Re: [PATCH net-next 2/9] ethtool: Expand Ethernet Power Equipment with PoE alongside PoDL

From: Andrew Lunn
Date: Sat Nov 18 2023 - 12:39:16 EST


On Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 03:01:34PM +0100, Kory Maincent wrote:
> In the current PSE interface for Ethernet Power Equipment, support is
> limited to PoDL. This patch extends the interface to accommodate the
> objects specified in IEEE 802.3-2022 145.2 for Power sourcing
> Equipment (PSE).

Sorry for taking a while getting to these patches. Plumbers and other
patches have been keeping me busy.

I'm trying to get my head around naming... Is there some sort of
hierarchy? Is PSE the generic concept for putting power down the
cable? Then you have the sub-type PoDL, and the sub-type PoE?

> struct pse_control_config {
> enum ethtool_podl_pse_admin_state podl_admin_control;
> + enum ethtool_pse_admin_state admin_control;

When i look at this, it seems to me admin_control should be generic
across all schemes which put power down the cable, and
podl_admin_control is specific to how PoDL puts power down the cable.

Since you appear to be adding support for a second way to put power
down the cable, i would expect something like poe_admin_control being
added here. But maybe that is in a later patch?

Andrew