[PATCH net v2] net: macb: rate limit netdev error info print in the data path

From: taozj888

Date: Wed Sep 30 2026 - 07:53:08 EST


From: taozijin <taozj888@xxxxxxx>

Now the MACB ethernet driver print the netdev error information
directly by netdev_err(), which would lead to a large number of
error information print if there was a significant number of
error or just jumbo packets exceeding the MTU received when booting.
For example, it would print a large number of:

macb PHYT0036:00 eth0: not whole frame pointed by descriptor
macb PHYT0036:00 eth0: not whole frame pointed by descriptor
...

in gem_rx() by received a large number of packets without
RX_EOF flag set, especially with unknown packet
type that would penetrate the hardware offload for the IP packets.

The unlimited prints here would greatly bother and delay
the system booting process unless the source stop sending
packets since they occupy the console output bandwidth and
other processes have to wait for the completion of printing those
messages.

So rate limit the netdev error information print in the receive
and transmit data path.

Fixes: 89e5785fc8a6 ("[PATCH] Atmel MACB ethernet driver")
Cc: stable@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Signed-off-by: Zijin Tao <taozj888@xxxxxxx>
---
drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c | 14 ++++++++------
1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
index 8e5c034dc3a4..ca60960bec36 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
@@ -1617,16 +1617,16 @@ static int gem_rx(struct macb_queue *queue, struct napi_struct *napi,
count++;

if (!(ctrl & MACB_BIT(RX_SOF) && ctrl & MACB_BIT(RX_EOF))) {
- netdev_err(bp->netdev,
- "not whole frame pointed by descriptor\n");
+ if (net_ratelimit())
+ netdev_err(bp->netdev, "not whole frame pointed by descriptor\n");
bp->netdev->stats.rx_dropped++;
queue->stats.rx_dropped++;
break;
}
skb = queue->rx_skbuff[entry];
if (unlikely(!skb)) {
- netdev_err(bp->netdev,
- "inconsistent Rx descriptor chain\n");
+ if (net_ratelimit())
+ netdev_err(bp->netdev, "inconsistent Rx descriptor chain\n");
bp->netdev->stats.rx_dropped++;
queue->stats.rx_dropped++;
break;
@@ -1829,7 +1829,8 @@ static int macb_rx(struct macb_queue *queue, struct napi_struct *napi,
unsigned long flags;
u32 ctrl;

- netdev_err(bp->netdev, "RX queue corruption: reset it\n");
+ if (net_ratelimit())
+ netdev_err(bp->netdev, "RX queue corruption: reset it\n");

spin_lock_irqsave(&bp->lock, flags);

@@ -2102,7 +2103,8 @@ static int macb_interrupt_misc(struct macb_queue *queue, u32 status)

if (status & MACB_BIT(HRESP)) {
queue_work(system_bh_wq, &bp->hresp_err_bh_work);
- netdev_err(netdev, "DMA bus error: HRESP not OK\n");
+ if (net_ratelimit())
+ netdev_err(netdev, "DMA bus error: HRESP not OK\n");
macb_queue_isr_clear(bp, queue, MACB_BIT(HRESP));
}

--
2.34.1