[RFC] Patch to Abstract Ethernet PHY support (using driver model)

[Andy Fleming]

It has been suggested that I split the patch into 2 parts: gianfar 
specific stuff, and PHY specific stuff.

Here is the result:

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On Dec 23, 2004, at 13:01, Andy Fleming wrote:

> Adds a Phy Abstraction Layer which allows ethernet controllers to 
> manage their PHYs without knowing the details of how the particular 
> PHY device operates.  This code steals heavily from BenH's  sungem 
> driver, and got some stuff out of Jason McMullan's patch.
>
> Primary features of the code:
> * Allows drivers to only use what they want (to a degree).  If you 
> want to handle it all yourself, but use some of the data structures 
> and functions, that's ok.  If you want to handle your own interrupts, 
> that's fine.  However, it also allows you to minimize PHY management 
> code.  See the gianfar driver patches (included for reference).
> * Integrates with current ethtool/mii defined fields.
> * Uses the driver model to manage binding PHY drivers to PHY devices, 
> and MDIO bus drivers to MDIO bus devices.
> * Doesn't affect drivers which don't use it.