be2net: output of ethtool is incorrect for HP ProLiant servers that use 10GB FlexFabric

Solution Unverified - Updated -

Issue

  • output of ethtool is incorrect for HP ProLiant servers that use 10GB FlexFabric
  • ethtool returns empty string for Supported ports field of the network interfaces managed through be2net driver on HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 servers having 10Gb 554FLB FlexFabric (lan on motherboard).

The ethtool output for such an interface:

Settings for eth2:
    Supported ports: [ ] <---
    Supported link modes:   Not reported
        Supported pause frame use: Symmetric
        Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
        Advertised link modes:  Not reported
        Advertised pause frame use: Symmetric
        Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
        Speed: 1000Mb/s
        Duplex: Full
        Port: Other
        PHYAD: 0
        Transceiver: internal
        Auto-negotiation: on
        Supports Wake-on: g
        Wake-on: g
        Current message level: 0x00002000 (8192)
                               hw
        Link detected: yes
  • Since kernel 2.6.32-358.xxx the output of the ethtool looks strange on HP ProLiant hardware which uses Flex Fabric connectivity. I have seen this behavior on HP ProLiant G7 and HP ProLiant G8 systems. With kernel 2.6.32-279.9.1.el6.x86_64 the output of ethtool looks as expected.
  • On Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6.4, why is the output of ethtool strange when using it with a be2net network card?
  • Why is my ethtool output like this?
Settings for eth0:
        Supported ports: [ ]
        Supported link modes:   Not reported
        Supported pause frame use: Symmetric
        Supports auto-negotiation: No
        Advertised link modes:  Not reported
        Advertised pause frame use: Symmetric
        Advertised auto-negotiation: No
        Speed: 1000Mb/s
        Duplex: Full
        Port: Other
        PHYAD: 0
        Transceiver: internal
        Auto-negotiation: off
        Supports Wake-on: g
        Wake-on: g
        Current message level: 0x00002000 (8192)
                               hw
        Link detected: yes

Environment

  • HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8, HP ProLiant G7 or HP ProLiant G8 servers
  • 10Gb 554FLB FlexFabric connectivity
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6.4
  • kernel 2.6.32-358 (RHEL6.4GA kernel) and later
  • Emulex One Connect network driver: be2net

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