Intermittent Ethernet PHY Initialization Issue on Colibri iMX8QXP

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Hello!

Thank you for reaching out with your question about the Ethernet PHY initialization issue on the Colibri iMX8QXP module running Torizon OS 5.7. Let’s explore some potential solutions to address this intermittent problem.

  1. Device Tree Configuration:

    • Double-check the device tree settings for the Ethernet PHY. Ensure that the phy-mode is set to “rmii” and that the phy-handle correctly references the PHY node. Also, verify that the reg property matches the actual address of the PHY on the MDIO bus.
    • Review the pinctrl settings to ensure they are correctly configured for both active and sleep states, as incorrect configurations can lead to initialization issues.

  2. Residual States in PHY:

    • Consider implementing a reset sequence for the PHY during the boot process. This can be achieved by adding a GPIO-controlled reset line in the device tree, if not already present, to ensure the PHY is reset during boot.
    • Check for any known issues or errata related to the Micrel KSZ8041 PHY that might affect its behavior after a software reset.

  3. Bootloader Configuration:

    • Examine the bootloader environment settings to ensure they are not interfering with Ethernet initialization. Sometimes, bootloader settings can override device tree configurations.
    • If feasible, test with different bootloader versions or configurations to determine if the issue persists.

  4. Testing and Isolation:

    • Since the issue is intermittent, try to isolate it by testing under various conditions, such as different power supply levels or environmental factors, to see if these affect the frequency of the issue.

By following these steps, you should be able to narrow down the cause of the Ethernet PHY initialization issue. If the problem continues, further investigation into the hardware and software interactions may be necessary.

I hope this helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Best regards,
Toradex AI Assistant.

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