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drivers: ethernet: ksz8081: unstable PHY link with MCUboot on mimxrt1160_evk #104607

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drivers: ethernet: ksz8081: unstable PHY link with MCUboot on mimxrt1160_evk#104607
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stanislav-poborilmmahadevan108
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area: EthernetbugThe issue is a bug, or the PR is fixing a bugplatform: NXPNXP
@blemouzy

Description

@blemouzy
blemouzy
opened on Feb 26, 2026

Describe the bug

On mimxrt1160_evk,

  • When an application is run without MCUboot, the PHY link is stable
  • When an application is run with MCUboot, the PHY link is unstable (multiple down and up with wrong auto-neg)

Regression

  • This is a regression.

Steps to reproduce

cd bootloader/mcuboot/boot/zephyr
echo 'CONFIG_BOOT_MAX_IMG_SECTORS=1792' >> prj.conf
echo 'CONFIG_BOOT_SIGNATURE_TYPE_NONE=y' >> prj.conf
echo 'CONFIG_BOOT_VALIDATE_SLOT0=n' >> prj.conf
west build -b mimxrt1160_evk/mimxrt1166/cm7 -p
west flash --runner=jlink

cd zephyr/samples/net/dhcpv4_client
echo 'CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_MCUBOOT=y' >> prj.conf
echo 'CONFIG_MCUBOOT_GENERATE_UNSIGNED_IMAGE=y' >> prj.conf
echo 'CONFIG_MCUBOOT_SIGNATURE_KEY_FILE=""' >> prj.conf
echo "CONFIG_PHY_LOG_LEVEL_DBG=y" >> prj.conf
west build -b mimxrt1160_evk/mimxrt1166/cm7 -p
west flash --runner=jlink

Relevant log output

# With sample from v3.7.1 and without MCUboot (working):

[00:00:00.003,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) is entering autonegotiation sequence
[00:00:02.411,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) autonegotiation completed
[00:00:02.412,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is up
[00:00:02.412,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

[00:00:02.412,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY 0 is up
[00:00:02.412,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

*** Booting Zephyr OS build v3.7.1 ***
[00:00:02.414,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Run dhcpv4 client
[00:00:02.414,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Start on ethernet: index=1
[00:00:06.417,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: DHCP Option 42: 10.3.100.1
[00:00:06.419,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: DHCP Option 42: 10.3.100.1
[00:00:06.419,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4: Received: 192.10.2.219
[00:00:06.419,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:    Address[1]: 192.10.2.219
[00:00:06.419,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:     Subnet[1]: 255.255.252.0
[00:00:06.419,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:     Router[1]: 192.10.1.21
[00:00:06.419,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Lease time[1]: 86400 seconds

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# With MCUboot from v3.7.1 and sample from v3.7.1 (not working):

*** Booting MCUboot v2.1.0-71-gea2410697dd0 ***
*** Using Zephyr OS build v3.7.1 ***
I: Starting bootloader
I: Primary image: magic=unset, swap_type=0x1, copy_done=0x3, image_ok=0x3
I: Secondary image: magic=unset, swap_type=0x1, copy_done=0x3, image_ok=0x3
I: Boot source: none
I: Image index: 0, Swap type: none
I: Bootloader chainload address offset: 0x20000
I: Jumping to the first image slot


[00:00:00.021,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) is entering autonegotiation sequence
[00:00:02.345,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) autonegotiation completed
[00:00:02.347,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is up
[00:00:02.348,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

[00:00:02.348,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY 0 is up
[00:00:02.348,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

*** Booting Zephyr OS build v3.7.1 ***
[00:00:02.367,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Run dhcpv4 client
[00:00:02.369,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Start on ethernet: index=1
[00:00:06.856,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is down
[00:00:06.857,000] <inf> eth_nxp_enet_mac: Link is down
[00:00:06.858,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) is entering autonegotiation sequence
[00:00:09.264,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) autonegotiation completed
[00:00:09.264,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is up
[00:00:09.264,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

[00:00:09.265,000] <inf> eth_nxp_enet_mac: Link is up
[00:00:09.269,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY 0 is up
[00:00:09.269,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

[00:00:12.399,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: DHCP Option 42: 10.3.100.1
[00:00:12.429,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: DHCP Option 42: 10.3.100.1
[00:00:12.430,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4: Received: 192.10.2.234
[00:00:12.433,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:    Address[1]: 192.10.2.234
[00:00:12.434,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:     Subnet[1]: 255.255.252.0
[00:00:12.434,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:     Router[1]: 192.10.1.21
[00:00:12.435,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Lease time[1]: 86400 seconds
[00:01:11.906,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is up
[00:01:11.906,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY (0) Link speed 10 Mb, half duplex

[00:04:19.119,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is up
[00:04:19.119,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY (0) Link speed 10 Mb, half duplex

[00:04:19.622,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is down
[00:04:19.623,000] <inf> eth_nxp_enet_mac: Link is down
[00:04:19.625,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) is entering autonegotiation sequence
[00:04:22.030,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) autonegotiation completed
[00:04:22.031,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is up
[00:04:22.031,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

[00:04:22.032,000] <inf> eth_nxp_enet_mac: Link is up
[00:04:22.032,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY 0 is up
[00:04:22.032,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

# With MCUboot from v4.3.0 and sample from v3.7.1 (working):

*** Booting MCUboot v2.2.0-192-g96576b341ee1 ***
*** Using Zephyr OS build v4.3.0 ***
I: Starting bootloader
I: Image index: 0, Swap type: none
I: Image index: 0, Swap type: none
I: Primary image: magic=unset, swap_type=0x1, copy_done=0x3, image_ok=0x3
I: Secondary image: magic=unset, swap_type=0x1, copy_done=0x3, image_ok=0x3
I: Boot source: none
I: Image index: 0, Swap type: none
I: Image index: 0, Swap type: none
I: Image index: 0, Swap type: none
I: Image index: 0, Swap type: none
I: Bootloader chainload address offset: 0x20000
I: Image version: v0.0.0
I: Jumping to the first image slot


[00:00:00.004,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) is entering autonegotiation sequence
[00:00:02.412,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_autonegotiate: PHY (0) autonegotiation completed
[00:00:02.413,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY 0 is up
[00:00:02.413,000] <dbg> phy_mc_ksz8081: phy_mc_ksz8081_get_link: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

[00:00:02.413,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY 0 is up
[00:00:02.413,000] <inf> phy_mc_ksz8081: PHY (0) Link speed 100 Mb, full duplex

*** Booting Zephyr OS build v3.7.1 ***
[00:00:02.416,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Run dhcpv4 client
[00:00:02.416,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Start on ethernet: index=1
[00:00:09.420,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: DHCP Option 42: 10.3.100.1
[00:00:09.422,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: DHCP Option 42: 10.3.100.1
[00:00:09.422,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4: Received: 192.10.2.232
[00:00:09.423,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:    Address[1]: 192.10.2.232
[00:00:09.423,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:     Subnet[1]: 255.255.252.0
[00:00:09.423,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample:     Router[1]: 192.10.1.21
[00:00:09.423,000] <inf> net_dhcpv4_client_sample: Lease time[1]: 86400 seconds

Impact

Functional Limitation – Some features not working as expected, but system usable.

Environment

  • Zephyr v3.7.1 with the following backports:
  • MCUboot v2.1.0-71
  • mimxrt1160_evk/mimxrt1166/cm7 board

Additional Context

Since the issue only occurs with MCUboot from Zephyr v3.7.1 (and not without it), I guess that the problem comes from MCUboot itself and has since been fixed now.

Does anyone know how to fix it?
(Which patches should be backported to v3.7.1?)

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area: EthernetbugThe issue is a bug, or the PR is fixing a bugplatform: NXPNXP

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