Re: [PATCH 1/6] net: hisilicon: add support for hisi_femac core on Hi3798MV200

[Andrew Lunn]

> +	// Register the optional MDIO bus
> +	for_each_available_child_of_node(node, mdio_np) {
> +		if (of_node_name_prefix(mdio_np, "mdio")) {
> +			priv->mdio_pdev = of_platform_device_create(mdio_np, NULL, dev);
> +			of_node_put(mdio_np);
> +			if (!priv->mdio_pdev) {
> +				dev_err(dev, "failed to register MDIO bus device\n");
> +				goto out_free_netdev;
> +			}
> +			mdio_registered = true;
> +			break;
> +		}
> +	}
> +
> +	if (!mdio_registered)
> +		dev_warn(dev, "MDIO subnode notfound. This is usually a bug.\n");

I don't understand the architecture of this device yet...

It seems like you have an integrated PHY? In the example, you used a
phy-handle to bind the MAC to the PHY. So why is the MDIO bus
optional?

Do the MII signals from the MAC also go to SoC pins, so you could use
an external PHY? Is there a SERDES so you could connect to an SFP
cage?

Also, do the MDIO pins go to SoC pins? Can the MDIO bus master be used
to control external PHYs?

If everything is internal, fixed in silicon, no variation possible,
you don't need to describe the MDIO bus in DT. The MAC driver can
register it, and then get the PHY at the hard coded address it uses.

	 Andrew