drivers/net/can/spi/mcp251xfd · keep

Microchip MCP2517FD, MCP2518FD, and MCP251863 SPI CAN FD controllers

A family of standalone CAN FD controller chips from Microchip that attach to a host processor over SPI, commonly used to add automotive- and industrial-style CAN bus connectivity to embedded Linux boards such as Raspberry Pi HATs and Mikroe Click modules. The MCP2517FD, MCP2518FD, and integrated MCP251863 are all still in production.

keep conf=0.95 deploy=medium replacement=none subsystem=net category=networking-other

95%

recommendation

It should stay in the kernel because the chips it controls are still listed as in production by Microchip in 2025, and upstream development is clearly alive, with recent bug fixes and new feature work such as transceiver standby control landing on the linux-can list. There is no replacement driver and no removal discussion in evidence.

repository signals

17 files

6,488 source lines

112 commits, 5y

+3,266 / −1,775 lines added / removed, 5y

19 authors, 5y

monthly commits · 2021-04-21 → 2026-04-21 · 112 total · active in 29/61 months

sources

lore.kernel.org
Upstream development is active: April 1, 2026 patch adding XSTBYEN transceiver standby control touches mcp251xfd.
lore.kernel.org
Recent bug-fix traffic exists: January 8, 2026 patch fixes a UAF in mcp251xfd.
microchip.com
Microchip lists MCP2517FD as 'Status: In Production'.
microchip.com
Microchip lists MCP2518FD as 'Status: In Production'.
microchip.com
Microchip lists MCP251863 as 'Status: In Production'.
microchip.com
A current Microchip-hosted development tool page exists for an MCP2518FD-based click board, indicating ongoing ecosystem support.

codex reasoning notes (technical)

Real driver directory: Kconfig/of_match in-tree identify Microchip MCP2517FD/MCP2518FD/MCP251863 support. Lore evidence came from `lore_file_timeline` on mcp251xfd-core.c and shows active 2026 feature and fix patches, which strongly argues against deprecation/removal. Removal-talk check via `lore_regex` timed out and a web search for lore removal/deprecation hits found none. Hardware-market evidence came from web search results on official Microchip product pages and a Microchip-hosted dev-board page; all cited parts are still in production, so this is not legacy-only hardware. Natural replacement driver is none: this is the upstream driver for the family.