Ethernet non-functioning every other boot (Le Potato)

[CrushDSS]

HW: Le Potato
Kernel: linux-6.12.y-lc, commit May 18, 2025

Every other boot ethernet is non-functional and requires a reboot to become functional. When ethernet is not working, ifconfig down/up will not return it to function, likewise unplugging and returning ethernet cable has no effect, only a reboot seems to restore function.

dmesg_output_bad_ethernet.txt

dmesg_output_working_ethernet.txt

[dsx724]

Can you add this to the boot command and provide the logs?
dyndbg="file drivers/net/phy/meson-gxl.c +p"

[dsx724]

We have no problems after reboot, can you check on another network switch or on another network with a different DHCP altogether?

[CrushDSS]

I do not have another network switch on hand, and have no issues with any other device and the Le Potato worked fine on previous kernels.
Attached are logs with debug info, these do look noticeably different and hopefully can point you in the right direction.

dmesg_output_working_ethernet_debug.txt

dmesg_output_bad_ethernet_debug.txt

[CrushDSS]

As an update, I tried updating to the latest kernel with commits up to May 20, 2025, and I continued to see this problem where every other boot the eth0 device would not work.

I then switched my system to use systemd-networkd instead of Network Manager and no longer see this issue. So using Network Manager I am able to run just fine with no issues on the 6.6 Kernel from this repo, but with every other boot eth0 does not work if I am on the latest 6.12 kernel. On systemd-networkd, everything looks to work fine in 6.12.

This may help, since you reported not seeing this issue on your end.

[dsx724]

Can you clarify? On systemd-networkd, everything looks to work fine in 6.12. Does it work or not work on reboot with 6.12.y with systemd-networkd?

[CrushDSS]

6.12 works perfectly fine with systemd-networkd, there is no issue reboot to reboot.

My system which is on the Libre Computer Raspbian image was previously using Network Manager, and it works fine on the 6.6 kernel, but with 6.12 every other reboot, ethernet would not work.

Now that I've changed my image to use systemd-networkd there is absolutely no problem and ethernet works.

[dsx724]

Good to know. I will try to find the root of it. Network Manager is triggering something odd.