Re: [PATCH net-next v7 1/3] net: dsa: microchip: implement KSZ87xx Module 3 low-loss cable errata

From: Nicolai Buchwitz

Date: Thu May 28 2026 - 07:47:26 EST


Hi Fidelio,

A couple more from testing on a KSZ8794, in case they help while you
look at the register-document question.

On 24.5.2026 12:44, Fidelio Lawson wrote:
Implement the "Module 3: Equalizer fix for short cables" erratum from
Microchip document DS80000687C for KSZ87xx switches.

The issue affects short or low-loss cable links (e.g. CAT5e/CAT6),
where the PHY receiver equalizer may amplify high-amplitude signals
excessively, resulting in internal distortion and link establishment
failures.

KSZ87xx devices require a workaround for the Module 3 low-loss cable
condition, controlled through the switch TABLE_LINK_MD_V indirect
registers.

This change models the erratum handling as vendor-specific Clause 22 PHY
registers, virtualized by the KSZ8 DSA driver and accessed via
ksz8_r_phy() / ksz8_w_phy(). The following controls are provided:

- A boolean “short-cable” preset, which applies a documented and
conservative configuration (LPF 62 MHz bandwidth and DSP EQ initial
value 0), and is the recommended interface for typical use cases.

- Separate LPF bandwidth and DSP EQ initial value controls intended for
advanced or experimental tuning. These are orthogonal and independent,
and override the corresponding settings without requiring any specific
ordering.

The preset and tunables act as simple setters with no implicit state
machine or invalid combinations, keeping the API predictable and aligned
with the KISS principle.

The erratum affects the shared PHY analog front-end and therefore applies
globally to the switch.

Fixes: e66f840c08a2 ("net: dsa: ksz: Add Microchip KSZ8795 DSA driver")
Signed-off-by: Fidelio Lawson <fidelio.lawson@xxxxxxxxxx>
---

[...]

+
/**
* ksz8_r_phy_ctrl - Translates and reads from the SMI interface to a MIIM PHY
* Control register (Reg. 31).
@@ -1046,6 +1077,22 @@ static int ksz8_r_phy(struct ksz_device *dev, u16 phy, u16 reg, u16 *val)
if (ret)
return ret;

+ break;
+ case PHY_REG_KSZ87XX_SHORT_CABLE:
+ if (!ksz_is_ksz87xx(dev))
+ return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+ data = !!(dev->lpf_bw == KSZ87XX_PHY_LPF_62MHZ &&
+ dev->eq_init == KSZ87XX_DSP_EQ_INIT_LOW_LOSS);

The cached state lives on struct ksz_device, but ksz8_r_phy() is
invoked per port. Setting the preset on one port is reported back as
active on the others:

phytool write swp1/1/0x1a 1
phytool read swp1/2/0x1a -> 0x0001
phytool read swp1/3/0x1a -> 0x0001

The commit message already notes that the erratum applies switch-wide.
So writes from non-primary ports could either be rejected or at least produce
a dev_info_once() so userspace can see the setting is shared?

+ break;
+ case PHY_REG_KSZ87XX_LPF_BW:
+ if (!ksz_is_ksz87xx(dev))
+ return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+ data = dev->lpf_bw;
+ break;
+ case PHY_REG_KSZ87XX_EQ_INIT:
+ if (!ksz_is_ksz87xx(dev))
+ return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+ data = dev->eq_init;

dev->eq_init starts at zero from the kzalloc, but the header added by
this patch defines KSZ87XX_DSP_EQ_INIT_FACTORY = 0x0F as the hardware
default. After a fresh boot on my setup (no writes), the read returns 0:

phytool read swp1/1/0x1c -> 0x0000

Should probe set dev->eq_init = KSZ87XX_DSP_EQ_INIT_FACTORY (and
dev->lpf_bw = KSZ87XX_PHY_LPF_90MHZ), or read the indirect registers
once on probe, so the cache reflects what the hardware actually holds?

[...]

Thanks
Nicolai