[Bug]: Ethernet rarely connecting successfully in Orange Pi 3 LTS

[iMagz]

What happened?

 

Orange Pi 3 LTS rarely recognize ethernet connection.

 

How to reproduce?

 

Flash Orange Pi 3 LTS with an image of the latest version of Armbian.

 

Extra Info

 

The latest images tested which worked flawlessly was: 

 

Armbian_community_25.11.0-trunk.437_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.47_minimal.img

 

Armbian_23.8.3_Orangepi3-lts_jammy_current_6.1.53_minimal.img

 

 

Images tested which didn't worked:

 

Armbian_community_26.2.0-trunk.151_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img

 

Armbian_community_26.2.0-trunk.100_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img

[Werner]

logs?

[Werner]

May have found something. Perhaps https://lists.openwall.net/linux-kernel/2025/09/17/618 causes issues.

Here is a test image that works around this by adjusting device tree a bit. Please test and report

 

https://testing.armbian.de/Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img.xz

 

[iMagz]

Here I leave my logs, if you need additional ones let me know:

 

ip a

 

1: lo: <LOOPBACK,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 65536 qdisc noqueue state UNKNOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/loopback 00:00:00:00:00:00 brd 00:00:00:00:00:00
    inet 127.0.0.1/8 scope host lo
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 ::1/128 scope host noprefixroute 
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
2: end0: <NO-CARRIER,BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP> mtu 1500 qdisc mq state DOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether [MAC ADDRESS] brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname enx[XXXXX]
3: wlan0: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 qdisc noop state DOWN group default qlen 1000
    link/ether [MAC ADDRESS] brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname wlx[XXXXX]

 

I tested the image provided and after numerous reboots it didn't work, still the same problem.

Doing some other testing i compile the following image Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_forky_edge_6.18.2_minimal.img which I extracted it from Armbian GitHub from this tag: "v26.2.0-trunk.146" https://github.com/armbian/build/releases/tag/v26.2.0-trunk.146 and it worked. i don't know if it has to the with the kernel version or something but I think is something to consider.

Edited Monday at 01:57 AM by iMagz
To format it better.

[Werner]

6 hours ago, iMagz said:

Doing some other testing i compile the following image Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_forky_edge_6.18.2_minimal.img which I extracted it from Armbian GitHub from this tag: "v26.2.0-trunk.146" https://github.com/armbian/build/releases/tag/v26.2.0-trunk.146 and it worked. i don't know if it has to the with the kernel version or something but I think is something to consider.

So to cut a long story short 6.18.y kernel image works? If so then this issue has low priority since 6.18 will replace 6.12 as current in a few month anyway since it is the new LTS kernel upstream.

[Werner]

Different attempt. Instead of working around trying to revert which might be the root cause: https://lists.openwall.net/linux-kernel/2025/09/17/618

 

I'll provide you with another image containing this adjustment shortly. https://testing.armbian.de/Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img.xz

 

 

Could you do me a favour and execute these commands on both in a non-working state of a broken image and in working state of a good image?

 

dmesg | grep -i "phy.*halt\|mdio.*reset"
watch -n 1 'ethtool eth0 | grep -E "Speed|Duplex|Link detected"'
cat /sys/class/net/eth0/phydev/phy_state 2>/dev/null

 

Edit: https://testing.armbian.de/Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal_regulator_fix.img.xz  this image follows another different approach by adjusting regulators which may cause issues. Feel free to test

[iMagz]

Unfortunately I tested both of the images provided and neither worked. After testing the images I ran the commands that were asked to be run on the following images:
 

Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_edge_6.18.2_minimal.img [ETHERNET CONNECTION WORKING]

(I realized that forky isn't for me so I compile it with trixie which is used for the official images and it also works)

 

Armbian_community_26.2.0-trunk.151_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img [ETHERNET CONNECTION NOT WORKING]
 

dmesg | grep -i "phy.*halt\|mdio.*reset"

 

In both images it didn't show any output.

 

 

 

watch -n 1 'ethtool eth0 | grep -E "Speed|Duplex|Link detected"'

 

Every 1.0s: ethtool eth0 | grep -E "Speed|Duplex|Link detected"                          orangepi3-lts: Mon Dec 29 21:48:01 2025

netlink error: no device matches name (offset 24)
netlink error: No such device
netlink error: no device matches name (offset 24)
netlink error: No such device
netlink error: no device matches name (offset 24)
netlink error: No such device
netlink error: no device matches name (offset 24)
netlink error: No such device
netlink error: no device matches name (offset 24)
netlink error: No such device
netlink error: no device matches name (offset 24)
netlink error: No such device
netlink error: no device matches name (offset 24)
netlink error: No such device

 

In both images it showed this because Armbian use end0 instead of eth0 so I ran it with end0 instead and it showed this:

 

[Ethernet Connection NOT working image]

 

Every 1.0s: ethtool end0 | grep -E "Speed|Duplex|Link detected"                          orangepi3-lts: [DATE]

	Speed: Unknown!
	Duplex: Unknown! (255)
	Link detected: no

 

[Ethernet Connection working image]

 

Every 1.0s: ethtool end0 | grep -E "Speed|Duplex|Link detected"                          orangepi3-lts: [DATE]

	Speed: 1000Mb/s
	Duplex: Full
	Link detected: yes

 

 

 

cat /sys/class/net/eth0/phydev/phy_state 2>/dev/null

 

In both images it didn't show any output. I think is because not only is end0 instead of eth0, which I tested by changing them, but also there isn't any phy_state file in the /sys/class/net/eth0/phydev/ directory.

[Werner]

Bummer. Well. Was worth a try. You can stick with 6.18 for now.

[Werner]

One last attempt. Reverted back to .62 due to upstream regulator handling changes

https://testing.armbian.de/Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.62_minimal.img.xz

[iMagz]

Unfortunately, it didn't work.

[Werner]

Okay we're randomly poking at things. Please provide the following for every image you test.

 

dmesg | grep -iE "stmmac|sun8i|dwmac|emac|phy|mdio|motorcomm|yt8531"
dmesg | grep -i "registered.*phy\|phy.*connect"

ls -l /sys/bus/mdio_bus/devices/
cat /sys/bus/mdio_bus/*/phy_id 2>/dev/null

find /sys/class/net -name "end0" -o -name "eth0" | head -1 | xargs -I {} cat {}/phys_switch_id 2>/dev/null

ls /sys/firmware/devicetree/base/soc/ethernet*/mdio/

and the output of

 

armbianmonitor -u (if network doesn't work use -U instead to print to stdout)

 

The following one adds phy-io-supply = <&reg_gmac_3v3>; to the emac, just in case...

https://testing.armbian.de/Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal_phy-io-supply.img.xz

 

[iMagz]

Unfortunately, after multiple tries the image provided didn't work.

 

Here is the outputs of the commands asked to be runned with there respective tested images:

 

dmesg | grep -iE "stmmac|sun8i|dwmac|emac|phy|mdio|motorcomm|yt8531"
dmesg | grep -i "registered.*phy\|phy.*connect"

ls -l /sys/bus/mdio_bus/devices/
cat /sys/bus/mdio_bus/*/phy_id 2>/dev/null

find /sys/class/net -name "end0" -o -name "eth0" | head -1 | xargs -I {} cat {}/phys_switch_id 2>/dev/null

ls /sys/firmware/devicetree/base/soc/ethernet*/mdio/

 

Armbian_community_25.11.0-trunk.437_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.47_minimal.img [NOT WORKING] https://pastebin.com/v4bqxkeU

Armbian_community_26.2.0-trunk.100_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img [NOT WORKING] https://pastebin.com/fG0YKepz

Armbian_community_26.2.0-trunk.151_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img [NOT WORKING] https://pastebin.com/4eEC9mMg

Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal_phy-io-supply.img [NOT WORKING] https://pastebin.com/DnRgP4k5

Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_edge_6.18.2_minimal.img [WORKING] https://pastebin.com/8qp2X9wC

 

 

armbianmonitor -U

 

Armbian_community_25.11.0-trunk.437_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.47_minimal.img [NOT WORKING] https://pastebin.com/iUKFu1u0

Armbian_community_26.2.0-trunk.100_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img [NOT WORKING] https://pastebin.com/SUDx7yme

Armbian_community_26.2.0-trunk.151_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img [NOT WORKING] https://pastebin.com/QVU9q2La

Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal_phy-io-supply.img [NOT WORKING] https://pastebin.com/qiE4u2PQ

Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_edge_6.18.2_minimal.img [WORKING] https://pastebin.com/2iWbYgqK

 

 

 

For some reason, Armbian_community_25.11.0-trunk.437_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.47_minimal.img stopped working when it did before. I tested it 5 times, and none of those boots worked. I don't know if the times I tested it before worked because of the small chance of booting with an ethernet connection, but it stopped working after booting. Anyway, I just want to clarify the inconsistency, but Armbian-unofficial_26.02.0-trunk_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_edge_6.18.2_minimal.img is still consistently working after numerous boots.

 

 

 

Also, while testing the images to provide the outputs, I realized something interesting, which for some reason I didn't notice before. After booting for the first time, the images downloaded from the official place, https://www.armbian.com/orangepi3-lts/, showed a message that explains that the image used is a “Developer Preview Build” and that it should not be used for production. I don't know if this is expected or is a mistake in publicizing the incorrect images, but now that I realized it, I felt that I needed to disclose it. Maybe that is the reason the Ethernet connection is not working.

Armbian_community_26.2.0-trunk.151_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.63_minimal.img

 

Welcome to Armbian_community!

Documentation: https://docs.armbian.com | Community support: https://community.armbian.com/

IP address: Network connection timeout!

Create root password: ****
Repeat root password: ****

Developer Preview Build

This Armbian image was generated automatically for development and testing purpose.
It may include unfinished features or unstable components.

If you are not here to report issues or just test it, please do not use this image in production.
Expect things to change - or even break - as improvements are made.

Creating a new user account. Press <Ctrl-C> to abort

Please provide a username (eg. your first name):_

 

 

Armbian_community_25.11.0-trunk.437_Orangepi3-lts_trixie_current_6.12.47_minimal.img

 

Welcome to Armbian_community!

Documentation: https://docs.armbian.com | Community support: https://community.armbian.com/

IP address: Network connection timeout!

Create root password: ****
Repeat root password: ****

WARNING!

You are using an automated build meant only for developers to provide
construtive feedback to improve build system, OS settings or UX.

If this does not apply to you, STOP NOW! Especially don't use this
image for production since things might not work as expected or at
all. They may break anytime with next update.

Creating a new user account. Press <Ctrl-C> to abort

Please provide a username (eg. your first name):_