Re: [PATCH] ARM: dts: gta04: fix excess dma channel usage

[Tony Lindgren]

* H. Nikolaus Schaller <hns@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> [230116 15:29]:
> Hi,
> 
> > Am 16.01.2023 um 15:51 schrieb Tony Lindgren <tony@xxxxxxxxxxx>:
> > 
> > Hi,
> > 
> > * Adam Ford <aford173@xxxxxxxxx> [230116 14:16]:
> >> Would it make sense to make this default in the omap3.dtsi file and
> >> enable them in the individual boards that need it?
> > 
> > In general disabling the unused devices by default for omaps will break
> > the power management. The disabled devices are completely ignored by the
> > kernel, and the devices are left to whatever the bootloader state might
> > be.
> 
> Yes, indeed.

See my further clarification based on what Adam commented too, I was
thinking status = "disabled" at the ti-sysc parent level.

> > For SoCs using firmware to manage devices it's a bit different story
> > however. The firmware can still idle disabled devices based on a
> > late_initcall for example, even if the kernel knows nothing about the
> > disabled devices.
> 
> But how can we then handle all devices being "okay" by default and
> eating up more dma channels than are available?

1. Set the child device (not the ti-sysc node) with status = "disabled"
   in the board specific file as needed

2. Use /delete-property/ for dma channels in the board specific file
   if the device is in use but does not need dma

3. Or if this is a generic problem, we could disable dma by default for
   some devices

> We can't put all under power management AND dma by default.
> 
> Or can dma channel usage be postponed until the device is really used?

Sure.

Regards,

Tony