"ifconfig media off"?

[sthaug at nethelp.no]

> > I'm currently writing a driver to configure an ethernet switch chip (see TL-WR1043ND on -embedded).
> > 
> > I noticed that there doesn't seem to be a way to power down a phy right now through the ifconfig media command.
> > 
> > Would there be objections to extend the media subtype definitions to include an "off", "poweroff" or "down" media subtype, and add code to the relevant phy drivers to power down the phy for this media subtype?
> > 
> > The difference between media subtype "none" and this new one would be that there will be no link, even if there is a physical connection.  With media subtype "none", a 10 MBit/s half-duplex connection is established, potentially confusing the remote end about the availability of this link.  On the local side, the link is down, so no packets are exchanged.

I have actually wanted this capability for quite a while now. Working
for an ISP and being used to routers and switches where ports can be
completely turned off, I see this as a welcome addition to FreeBSD.

Steinar Haug, Nethelp consulting, sthaug at nethelp.no