[PATCH net] r8169: don't enable chip LTR when the platform has not enabled LTR

From: Yogesh Gaur

Date: Wed Sep 09 2026 - 07:23:26 EST


rtl_enable_ltr() programs the MAC to generate LTR messages - ALDPS_LTR_EN,
LTR_SNOOP_EN, LTR_OBFF_LOCK_EN, plus LINK_SPEED_CHANGE_EN on
RTL8125/RTL8126/RTL8127 - and rtl_hw_aspm_clkreq_enable() calls it on
every ASPM enable, then goes on to let the chip trigger L1.2.

The only gate is tp->aspm_manageable, which records that the OS is allowed
to control ASPM. It says nothing about LTR. LTR is a separate PCIe
capability that only works if every device on the path to the root port
supports it. The PCI core determines that in pci_configure_ltr() and
records the result by setting LTR Mechanism Enable in the endpoint's
Device Control 2 register; per PCIe r6.0 sec 7.5.3.16 a function must not
issue LTR messages while that bit is clear.

So on a platform whose hierarchy has no LTR path, the driver now tells the
chip to start sending LTR messages nothing will honour, and ties ALDPS -
the PHY's link-down power saving - to them. A report against RTL8125B
(rev 05, firmware rtl8125b-2_0.0.2) in a mini PC shows the effect: 291
link down/up transitions in one eight-hour boot, with repeated downshifts
to 100Mbps, against four transitions at boot and then a stable link on the
kernel before the LTR change.

Read the endpoint's LTR Mechanism Enable bit and leave the chip's LTR
machinery alone when the platform did not enable it.
pcie_capability_read_word() zeroes its output on error, so an unreadable
capability takes the same safe path.

Fixes: 9ab94a32af70 ("r8169: enable LTR support")
Closes: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2529752
Signed-off-by: Yogesh Gaur <yogeshgaur.83@xxxxxxxxx>
---
drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c | 10 ++++++++++
1 file changed, 10 insertions(+)

diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
index ec4fc21fa21f..c1ff4e898570 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
@@ -3037,6 +3037,16 @@ static void rtl_disable_exit_l1(struct rtl8169_private *tp)

static void rtl_enable_ltr(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
{
+ u16 ctl2;
+
+ /* The chip must not issue LTR messages unless the platform enabled
+ * LTR on the whole path up to the root port. The PCI core discovers
+ * that in pci_configure_ltr() and reflects it in LTR Mechanism Enable.
+ */
+ pcie_capability_read_word(tp->pci_dev, PCI_EXP_DEVCTL2, &ctl2);
+ if (!(ctl2 & PCI_EXP_DEVCTL2_LTR_EN))
+ return;
+
switch (tp->mac_version) {
case RTL_GIGA_MAC_VER_80:
r8168_mac_ocp_write(tp, 0xcdd0, 0x9003);
--
2.55.0.windows.5