PFE Bridge MAC Learning Behavior and Static Entry Requirement on S32G3

[minJ]

1. Test Environment & Commands

• S32G3 board, using PFE bridge
• Bridge and port setup as follows:

libfci_cli bd-flush --static

# 1. IP configuration
ifconfig pfe0 192.168.0.20
ifconfig pfe1 192.168.1.20
ifconfig pfe2 192.168.2.20

# 2. Register ports to bridge domain
libfci_cli bd-insif --vlan 1 --i emac0 --tag OFF
libfci_cli bd-insif --vlan 1 --i emac1 --tag OFF
libfci_cli bd-insif --vlan 1 --i emac2 --tag OFF

# 3. Bridge policy setup
libfci_cli bd-update --vlan 1 --ucast-hit FORWARD --ucast-miss FLOOD --mcast-hit FORWARD --mcast-miss FLOOD

# 4. Port FW_ONLY mode setup
libfci_cli phyif-update --i emac0 -E --promisc OFF --mode VLAN_BRIDGE --bs NORMAL
libfci_cli phyif-update --i emac1 -E --promisc OFF --mode VLAN_BRIDGE --bs NORMAL
libfci_cli phyif-update --i emac2 -E --promisc OFF --mode VLAN_BRIDGE --bs NORMAL

# 5. Static entry creation
libfci_cli bd-stent-add --vlan 1 --mac <MAC Address0> --i emac0
libfci_cli bd-stent-add --vlan 1 --mac <MAC Address1> --i emac1
libfci_cli bd-stent-add --vlan 1 --mac <MAC Address2> --i emac2

# 6. Egress port setup
libfci_cli bd-stent-update --vlan 1 --mac <MAC Address0> --egress emac0
libfci_cli bd-stent-update --vlan 1 --mac <MAC Address1> --egress emac1
libfci_cli bd-stent-update --vlan 1 --mac <MAC Address2>--egress emac2

# For ping test, additionally:
libfci_cli bd-insif --vlan 1 --i hif0 --tag OFF
libfci_cli logif-update --i hif0 --egress emac0

2. Test Results

• Sending packets with tx_raw (direct MAC assignment) is received correctly on pfe0.
• Sending packets with ping (standard Windows/Linux) does not work—no reply is received (100% loss).
• With identical bridge/port options and bs=NORMAL, ping does not work.

3. Analysis

• ARP requires knowing the peer’s MAC address for communication.
• Only after manually registering the PC’s MAC as a static entry can the board send packets to the PC.

4. Questions

1. Does the PFE bridge support automatic MAC learning with just the bs=NORMAL option?
2. If dynamic MAC learning is not supported, is it mandatory to register the PC’s MAC as a static entry for packet forwarding?
3. Is it required to add the PC’s MAC as a static entry for ARP and ping replies to work correctly?

[chenyin_h]

Hello, @minJ 

Thanks for the post.

1. The PFE L2 Bridge is capable of automatically adding new MAC table entries from ingress frames with new source MAC addresses. the NORMAL state is learning and forwarding enabled 

2. May I know if you had done similar ping test with promisc=ON? 

BR

Chenyin

[minJ]

Thank you for your response.
The issue was resolved after I removed the --bs NORMAL option from the command:
libfci_cli phyif-update --i emac0 -E --promisc OFF --mode VLAN_BRIDGE.