Adrien Mazarguil [mailto:adrien.mazarguil at 6wind.com] on 15. september 2015 
12:05:

> A given link cannot be simultaneously at 10 Gbps and 1 Gbps right? Using a 
> bit-field for the current link speed is confusing at best. Output values do 
> not need to be included in the unified API, they are never converted back 
> into enum values.

A given link can only use one speed at any given time, correct. However, other 
link properties must be output too, such as link status, duplex status, auto 
negotiation status, flow control status, media status, etc..  Using a bitfield 
provides all this information in an atomic operation.

> I'm stressing again the fact that doing so would require a changes in all 
> applications that use the current speed and in PMDs for no good reason.

Correct, it requires a lot of changes in all the PMDs. I think a good PHY API 
with the appropriate features is a good reason. If there is no consensus to put 
in the work to update the PHY API and PMDs accordingly, just leave it at its 
former state.


I recently saw an interesting presentation about TCP optimization, and the last 
slide has a very good point. It says (slightly paraphrased): "You can't sell 
just the traffic handling, you need the support infrastructure for O&M, such as 
CLI, Web UI, Historical counter database, SNMP, RADIUS, Analytics and so on." 
So related to our PHY API discussion, I would add that proper handling of the 
physical interfaces is one of those things that just need to be in order when 
you sell network appliances.


Med venlig hilsen / kind regards
- Morten Br?rup

Reply via email to