From: Jakub Kicinski <jakub.kicin...@netronome.com> Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2019 10:50:39 -0800
> fw_version field in ethtool -i does not suit modern needs with 31 > characters being quite limiting on more complex systems. There is > also no distinction between the running and flashed versions of > the firmware. > > Since the driver information pertains to the entire device, rather > than a particular netdev, it seems wise to move it do devlink, at > the same time fixing the aforementioned issues. > > The new API allows exposing the device serial number and versions > of the components of the card - both hardware, firmware (running > and flashed). Driver authors can choose descriptive identifiers > for the version fields. A few version identifiers which seemed > relevant for most devices have been added to the global devlink > header. > > Example: ... > Last patch also includes a compat code for ethtool. If driver > reports no fw_version via the traditional ethtool API, ethtool > can call into devlink and try to cram as many versions as possible > into the 31 characters. ... Series applied.
