[EXTERNAL] Re: [PATCH v4 1/1] ethdev: add support to provide link type

[Sunil Kumar Kori]

> On Thu, 14 Aug 2025 11:04:18 +0200
> Morten Brørup <mb at smartsharesystems.com> wrote:
> 
> > > From: skori at marvell.com [mailto:skori at marvell.com]
> > > Sent: Thursday, 14 August 2025 10.10
> > >
> > > Adding link type parameter to provide the type of port like twisted
> > > pair, fibre etc.
> > >
> > > Also added an API to convert the RTE_ETH_LINK_TYPE_XXX to a readable
> > > string.
> >
> > Please consider if "connector" is a better name than "link type", if this is related
> to physical interfaces only.
> > E.g. is there an "LACP" link type for link aggregates (bonded links)?
> >
> > Also, should a "virtual" link type (or connector) be added for
> TAP/Virtio/VMXNET3/ring and similar non-physical interfaces?
> >
> > More comments inline below.
> 
> My preference is that a new feature like this follow what other commands and
> standards do.
> There is Linux ethtool as the most common example.
> Also, there is probably something IEEE standard but that is behind stupid
> paywall.
> 
> Ethtool on real NIC.
> # ethtool enp87s0
> Settings for enp87s0:
> 	Supported ports: [ TP ]
> 	Supported link modes:   10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
> 	                        100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
> 	                        1000baseT/Full
> 	                        2500baseT/Full
> 	Supported pause frame use: Symmetric
> 	Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
> 	Supported FEC modes: Not reported
> 	Advertised link modes:  10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
> 	                        100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
> 	                        1000baseT/Full
> 	                        2500baseT/Full
> 	Advertised pause frame use: Symmetric
> 	Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
> 	Advertised FEC modes: Not reported
> 	Speed: 2500Mb/s
> 	Duplex: Full
> 	Auto-negotiation: on
> 	Port: Twisted Pair
> 	PHYAD: 0
> 	Transceiver: internal
> 	MDI-X: off (auto)
> 	Supports Wake-on: pumbg
> 	Wake-on: g
>         Current message level: 0x00000007 (7)
>                                drv probe link
> 	Link detected: yes
> 
> And on virtio
> # ethtool enp1s0
> Settings for enp1s0:
> 	Supported ports: [  ]
> 	Supported link modes:   Not reported
> 	Supported pause frame use: No
> 	Supports auto-negotiation: No
> 	Supported FEC modes: Not reported
> 	Advertised link modes:  Not reported
> 	Advertised pause frame use: No
> 	Advertised auto-negotiation: No
> 	Advertised FEC modes: Not reported
> 	Speed: Unknown!
> 	Duplex: Unknown! (255)
> 	Auto-negotiation: off
> 	Port: Other
> 	PHYAD: 0
> 	Transceiver: internal
> 	Link detected: yes

Agreed, hence adding one more type RTE_ETH_LINK_TYPE_OTHER to align.