[U-Boot-Users] [PATCH] ARM: add support of CONFIG_LAST_STAGE_INIT for arm

[Wolfgang Denk]

In message <200712111205.48970.vapier at gentoo.org> you wrote:
>
> > Please keep in mind that U-Boot shall initialize hardware if and only
> > if it is using it (and that it must deactivate it after use).
> 
> with many pieces of hardware, you can draw a line between initializing it and 
> actually enabling/using it.

Correct. If make such a difference, then initialization shall be
performed when you enable it for the very first time in U-Boot.

There is many reasons for such a design; for example, think about the
system boot time.

> for example, shouldnt the initialization/programming of the MAC address always 
> happen regardless of the network being used ?  not all MAC's have/support 

Not, it should not. It must not.

> eeprom's which contain the MAC address, so the implicit address programming
> that happens in hardware cannot happen.

The MAC is not needed before you access the Ethernet  port,  so  ther
eis  no need to do it before - or to ever do it, if you don't use the
network in U-Boot.

Please see also the FAQ. 

Best regards,

Wolfgang Denk

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