linux-drivers/
drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/asp2

Broadcom STB ASP 2.x/3.0 Ethernet controller

The integrated Ethernet controller (called ASP, for "Auxiliary System Processor") found in Broadcom's set-top-box system-on-chip parts like the BCM72165, used in cable, satellite, and IPTV boxes. Revisions 2.1, 2.2, and 3.0 are all supported, with v3.0 silicon shipping in 2025-era Broadcom STB platforms.

keep conf=0.89 deploy=medium replacement=none subsystem=net category=networking-ethernet
89%

recommendation

It should stay in the kernel because this is an actively maintained driver for the Ethernet block built into current Broadcom set-top-box SoCs (such as the BCM72165). Support for a new v3.0 hardware revision landed in 2025 and bug fixes were still going in to mainline in early 2026, with no replacement driver in sight.

repository signals

6 files
4,143 source lines
47 commits, 5y
+4,723 / −578 lines added / removed, 5y
16 authors, 5y
monthly commits · 2021-04-21 → 2026-04-21 · 47 total · active in 19/61 months
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sources

  1. cateee.net

    LKDDb identifies CONFIG_BCMASP as the Broadcom ASP 2.0 Ethernet driver for Broadcom STB SoCs such as BCM72165, tying this directory to Broadcom set-top-box silicon rather than legacy PCI NICs.

  2. spinics.net

    A March 19, 2026 netdev patch series fixes two bcmasp driver unbind bugs, showing current upstream maintenance activity rather than deprecation/removal work.

  3. spinics.net

    The stable review mail for "net: bcmasp: Add support for asp-v3.0" shows new hardware revision enablement landing in 2025/2026, which is strong evidence the IP block is not obsolete.

  4. docs.broadcom.com

    Broadcom documentation describes an active STB group that designs and builds set-top-box SoCs, supporting the inference that this product family remained commercially active into the 2020s.

codex reasoning notes (technical)

Local shell inspection (`rg`, `git -c safe.directory=... log`, `git blame`) showed OF compatibles brcm,asp-v2.1/v2.2/v3.0 and substantive commits through 2026-03-20, with v3.0 support added in 2025 and multiple 2026 bug fixes. The lore-http MCP server was unavailable in this environment, so upstream-mail evidence was obtained via `web.search_query` on public netdev/stable archive pages (spinics). LKDDb URL was obtained via `web.search_query`; Broadcom STB-group URL was obtained via `web.search_query` and opened with `web.open`. No removal discussion was found in the available upstream results; current evidence points to an actively maintained, still-relevant embedded/STB Ethernet block with no natural replacement driver.