Re: [PATCH] Regression: e100_phy_init() isolates even selected PHY, causes 10 seconds boot delay

[David Miller <davem@davemloft.net>]

From: Bernhard Kaindl <bernhard.kaindl@gmx.net>
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:33:31 +0200

> The current e100.c:e100_phy_init() electrically isolates all
> the PHYs (even the selected PHY -- for a short time!) from the MII.
> 
> This happens only for a short duration before the isolation
> of the selected PHY is reverted, but it's enough to cause a
> major disturbance in the startup of our e100-based cards:
> 
> On a number of Embedded/Industry Pentium boards which are in use,
> the result is that the initial DHCP negotiation takes more
> than 10 seconds to complete with 2.6.30 and .31, while it's
> done in a fraction of a second with 2.6.29 and earlier
> (kernels tested with no delay range from 2.6.23 to 2.6.29)
> 
> That regression was introduced on March 31 in the by a patch
> from Bruce which first appeared in 2.6.30-rc3:

Bruce, can you give some feedback on this?  I'd like to see this issue
move forward.

The only reason I haven't applied Bernhard's patch is because I
haven't seen any feedback from Intel.  But I will apply it anyways if
I don't see reasonable feedback soon.

Thanks.