 
RTL8111B and RTL8101E.

>- is there any plan to open the programming manuals of the PCI-E chipsets ?
>  
>
ANS_3:
Realtek does not have the plan to open  the programming manuals of the 
PCI-E chipsets.