[RFC PATCH net-next 0/2] ethtool: add interface capabilities and PHY test
From: Shubham Das <hidden>
Date: 2026-08-25 04:37:11
This series adds two new ethtool netlink commands:
1. intf-caps-get: Discovers the functional block layout of a network
interface. Each block represents a hardware point (MAC/PHY/MODULE)
at a specific 802.3 sublayer (RS/PCS/FEC/PMA/PMD) with its
supported capabilities (loopback, test patterns, BERT, error
injection).
2. phy-test-get / phy-test-act: Per-block, per-lane PHY testing using
test patterns, BERT (Bit Error Ratio Test), and error injection.
The block_id from intf-caps-get identifies which hardware point
to test.
The block model uses:
- component: which hardware entity (MAC, PHY, MODULE)
- sublayer: which 802.3 layer (RS, PCS, FEC, PMA, PMD)
- instance: identifies multiple instances of the same component
(e.g., internal vs external PHY)
- depth: host-side vs line-side within the same sublayer
Prior discussion on this proposal:
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/netdev/SN7PR11MB810923BBDEC398E860099150FF1B2@SN7PR11MB8109.namprd11.prod.outlook.com/ (local)
Shubham Das (2):
ethtool: add interface capabilities query (intf-caps-get)
ethtool: add PHY test framework (phy-test-get, phy-test-act)
Documentation/netlink/specs/ethtool.yaml | 206 ++++++++++++++++++
include/linux/ethtool.h | 92 ++++++++
.../uapi/linux/ethtool_netlink_generated.h | 104 +++++++++
net/ethtool/Makefile | 2 +-
net/ethtool/intf_caps.c | 130 +++++++++++
net/ethtool/netlink.c | 24 ++
net/ethtool/netlink.h | 7 +
net/ethtool/phytest.c | 171 +++++++++++++++
8 files changed, 735 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
create mode 100644 net/ethtool/intf_caps.c
create mode 100644 net/ethtool/phytest.c
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2.25.1