Intel EG20T and OKI/ROHM ML7223/ML7831 PCH Gigabit Ethernet
The integrated gigabit Ethernet MAC in the Intel EG20T Platform Controller Hub (companion to Atom E6xx "Tunnel Creek", circa 2010) and OKI/ROHM's related ML7223 and ML7831 chips. These parts targeted embedded and industrial uses such as in-vehicle infotainment, factory automation, industrial PCs, and IP phones, and appeared in boards like the original MinnowBoard.
recommendation
Worth keeping but flagging as a legacy embedded part, because the hardware stopped being widely available around 2014 (the original MinnowBoard, a representative EG20T platform, was retired in July 2014) and has no new-system presence in 2025. Even so, upstream traffic shows the code is still being actively maintained: it received a net-next functional conversion in November 2025 and ordinary bug-fix patches in mid-2025, so removal would be premature while real users in the field still benefit from fixes.
repository signals
sources
- lore.kernel.org
Upstream activity is still present in late 2025; pch_gbe received a net-next functional conversion patch rather than removal work.
- lore.kernel.org
The driver still gets ordinary bug-fix traffic in 2025, indicating it is maintained for existing users.
- cateee.net
LKDDb identifies CONFIG_PCH_GBE as supporting Intel EG20T PCH and OKI/ROHM ML7223/ML7831, confirming the hardware family and long-lived but niche support status.
- minnowboard.org
A representative EG20T-based board, the original MinnowBoard, is explicitly no longer sold and was replaced in July 2014, supporting the view that mainstream/new-platform availability ended years ago.
- rohm.com
Vendor collateral describes ML7223(V) as a 2010 companion chip for Intel Atom E6xx aimed at embedded/industrial uses such as IVI, factory automation, industrial PCs, and IP phones, which fits legacy/niche deployment rather than current broad new sales.
codex reasoning notes (technical)
Local shell `rg` in the driver showed MODULE_DESCRIPTION "EG20T PCH Gigabit ethernet Driver" and PCI IDs for Intel IOH1_GBE plus ROHM ML7223/ML7831. `lore_file_timeline` on pch_gbe_main.c returned 2025 netdev/linux-arm-kernel patches and no removal discussion; cited the returned lore URLs. Web search found LKDDb for supported devices, the MinnowBoard wiki for a concrete EG20T platform no longer sold since July 2014, and the ROHM ML7213/7223 brochure for original market positioning. Conclusion: hardware is legacy embedded and likely only low-volume field deployments remain, but upstream still sees real fixes, so removal/deprecation would be premature; keep the driver, annotate it as legacy/niche.