linux-drivers/
drivers/net/dsa/qca

Qualcomm Atheros QCA8K and AR9331 Ethernet switches

A family of small Ethernet switch chips from Qualcomm Atheros, including the QCA8327/8328/8334/8337 and the older AR9331, widely used in home routers, MikroTik gear, and other small networking and embedded devices from the early 2010s through today.

keep conf=0.88 last_sold=2025 deploy=medium replacement=none subsystem=net category=networking-ethernet
88%

recommendation

It should stay in the kernel because the hardware is still being sold new in 2025 (for example, MikroTik's RB260GSP uses a QCA8337) and the code is actively maintained upstream, with both bug fixes and new feature work landing on netdev as recently as mid-2025.

repository signals

8 files
5,724 source lines
90 commits, 5y
+6,560 / −1,852 lines added / removed, 5y
21 authors, 5y
monthly commits · 2021-04-21 → 2026-04-21 · 90 total · active in 28/61 months
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sources

  1. lore.kernel.org

    QCA8K code in this directory was still receiving functional fixes in 2025 (management-frame / MDIO-bus handling).

  2. lore.kernel.org

    QCA8K code was still receiving new feature work in 2025 (internal-PHY-to-PHY CPU link support).

  3. lore.kernel.org

    AR9331 code in this directory was still being updated in 2025, showing the older subdriver is not abandoned.

  4. cateee.net

    LKDDb ties this driver family to multiple QCA8K compatibles including qca8327, qca8328, qca8334, and qca8337, confirming broad hardware coverage rather than a single obsolete SKU.

  5. mikrotik.com

    A currently listed MikroTik product uses a QCA8337 switch chip, indicating at least some driver-covered hardware remained sold new in 2025.

codex reasoning notes (technical)

Real driver directory confirmed by local shell read of Kconfig/Makefile. lore_file_timeline on qca8k-8xxx.c and ar9331.c plus lore_activity on ar9331.c showed active upstream maintenance through 2025, including feature work and fixes; the only visible 'remove' item was removal of an internal helper/API path, not driver retirement. Web search returned LKDDb coverage and a current MikroTik product page with QCA8337, supporting ongoing SOHO/embedded deployments. URLs were obtained via exec_command, lore_file_timeline/lore_activity, and web search.