Re: What is inside GPON SFP module?

From: Pali Rohár
Date: Tue Jun 08 2021 - 06:33:49 EST


On Saturday 05 June 2021 15:41:05 Russell King (Oracle) wrote:
> On Sat, Jun 05, 2021 at 03:04:55PM +0200, Hauke Mehrtens wrote:
> > Is there a list of things these GPON sticks running Linux should do better
> > in the future? For example what to avoid in the EEPROM emulation handling?
>
> That is just not worth persuing. Large ISP-companies who have plenty of
> buying power have tried to get issues with GPON sticks resolved, and the
> response from the GPON stick manufacturers has not been helpful. I had
> contracted with a national telco over this problem in recent years, and
> I know they tried their best.
>
> If large ISP companies who are significant customers can't effect any
> fixes, you can be absolutely sure that the voluntary effort around the
> Linux kernel will have no effect.

I see :-( So it does not make sense to try to do anything...

> Yes, we list the modules that don't work well in the kernel source, and
> sometimes we name and shame them, but they don't care.
>
> For example, there is are a few modules that take up to 60 seconds
> before they respond to any I2C requests, because the I2C is entirely
> emulated by the Linux kernel running on the stick, and it takes that
> long for the stick to boot. Will that ever get fixed? Probably not
> without a hardware redesign. Will that happen? I really doubt it, and
> eevn if it did it doesn't affect the millions of sticks already out
> there.
>
> IMHO trying to get these issues fixed is pie in the sky.
>
>
> --
> RMK's Patch system: https://www.armlinux.org.uk/developer/patches/
> FTTP is here! 40Mbps down 10Mbps up. Decent connectivity at last!