The Linux 7.4 kernel is set to include support for Realtek’s RTL8127atf and RTL8116af wired networking ASICs. The updates, queued into the net-next development tree, expand compatibility for newer Realtek hardware.
The Realtek RTL8116af support is being integrated into the r8169 Linux driver. According to the support patch, “RTL8116af is sfp mode. Phylink uses pcs to get the link status from its serdes reg, instead of standard phy reg. Speed and duplex are hardcoded to 1000Mbps Full-Duplex. Also, RTL8116af doesn't have internal phy, so we add some checks to ensure that tp->phydev is not empty when we need it. In rtl_hw_start_8117(), the MAC calibration for register 0xd412 relies on reading the internal PHY register 0x0c42. Since RTL8116af does not have an internal PHY, this calibration step is intentionally bypassed.” Public information on the RTL8116af is limited, with some Alibaba store listings having been removed.
Support for the RTL8127atf is also being added to the r8169 driver. This fiber mode card requires alterations for both 10G and 1G support. The RTL8127atf is a low-power, single-port 10Gbps SFP+ fiber network controller chip and is already available in products like the Ciciglow 10Gbps PCIe Network Card, currently listed on Amazon.com for around $70 USD, and on AliExpress for $30-$40. Previous mainline kernel support for the RTL8127atf lacked 1G mode operation and SFP support.
The new hardware support will be available in the Realtek r8169 network driver with the release of the Linux 7.4 kernel later this year.
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