Realtek RTL821x/RTL822x/RTL9000 Ethernet PHY transceivers
Realtek's family of standalone Ethernet PHY transceivers — the small chips that sit between a network controller and the RJ45 jack to handle signaling. It covers older 10/100 parts through the gigabit RTL8211 series and modern 2.5G/5G models like the RTL8221B, RTL8226, and RTL8251, widely used on motherboards, embedded boards, and networking gear shipping today.
recommendation
It should stay in the kernel because it covers a wide and very current range of Realtek Ethernet PHY chips, from fast Ethernet up through 2.5G and 5G parts like the RTL8211F, RTL8221B, RTL8226, and RTL8251. The code is actively maintained with commits landing as recently as early 2026, the chips are still sold new through mainstream distributors in 2025, and there is no overlapping replacement driver that could absorb its role.
repository signals
sources
- cateee.net
LKDDb shows CONFIG_REALTEK_PHY is present in current kernels (6.14-6.19, 7.0) and describes support for RTL821x/RTL822x and fast Ethernet PHYs.
- lcsc.com
Current distributor listing shows Realtek RTL8221B-VB-CG, a 2.5G PHY handled by this driver family, is sold new and in stock.
- alldatasheet.com
Datasheet index identifies RTL8211F as a Realtek integrated 10/100/1000M Ethernet transceiver; this is one of the PHYs supported by the driver.
codex reasoning notes (technical)
Local `rg`/`sed` inspection of the directory shows this is a real PHY driver with `module_phy_driver()` and support for multiple live families from FE through 5GbE, including RTL8211F, RTL8221B, RTL8224, RTL8226, RTL8251, and RTL9000A. Local `git -c safe.directory=... log -- drivers/net/phy/realtek` shows sustained upstream work throughout 2024-2026, with the most recent substantive touch on 2026-01-18 and no removal/deprecation series found by local `git log --grep='remove|deprecat|obsolete'` beyond routine code cleanup. URL evidence was obtained via web search/open: LKDDb confirms current upstream presence, LCSC confirms at least one handled PHY is sold new, and the RTL8211F datasheet index corroborates the supported Realtek PHY product line. This is active, current hardware support with no natural replacement outside the same driver, so removal/deprecation is not indicated.