[PATCH] dt-bindings: net: ethernet-phy: clarify when compatible must specify PHY ID

From: Buday Csaba

Date: Fri Oct 31 2025 - 04:15:18 EST


Change PHY ID description in ethernet-phy.yaml to clarify that a
PHY ID is required (may -> must) when the PHY requires special
initialization sequence.

Link: https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/20251026212026.GA2959311-robh@xxxxxxxxxx/
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/aQIZvDt5gooZSTcp@debianbuilder/

Signed-off-by: Buday Csaba <buday.csaba@xxxxxxxxx>
---
Documentation/devicetree/bindings/net/ethernet-phy.yaml | 7 ++++---
1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/net/ethernet-phy.yaml b/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/net/ethernet-phy.yaml
index 2ec2d9fda..6f5599902 100644
--- a/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/net/ethernet-phy.yaml
+++ b/Documentation/devicetree/bindings/net/ethernet-phy.yaml
@@ -35,9 +35,10 @@ properties:
description: PHYs that implement IEEE802.3 clause 45
- pattern: "^ethernet-phy-id[a-f0-9]{4}\\.[a-f0-9]{4}$"
description:
- If the PHY reports an incorrect ID (or none at all) then the
- compatible list may contain an entry with the correct PHY ID
- in the above form.
+ If the PHY reports an incorrect ID (or none at all), or the PHY
+ requires a specific initialization sequence (like a particular
+ order of clocks, resets, power supplies), then the compatible list
+ must contain an entry with the correct PHY ID in the above form.
The first group of digits is the 16 bit Phy Identifier 1
register, this is the chip vendor OUI bits 3:18. The
second group of digits is the Phy Identifier 2 register,
--
2.39.5