Re: [PATCH v6 5/6] dt-bindings: mfd: Add Delta TN48M CPLD drivers bindings

From: Robert Marko
Date: Sat Sep 25 2021 - 10:47:18 EST


On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 11:02 PM Robert Marko <robert.marko@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Aug 24, 2021 at 10:03 AM Robert Marko <robert.marko@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, Aug 11, 2021 at 2:17 PM Linus Walleij <linus.walleij@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > On Tue, Aug 3, 2021 at 9:23 PM Robert Marko <robert.marko@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > > The pins that this driver wants to expose are used for SFP-s only,
> > > > they are provided by the Lattice CPLD which also does other things.
> > > >
> > > > Linux has a generic SFP driver which is used to manage these SFP
> > > > ports, but it only supports GPIO-s, it has no concept of anything else.
> > > > Since the driver is fully generic, I have no idea how could one extend it
> > > > to effectively handle these pins internally, especially since I have more
> > > > switches that use the CPLD for SFP-s as well, even for 48 ports and 192
> > > > pins for them.
> > >
> > > Which file is this driver in so I can look?
> >
> > Hi Linus,
> > Sorry for the late reply.
> >
> > Sure, here is the generic Linux driver that is used for SFP handling:
> > https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/tree/drivers/net/phy/sfp.c?h=v5.14-rc7
> >
> > >
> > > Maybe it is not a good idea to look for generic code just because
> > > it is convenient? I have had this problem before with GPIO, along
> > > the lines "lemme just do this dirty thing this one time because it
> > > is so convenient for me" (more or less) and the answer is still
> > > "no".
> > >
> > > Can you either augment the driver to handle a regmap with bit indices
> > > instead or write a new similar driver for that or refactor it some other
> > > way?
> > >
> > > It is not a simple solution to your problem, but it might be the right
> > > solution even if it means some more work.
> >
> > I understand your position, believe me, I spend some time looking at
> > what would be the logical way for these switches.
> > But I see no way how could the SFP driver be extended in a generic way
> > that would allow supporting different register layouts when it comes to pins.
> >
> > >
> > > > GPIO regmap works perfectly for this as its generic enough to cover all of
> > > > these cases.
> > >
> > > Yeah but it might be the wrong thing to do even if it is simple
> > > to use and works.
> > >
> > > > CPLD also provides pins to test the port LED-s per color as well,
> > > > but I have chosen not to expose them so far.
> > >
> > > Have you considered
> > > Documentation/devicetree/bindings/leds/register-bit-led.txt
> >
> > Yeah, but unfortunately in this case it wont work as the LED-s
> > are for debugging/test purposes only and you first need to switch
> > the CPLD out of it interpreting the LED state with a BIT flip.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Robert
> > >
> > > > > If it is a regmap in Linux then that is fine, just pass the regmap
> > > > > around inside the kernel, OK finished. But really that is an OS
> > > > > detail.
> > > >
> > > > Yes, its regmap but I cant really pass it to the SFP driver as I don't have
> > > > special driver handling the SFP but rather the generic kernel one.
> > > > It only knows how to handle GPIO-s.
> > >
> > > Of course you have to program it. If I know which driver it
> > > is it is easier to provide architecture ideas.
> > >
> > > Yours,
> > > Linus Walleij
>
> Linus,
>
> can I offer some further explanation?
>
> Regards,
> Robert

Hi Linus,

I would really like to move forward with this somehow.

I have multiple switches depending on the outcome of this series.

Regards,
Robert
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Robert Marko
> > Staff Embedded Linux Engineer
> > Sartura Ltd.
> > Lendavska ulica 16a
> > 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
> > Email: robert.marko@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Web: www.sartura.hr
>
>
>
> --
> Robert Marko
> Staff Embedded Linux Engineer
> Sartura Ltd.
> Lendavska ulica 16a
> 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
> Email: robert.marko@xxxxxxxxxx
> Web: www.sartura.hr



--
Robert Marko
Staff Embedded Linux Engineer
Sartura Ltd.
Lendavska ulica 16a
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Email: robert.marko@xxxxxxxxxx
Web: www.sartura.hr