STRUCT PHYLINK_PCS_OPS(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

okay so this is a page from the Kernel API Manual, and honestly? it's giving "backstage pass to the PHY link layer" energy. sit down, grab a 🍓, and let's get into it.

✨ NAME ✨

struct phylink_pcs_ops — the MAC PCS operations structure. that's it, that's the vibe. it's the little bundle of function pointers that tells phylink how to talk to your PCS. iconic behavior, no cap.

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

struct phylink_pcs_ops {
    int (*pcs_validate)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs, unsigned long
*supported, const struct phylink_link_state *state);
    unsigned int (*pcs_inband_caps)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs,
    phy_interface_t interface);
    int (*pcs_enable)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs);
    void (*pcs_disable)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs);
    void (*pcs_pre_config)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs, phy_interface_t
    interface);
    int (*pcs_post_config)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs, phy_interface_t
    interface);
    void (*pcs_get_state)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs, unsigned int
    neg_mode, struct phylink_link_state *state);
    int (*pcs_config)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs, unsigned int neg_mode,
    phy_interface_t interface, const unsigned long *advertising, bool
    permit_pause_to_mac);
    void (*pcs_an_restart)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs);
    void (*pcs_link_up)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs, unsigned int neg_mode,
    phy_interface_t interface, int speed, int duplex);
    void (*pcs_disable_eee)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs);
    void (*pcs_enable_eee)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs);
    int (*pcs_pre_init)(struct phylink_pcs *pcs);
 };

like, look at all those function pointers. so many little slots to fill in. main character energy fr fr 💅

🌸 Members 🌸

  • pcs_validate — validate the link configuration. vibe check for your link config, basically — is this even allowed, bestie?
  • pcs_inband_caps — query inband support for interface mode. asks the hardware "do you do inband here or not" and reports back.
  • pcs_enable — enable the PCS. wake it up, it's time to slay ✨
  • pcs_disable — disable the PCS. nap time, gorgeous 😴
  • pcs_pre_config — pre-mac_config method (for errata). runs before the mac config, and it exists specifically to work around errata. yes, silicon is messy, we deal.
  • pcs_post_config — post-mac_config method (for arrata). runs after the mac config. (the original page literally spells it "arrata" here — keeping it character for character, iykyk 🙈)
  • pcs_get_state — read the current MAC PCS link state from the hardware. literally just peeking at what the hardware thinks is going on right now.
  • pcs_config — configure the MAC PCS for the selected mode and state. set it up to match whatever mode/state we've landed on.
  • pcs_an_restart — restart 802.3z BaseX autonegotiation. give the autoneg a little reboot, king 👑
  • pcs_link_up — program the PCS for the resolved link configuration (where necessary). note the "where necessary" — only bother when it actually matters.
  • pcs_disable_eee — optional notification to PCS that EEE has been disabled at the MAC. just a heads-up, bestie, not mandatory.
  • pcs_enable_eee — optional notification to PCS that EEE will be enabled at the MAC. same deal, future-tense heads-up. also optional.
  • pcs_pre_init — configure PCS components necessary for MAC hardware initialization e.g. RX clock for stmmac. get the PCS bits ready so the MAC can actually boot up properly.

🎀 SEE ALSO 🎀

Kernel file ./include/linux/phylink.h — plus the whole friend group:

struct phylink_link_state(9), struct phylink_config(9), struct phylink_mac_ops(9), mac_get_caps(9), mac_select_pcs(9), mac_prepare(9), mac_config(9), mac_finish(9), mac_link_down(9), mac_link_up(9), mac_disable_tx_lpi(9), mac_enable_tx_lpi(9), mac_wol_set(9), struct phylink_pcs(9), pcs_validate(9), pcs_inband_caps(9), pcs_enable(9), pcs_disable(9), pcs_get_state(9), pcs_config(9), pcs_an_restart(9), pcs_link_up(9), pcs_disable_eee(9), pcs_enable_eee(9), pcs_pre_init(9), phylink_get_link_timer_ns(9), phylink_mac_implements_lpi(9)

💀 reminder: this page lives at ./include/linux in the source tree — that's where the real source of truth is. go read it if you need the full lore.

and that's the whole page, bestie 🫶 this one's from the Kernel API Manual, out of ./include/linux, dated October 2026, and it's the struct phylink_pcs_ops(9) page — periodt. 💖✨

📦 where this page comes from