[2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable switchdev mode

  From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>

The step 4 is a contradiction. It advices to unbind the device from the
mlx5_core which removes the associated system network interface (e.g.
eth0). In the step 5, the same system network interface (e.g. eth0) is
required to exist.

Signed-off-by: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
---
 doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst | 6 +-----
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 5 deletions(-)
  

Hi, Jan

1. Let's suppose we have the one port NIC, PCI BDF 08:00.0, SR-IOV enabled, 0 VFs is configured,
netdev name is ens1f0 (depends on distro and kernel version). 

2. Then, we configure 3 VFs with SR-IOV, we get :
- 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
- 08:00.1 - VF0, ens1f1
- 08:00.2 - VF1, ens1f2
- 08:00.3 - VF2, ens1f3

3. Then, we should unbind VFs ONLY, PF should be kept untouched.
- 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
- 08:00.1 - VF0, -
- 08:00.2 - VF1, -
- 08:00.3 - VF2, -

4. Then, configure switchdev mode
- 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
- 08:00.1 - VF0, -
- 08:00.2 - VF1, -
- 08:00.3 - VF2, -
+ we get 3 representor netdevs:
ens1f0_0 (no dedicated PCI device)
ens1f0_1 (no dedicated PCI device)
ens1f0_2 (no dedicated PCI device)

5. Then, bind VFs back (assume we are no going to map them to VMs)
- 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
- 08:00.1 - VF0, ens1f1
- 08:00.2 - VF1, ens1f2
- 08:00.3 - VF2, ens1f3
- ens1f0_0 (no dedicated PCI device)
- ens1f0_1 (no dedicated PCI device)
- ens1f0_2 (no dedicated PCI device)

6. As result we should get 7 netdevs - 1 PF (Uplink representor), 3 VFs, 3 representors (no PCI device, pure netdev)

With best regards, Slava

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 18:11
> To: Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>
> Cc: dev@dpdk.org; Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler
> <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad <matan@nvidia.com>
> Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable switchdev
> mode
> 
> Hello Salva,
> 
> On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:53:51 +0000
> Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com> wrote:
> 
> > Hi, Jan
> >
> > Yes, bullet [4] explicitly requires to unbind VFs, and detach the netdevs
> from the mlx5_core driver.
> > Otherwise, kernel driver refuses to be configured with switchdev mode in
> [5]. So, [4] can't be skipped.
> > After setting swithdev mode, VFs can be bound back (if it is needed, and
> these ones are not mapped to VMs):
> 
> OK, but I believe that it is **not possible** to follow the rule [5].
> The guide explicitly says in [4] "can be rebind **after** the switchdev
> mode".
> Just, if you unbind the device, there is no way how to configure the
> switchdev mode, this is the contradiction I mentioned in the commit. You
> cannot configure switchdev mode because the interface is gone and the path
> /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode no longer exists.
> 
> So, maybe, just the formulation is wrong. So, what is the **exact
> right** way how to do it? I would change the commit accordingly. Just, let's
> make it right. Would it work this way?
> 
>  # echo -n "<device pci address>" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
>  # echo -n "<device pci address>" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/bind
>  # echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode
> 
> It is good to mention that after the rebind, the <net device> can change.
> 
> Regards,
> Jan
> 
> >
> > echo -n "<device pci address>" > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/bind
> >
> > With best regards,
> > Slava
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Jan Viktorin <iviktorin@fit.vutbr.cz>
> > > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 17:34
> > > To: dev@dpdk.org
> > > Cc: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>; Asaf Penso
> > > <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Slava
> > > Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad
> <matan@nvidia.com>
> > > Subject: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable switchdev
> > > mode
> > >
> > > From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > >
> > > The step 4 is a contradiction. It advices to unbind the device from
> > > the mlx5_core which removes the associated system network interface
> (e.g.
> > > eth0). In the step 5, the same system network interface (e.g. eth0)
> > > is required to exist.
> > >
> > > Signed-off-by: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > ---
> > >  doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst | 6 +-----
> > >  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 5 deletions(-)
> > >
> > > diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > index 0a2dc3dee..122d8e0fc 100644
> > > --- a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > +++ b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > @@ -1370,11 +1370,7 @@ the DPDK application.
> > >
> > >          echo <num of vfs > /sys/class/net/<net
> > > device>/device/sriov_numvfs
> > >
> > > -4. Unbind the device (can be rebind after the switchdev mode)::
> > > -
> > > -        echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
> > > -
> > > -5. Enable switchdev mode::
> > > +4. Enable switchdev mode::
> > >
> > >          echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net
> > > device>/compat/devlink/mode
> > >
> > > --
> > > 2.30.1
> >
  

On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 19:31:25 +0000
Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com> wrote:

> Hi, Jan

Hello Salva,

I am sorry, but I didn't get the point of your response. For me, there
was 1 PF 0000:05:00.1, SRIOV disabled. So, I followed the guide [1].

1. Enable SRIOV via mlxconfig. Done.

2. Configure max number of VFs. Done.

3. Reset firmware. Done.

In fact, I had to reboot the machine here so I am not convinced the
reset of firmware is the thing. But I can image that there is some
other use case for it. After reboot, I configured 2 VFs: 0000:05:00.4,
0000:05:00.5.

4. Unbind the PF 0000:05:00.1. Done.

5. Fail, no way how to configure switchdev because of previous step.
Thus, I strongly believe that the guide is misleading here.

When I bound the PF 0000:05:00.1 back, I could configure the switchdev
mode and everything was just OK and seemed to be working. So **after**
the bind I configured the switchdev mode properly.

[1] https://doc.dpdk.org/guides/nics/mlx5.html#enable-switchdev-mode

Jan

> 
> 1. Let's suppose we have the one port NIC, PCI BDF 08:00.0, SR-IOV enabled, 0 VFs is configured,
> netdev name is ens1f0 (depends on distro and kernel version). 
> 
> 2. Then, we configure 3 VFs with SR-IOV, we get :
> - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> - 08:00.1 - VF0, ens1f1
> - 08:00.2 - VF1, ens1f2
> - 08:00.3 - VF2, ens1f3
> 
> 3. Then, we should unbind VFs ONLY, PF should be kept untouched.
> - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> - 08:00.1 - VF0, -
> - 08:00.2 - VF1, -
> - 08:00.3 - VF2, -
> 
> 4. Then, configure switchdev mode
> - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> - 08:00.1 - VF0, -
> - 08:00.2 - VF1, -
> - 08:00.3 - VF2, -
> + we get 3 representor netdevs:
> ens1f0_0 (no dedicated PCI device)
> ens1f0_1 (no dedicated PCI device)
> ens1f0_2 (no dedicated PCI device)
> 
> 5. Then, bind VFs back (assume we are no going to map them to VMs)
> - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> - 08:00.1 - VF0, ens1f1
> - 08:00.2 - VF1, ens1f2
> - 08:00.3 - VF2, ens1f3
> - ens1f0_0 (no dedicated PCI device)
> - ens1f0_1 (no dedicated PCI device)
> - ens1f0_2 (no dedicated PCI device)
> 
> 6. As result we should get 7 netdevs - 1 PF (Uplink representor), 3 VFs, 3 representors (no PCI device, pure netdev)
> 
> With best regards, Slava
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 18:11
> > To: Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>
> > Cc: dev@dpdk.org; Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler
> > <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad <matan@nvidia.com>
> > Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable switchdev
> > mode
> > 
> > Hello Salva,
> > 
> > On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:53:51 +0000
> > Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com> wrote:
> >   
> > > Hi, Jan
> > >
> > > Yes, bullet [4] explicitly requires to unbind VFs, and detach the netdevs  
> > from the mlx5_core driver.  
> > > Otherwise, kernel driver refuses to be configured with switchdev mode in  
> > [5]. So, [4] can't be skipped.  
> > > After setting swithdev mode, VFs can be bound back (if it is needed, and  
> > these ones are not mapped to VMs):
> > 
> > OK, but I believe that it is **not possible** to follow the rule [5].
> > The guide explicitly says in [4] "can be rebind **after** the switchdev
> > mode".
> > Just, if you unbind the device, there is no way how to configure the
> > switchdev mode, this is the contradiction I mentioned in the commit. You
> > cannot configure switchdev mode because the interface is gone and the path
> > /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode no longer exists.
> > 
> > So, maybe, just the formulation is wrong. So, what is the **exact
> > right** way how to do it? I would change the commit accordingly. Just, let's
> > make it right. Would it work this way?
> > 
> >  # echo -n "<device pci address>" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
> >  # echo -n "<device pci address>" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/bind
> >  # echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode
> > 
> > It is good to mention that after the rebind, the <net device> can change.
> > 
> > Regards,
> > Jan
> >   
> > >
> > > echo -n "<device pci address>" > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/bind
> > >
> > > With best regards,
> > > Slava
> > >  
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Jan Viktorin <iviktorin@fit.vutbr.cz>
> > > > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 17:34
> > > > To: dev@dpdk.org
> > > > Cc: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>; Asaf Penso
> > > > <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Slava
> > > > Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad  
> > <matan@nvidia.com>  
> > > > Subject: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable switchdev
> > > > mode
> > > >
> > > > From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > >
> > > > The step 4 is a contradiction. It advices to unbind the device from
> > > > the mlx5_core which removes the associated system network interface  
> > (e.g.  
> > > > eth0). In the step 5, the same system network interface (e.g. eth0)
> > > > is required to exist.
> > > >
> > > > Signed-off-by: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > > ---
> > > >  doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst | 6 +-----
> > > >  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 5 deletions(-)
> > > >
> > > > diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > index 0a2dc3dee..122d8e0fc 100644
> > > > --- a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > +++ b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > @@ -1370,11 +1370,7 @@ the DPDK application.
> > > >
> > > >          echo <num of vfs > /sys/class/net/<net  
> > > > device>/device/sriov_numvfs  
> > > >
> > > > -4. Unbind the device (can be rebind after the switchdev mode)::
> > > > -
> > > > -        echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> > > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
> > > > -
> > > > -5. Enable switchdev mode::
> > > > +4. Enable switchdev mode::
> > > >
> > > >          echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net  
> > > > device>/compat/devlink/mode  
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > 2.30.1  
> > >  
>
  

Hi, Jan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 21:49
> To: Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>
> Cc: dev@dpdk.org; Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler
> <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad <matan@nvidia.com>
> Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable switchdev
> mode
> 
> On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 19:31:25 +0000
> Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com> wrote:
> 
> > Hi, Jan
> 
> Hello Salva,
> 
> I am sorry, but I didn't get the point of your response. For me, there was 1 PF
> 0000:05:00.1, SRIOV disabled. So, I followed the guide [1].
> 
> 1. Enable SRIOV via mlxconfig. Done.
> 
> 2. Configure max number of VFs. Done.
> 
> 3. Reset firmware. Done.
> 
> In fact, I had to reboot the machine here so I am not convinced the reset of
> firmware is the thing. But I can image that there is some other use case for it.
> After reboot, I configured 2 VFs: 0000:05:00.4, 0000:05:00.5.
> 
> 4. Unbind the PF 0000:05:00.1. Done.
No, it is the second physical port. You should unbind your VFs instead - 0000:05:00.4, 0000:05:00.5.

Please, see:
> > 3. Then, we should unbind VFs ONLY, PF should be kept untouched.

With best regards,
Slava

> 
> 5. Fail, no way how to configure switchdev because of previous step.
> Thus, I strongly believe that the guide is misleading here.
> 
> When I bound the PF 0000:05:00.1 back, I could configure the switchdev
> mode and everything was just OK and seemed to be working. So **after**
> the bind I configured the switchdev mode properly.
> 
> [1] https://doc.dpdk.org/guides/nics/mlx5.html#enable-switchdev-mode
> 
> Jan
> 
> >
> > 1. Let's suppose we have the one port NIC, PCI BDF 08:00.0, SR-IOV
> > enabled, 0 VFs is configured, netdev name is ens1f0 (depends on distro
> and kernel version).
> >
> > 2. Then, we configure 3 VFs with SR-IOV, we get :
> > - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> > - 08:00.1 - VF0, ens1f1
> > - 08:00.2 - VF1, ens1f2
> > - 08:00.3 - VF2, ens1f3
> >
> > 3. Then, we should unbind VFs ONLY, PF should be kept untouched.
> > - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> > - 08:00.1 - VF0, -
> > - 08:00.2 - VF1, -
> > - 08:00.3 - VF2, -
> >
> > 4. Then, configure switchdev mode
> > - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> > - 08:00.1 - VF0, -
> > - 08:00.2 - VF1, -
> > - 08:00.3 - VF2, -
> > + we get 3 representor netdevs:
> > ens1f0_0 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > ens1f0_1 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > ens1f0_2 (no dedicated PCI device)
> >
> > 5. Then, bind VFs back (assume we are no going to map them to VMs)
> > - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> > - 08:00.1 - VF0, ens1f1
> > - 08:00.2 - VF1, ens1f2
> > - 08:00.3 - VF2, ens1f3
> > - ens1f0_0 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > - ens1f0_1 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > - ens1f0_2 (no dedicated PCI device)
> >
> > 6. As result we should get 7 netdevs - 1 PF (Uplink representor), 3
> > VFs, 3 representors (no PCI device, pure netdev)
> >
> > With best regards, Slava
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 18:11
> > > To: Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>
> > > Cc: dev@dpdk.org; Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler
> > > <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad <matan@nvidia.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable
> > > switchdev mode
> > >
> > > Hello Salva,
> > >
> > > On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:53:51 +0000
> > > Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi, Jan
> > > >
> > > > Yes, bullet [4] explicitly requires to unbind VFs, and detach the
> > > > netdevs
> > > from the mlx5_core driver.
> > > > Otherwise, kernel driver refuses to be configured with switchdev
> > > > mode in
> > > [5]. So, [4] can't be skipped.
> > > > After setting swithdev mode, VFs can be bound back (if it is
> > > > needed, and
> > > these ones are not mapped to VMs):
> > >
> > > OK, but I believe that it is **not possible** to follow the rule [5].
> > > The guide explicitly says in [4] "can be rebind **after** the
> > > switchdev mode".
> > > Just, if you unbind the device, there is no way how to configure the
> > > switchdev mode, this is the contradiction I mentioned in the commit.
> > > You cannot configure switchdev mode because the interface is gone
> > > and the path /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode no
> longer exists.
> > >
> > > So, maybe, just the formulation is wrong. So, what is the **exact
> > > right** way how to do it? I would change the commit accordingly.
> > > Just, let's make it right. Would it work this way?
> > >
> > >  # echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
> > >  # echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/bind
> > >  # echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode
> > >
> > > It is good to mention that after the rebind, the <net device> can change.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Jan
> > >
> > > >
> > > > echo -n "<device pci address>" > >
> > > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/bind
> > > >
> > > > With best regards,
> > > > Slava
> > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Jan Viktorin <iviktorin@fit.vutbr.cz>
> > > > > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 17:34
> > > > > To: dev@dpdk.org
> > > > > Cc: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>; Asaf Penso
> > > > > <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Slava
> > > > > Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad
> > > <matan@nvidia.com>
> > > > > Subject: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable
> > > > > switchdev mode
> > > > >
> > > > > From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > > >
> > > > > The step 4 is a contradiction. It advices to unbind the device
> > > > > from the mlx5_core which removes the associated system network
> > > > > interface
> > > (e.g.
> > > > > eth0). In the step 5, the same system network interface (e.g.
> > > > > eth0) is required to exist.
> > > > >
> > > > > Signed-off-by: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > > > ---
> > > > >  doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst | 6 +-----
> > > > >  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 5 deletions(-)
> > > > >
> > > > > diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > > index 0a2dc3dee..122d8e0fc 100644
> > > > > --- a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > > +++ b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > > @@ -1370,11 +1370,7 @@ the DPDK application.
> > > > >
> > > > >          echo <num of vfs > /sys/class/net/<net
> > > > > device>/device/sriov_numvfs
> > > > >
> > > > > -4. Unbind the device (can be rebind after the switchdev mode)::
> > > > > -
> > > > > -        echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> > > > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
> > > > > -
> > > > > -5. Enable switchdev mode::
> > > > > +4. Enable switchdev mode::
> > > > >
> > > > >          echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net
> > > > > device>/compat/devlink/mode
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > 2.30.1
> > > >
> >
  

On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 19:52:46 +0000
Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com> wrote:

> Hi, Jan
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 21:49
> > To: Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>
> > Cc: dev@dpdk.org; Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler
> > <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad <matan@nvidia.com>
> > Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable switchdev
> > mode
> > 
> > On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 19:31:25 +0000
> > Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com> wrote:
> >   
> > > Hi, Jan  
> > 
> > Hello Salva,
> > 
> > I am sorry, but I didn't get the point of your response. For me, there was 1 PF
> > 0000:05:00.1, SRIOV disabled. So, I followed the guide [1].
> > 
> > 1. Enable SRIOV via mlxconfig. Done.
> > 
> > 2. Configure max number of VFs. Done.
> > 
> > 3. Reset firmware. Done.
> > 
> > In fact, I had to reboot the machine here so I am not convinced the reset of
> > firmware is the thing. But I can image that there is some other use case for it.
> > After reboot, I configured 2 VFs: 0000:05:00.4, 0000:05:00.5.
> > 
> > 4. Unbind the PF 0000:05:00.1. Done.  
> No, it is the second physical port. You should unbind your VFs instead - 0000:05:00.4, 0000:05:00.5.
> 
> Please, see:
> > > 3. Then, we should unbind VFs ONLY, PF should be kept untouched.  

OK. Now I understand. Thus, the guide should read "Unbind the VF
devices (can be rebind after the switchdev mode)". I will post v2 with
this change.

Thanks for clarification.
Jan

> 
> With best regards,
> Slava
> 
> > 
> > 5. Fail, no way how to configure switchdev because of previous step.
> > Thus, I strongly believe that the guide is misleading here.
> > 
> > When I bound the PF 0000:05:00.1 back, I could configure the switchdev
> > mode and everything was just OK and seemed to be working. So **after**
> > the bind I configured the switchdev mode properly.
> > 
> > [1] https://doc.dpdk.org/guides/nics/mlx5.html#enable-switchdev-mode
> > 
> > Jan
> >   
> > >
> > > 1. Let's suppose we have the one port NIC, PCI BDF 08:00.0, SR-IOV
> > > enabled, 0 VFs is configured, netdev name is ens1f0 (depends on distro  
> > and kernel version).  
> > >
> > > 2. Then, we configure 3 VFs with SR-IOV, we get :
> > > - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> > > - 08:00.1 - VF0, ens1f1
> > > - 08:00.2 - VF1, ens1f2
> > > - 08:00.3 - VF2, ens1f3
> > >
> > > 3. Then, we should unbind VFs ONLY, PF should be kept untouched.
> > > - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> > > - 08:00.1 - VF0, -
> > > - 08:00.2 - VF1, -
> > > - 08:00.3 - VF2, -
> > >
> > > 4. Then, configure switchdev mode
> > > - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> > > - 08:00.1 - VF0, -
> > > - 08:00.2 - VF1, -
> > > - 08:00.3 - VF2, -
> > > + we get 3 representor netdevs:
> > > ens1f0_0 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > > ens1f0_1 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > > ens1f0_2 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > >
> > > 5. Then, bind VFs back (assume we are no going to map them to VMs)
> > > - 08:00.0 - PF, ens1f0
> > > - 08:00.1 - VF0, ens1f1
> > > - 08:00.2 - VF1, ens1f2
> > > - 08:00.3 - VF2, ens1f3
> > > - ens1f0_0 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > > - ens1f0_1 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > > - ens1f0_2 (no dedicated PCI device)
> > >
> > > 6. As result we should get 7 netdevs - 1 PF (Uplink representor), 3
> > > VFs, 3 representors (no PCI device, pure netdev)
> > >
> > > With best regards, Slava
> > >  
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 18:11
> > > > To: Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>
> > > > Cc: dev@dpdk.org; Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler
> > > > <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad <matan@nvidia.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable
> > > > switchdev mode
> > > >
> > > > Hello Salva,
> > > >
> > > > On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:53:51 +0000
> > > > Slava Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com> wrote:
> > > >  
> > > > > Hi, Jan
> > > > >
> > > > > Yes, bullet [4] explicitly requires to unbind VFs, and detach the
> > > > > netdevs  
> > > > from the mlx5_core driver.  
> > > > > Otherwise, kernel driver refuses to be configured with switchdev
> > > > > mode in  
> > > > [5]. So, [4] can't be skipped.  
> > > > > After setting swithdev mode, VFs can be bound back (if it is
> > > > > needed, and  
> > > > these ones are not mapped to VMs):
> > > >
> > > > OK, but I believe that it is **not possible** to follow the rule [5].
> > > > The guide explicitly says in [4] "can be rebind **after** the
> > > > switchdev mode".
> > > > Just, if you unbind the device, there is no way how to configure the
> > > > switchdev mode, this is the contradiction I mentioned in the commit.
> > > > You cannot configure switchdev mode because the interface is gone
> > > > and the path /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode no  
> > longer exists.  
> > > >
> > > > So, maybe, just the formulation is wrong. So, what is the **exact
> > > > right** way how to do it? I would change the commit accordingly.
> > > > Just, let's make it right. Would it work this way?
> > > >
> > > >  # echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> > > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
> > > >  # echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> > > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/bind
> > > >  # echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode
> > > >
> > > > It is good to mention that after the rebind, the <net device> can change.
> > > >
> > > > Regards,
> > > > Jan
> > > >  
> > > > >
> > > > > echo -n "<device pci address>" > >
> > > > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/bind
> > > > >
> > > > > With best regards,
> > > > > Slava
> > > > >  
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Jan Viktorin <iviktorin@fit.vutbr.cz>
> > > > > > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 17:34
> > > > > > To: dev@dpdk.org
> > > > > > Cc: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>; Asaf Penso
> > > > > > <asafp@nvidia.com>; Shahaf Shuler <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Slava
> > > > > > Ovsiienko <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad  
> > > > <matan@nvidia.com>  
> > > > > > Subject: [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable
> > > > > > switchdev mode
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > > > >
> > > > > > The step 4 is a contradiction. It advices to unbind the device
> > > > > > from the mlx5_core which removes the associated system network
> > > > > > interface  
> > > > (e.g.  
> > > > > > eth0). In the step 5, the same system network interface (e.g.
> > > > > > eth0) is required to exist.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Signed-off-by: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> > > > > > ---
> > > > > >  doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst | 6 +-----
> > > > > >  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 5 deletions(-)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > > > index 0a2dc3dee..122d8e0fc 100644
> > > > > > --- a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > > > +++ b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> > > > > > @@ -1370,11 +1370,7 @@ the DPDK application.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >          echo <num of vfs > /sys/class/net/<net  
> > > > > > device>/device/sriov_numvfs  
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -4. Unbind the device (can be rebind after the switchdev mode)::
> > > > > > -
> > > > > > -        echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> > > > > > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
> > > > > > -
> > > > > > -5. Enable switchdev mode::
> > > > > > +4. Enable switchdev mode::
> > > > > >
> > > > > >          echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net  
> > > > > > device>/compat/devlink/mode  
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > 2.30.1  
> > > > >  
> > >  
>
  

Hi,

Can you kindly update on the status of this series?

Kindest regards,
Raslan Darawsheh

> -----Original Message-----
> From: dev <dev-bounces@dpdk.org> On Behalf Of Jan Viktorin
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2021 5:34 PM
> To: dev@dpdk.org
> Cc: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>; Asaf Penso <asafp@nvidia.com>;
> Shahaf Shuler <shahafs@nvidia.com>; Slava Ovsiienko
> <viacheslavo@nvidia.com>; Matan Azrad <matan@nvidia.com>
> Subject: [dpdk-dev] [PATCH 2/2] net/mlx5: avoid unbind step to enable
> switchdev mode
> 
> From: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> 
> The step 4 is a contradiction. It advices to unbind the device from the
> mlx5_core which removes the associated system network interface (e.g.
> eth0). In the step 5, the same system network interface (e.g. eth0) is
> required to exist.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Jan Viktorin <viktorin@cesnet.cz>
> ---
>  doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst | 6 +-----
>  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 5 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst index
> 0a2dc3dee..122d8e0fc 100644
> --- a/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> +++ b/doc/guides/nics/mlx5.rst
> @@ -1370,11 +1370,7 @@ the DPDK application.
> 
>          echo <num of vfs > /sys/class/net/<net device>/device/sriov_numvfs
> 
> -4. Unbind the device (can be rebind after the switchdev mode)::
> -
> -        echo -n "<device pci address>" >
> /sys/bus/pci/drivers/mlx5_core/unbind
> -
> -5. Enable switchdev mode::
> +4. Enable switchdev mode::
> 
>          echo switchdev > /sys/class/net/<net device>/compat/devlink/mode
> 
> --
> 2.30.1