[dpdk-stable] [dpdk-dev] [PATCH 0/2] support MAC changes when no live changes allowed

[Ferruh Yigit]

On 7/18/2018 9:58 AM, Ferruh Yigit wrote:
> On 7/9/2018 6:14 PM, Alejandro Lucero wrote:
>> This is a patched to fix a functionality coming with the first public
>> release: changing/setting MAC address.
>>
>> The original patch assumes all NICs can safely change or set the MAC
>> in any case. However, this is not always true. NFP depends on the firmware
>> capabilities and this is not always supported. There are other NICs with
>> this same limitation, although, as far as I know, not in DPDK. Linux kernel
>> has a IFF_LIVE_ADDR_CHANGE flag and two NICs are checking this flag for
>> allowing or not live MAC changes.
>>
>> The flag proposed in this patch is just the opposite: advertise if live
>> change not supported and assuming it is supported other way.
>>
>> Although most NICs support rte_eth_dev_default_mac_addr_set and this
>> function returns and error when live change is not supported, note that
>> this function is invoked during port start but the value returned is not
>> checked. It is likely this is good enough for most of the cases, but
>> bonding is relying on this start then mac set/change, and a PMD ports is
>> not properly configured for being used as an slave port in some bonding
>> modes.
> 
> Hi Alejandro,
> 
> Overall looks good to me, only it can be good to update "rte_eth_dev_start" API
> doc to mention about affect of new flag and perhaps update release notes "API
> Changes" section to document behavior change of the "rte_eth_dev_start" API
> based on flag.

Would you mind sending a new version for this release, v18.11, with above
documentation update?

Thanks,
ferruh

> 
> But, the ethdev library patch was late for this release, I suggest considering
> the patch for next release, meanwhile it can get more reviews.
> 
> Thanks,
> ferruh
>