drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet · keep

Broadcom GENET Gigabit Ethernet MAC (BCM2711, BCM7xxx set-top box SoCs)

The integrated Gigabit Ethernet MAC built into Broadcom's GENET-family system-on-chip parts, most famously the BCM2711 used in the Raspberry Pi 4 and the BCM7xxx series powering cable and satellite set-top boxes, smart TVs, and similar embedded Linux devices.

keep conf=0.93 deploy=high replacement=none subsystem=net category=networking-ethernet

93%

recommendation

It should stay in the kernel because it drives the on-chip Gigabit Ethernet block found in the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 (BCM2711/BCM2712) as well as Broadcom's BCM7xxx set-top box SoCs, all of which are still sold new in 2025. Upstream commit history shows steady fixes and feature work continuing into 2026, and no other driver covers this integrated MAC, so removal would strand a huge installed base.

repository signals

5 files

6,011 source lines

92 commits, 5y

+1,359 / −1,224 lines added / removed, 5y

32 authors, 5y

monthly commits · 2021-04-21 → 2026-04-21 · 92 total · active in 39/61 months

sources

git.kernel.org
Upstream driver path remains actively maintained; local `git log` on this tree showed multiple bcmgenet fixes/features through 2025-2026 rather than removal prep.
cateee.net
LKDDb shows CONFIG_BCMGENET still present through 7.0-rc+HEAD and lists current bindings including `brcm,bcm2711-genet-v5` and `brcm,bcm7712-genet-v5`.
raspberrypi.com
Official Raspberry Pi 4 Model B product/specifications page lists Broadcom BCM2711 and Gigabit Ethernet on a current vendor product page, supporting ongoing new-hardware availability in 2025.

codex reasoning notes (technical)

Real driver directory with module entrypoint and Broadcom GENET MAC implementation. Evidence was gathered via shell (`ls`, local `git -c safe.directory=... log`, `rg`) plus web search. Local history shows sustained substantive maintenance up to 2026-03-14, which argues strongly against deprecation. Web search found LKDDb coverage through current kernels and official Raspberry Pi 4 product specs; that combination indicates both upstream relevance and ongoing real-world deployment. Kernel.org log URL is a canonical-recall stable page; LKDDb and Raspberry Pi URLs were obtained via web search. No natural in-tree replacement covers the same on-SoC MAC block, so removal would strand still-current hardware.