So, after a long trial-and-error, and becoming a true nightmare for netdev developers, I finally got my SFP+ module with AQR113C working on my BPI-R4. Now that I have the link UP, the next step is: how do I make it waste less power? During the night, I assume most of the time only broadcast packets are being sent at home. Whereas annoying for any device which wants to sleep, there’s no way out (I guess).
ethtool sfp-lan
Settings for sfp-lan:
Supported ports: [ ]
Supported link modes: 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
10000baseT/Full
1000baseKX/Full
10000baseKX4/Full
10000baseKR/Full
2500baseT/Full
5000baseT/Full
Supported pause frame use: Symmetric Receive-only
Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
Supported FEC modes: Not reported
Advertised link modes: 10000baseT/Full
10000baseKX4/Full
10000baseKR/Full
Advertised pause frame use: Symmetric Receive-only
Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
Advertised FEC modes: Not reported
Link partner advertised link modes: 100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Half 1000baseT/Full
10000baseT/Full
2500baseT/Full
5000baseT/Full
Link partner advertised pause frame use: Symmetric Receive-only
Link partner advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
Link partner advertised FEC modes: Not reported
Speed: 10000Mb/s
Duplex: Full
Auto-negotiation: on
Port: Twisted Pair
PHYAD: 17
Transceiver: external
MDI-X: Unknown
Current message level: 0x000000ff (255)
drv probe link timer ifdown ifup rx_err tx_err
Link detected: yes
root@APBureau4:~# ethtool --show-eee sfp-lan
EEE settings for sfp-lan:
EEE status: enabled - active
Tx LPI: 0 (us)
Supported EEE link modes: 1000baseT/Full
10000baseT/Full
1000baseKX/Full
10000baseKX4/Full
10000baseKR/Full
2500baseT/Full
5000baseT/Full
Advertised EEE link modes: 1000baseT/Full
10000baseT/Full
1000baseKX/Full
10000baseKX4/Full
10000baseKR/Full
2500baseT/Full
5000baseT/Full
Link partner advertised EEE link modes: 100baseT/Full
1000baseT/Full
10000baseT/Full
there’s a lot of info up there, but basically the question is:
What would result in the greatest power savings? running at 100baseT/full without EEE or 1000baseT/full with EEE?
I tested both modes, they are both stable. One could say “EEE stops the clock and turns off unneeded phy components, so it would be better”, but “slowing down everything as a whole without clocking down” may work as well.
So, what do you guys think?