Index: linux-2.6.23.17/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
===================================================================
--- linux-2.6.23.17.orig/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
+++ linux-2.6.23.17/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ static int mdio_bus_match(struct device 
 	struct phy_device *phydev = to_phy_device(dev);
 	struct phy_driver *phydrv = to_phy_driver(drv);
 
+	if (phydrv->detect)
+		return (phydrv->detect(phydev->bus, phydev->addr));
+
 	return ((phydrv->phy_id & phydrv->phy_id_mask) ==
 		(phydev->phy_id & phydrv->phy_id_mask));
 }
Index: linux-2.6.23.17/include/linux/phy.h
===================================================================
--- linux-2.6.23.17.orig/include/linux/phy.h
+++ linux-2.6.23.17/include/linux/phy.h
@@ -319,6 +319,11 @@ struct phy_driver {
 	u32 features;
 	u32 flags;
 
+	/* Called during discovery to test if the
+	 * device can attach to the bus, even if
+	 * phy id and mask do not match */
+	bool (*detect)(struct mii_bus *bus, int addr);
+
 	/* Called to initialize the PHY,
 	 * including after a reset */
 	int (*config_init)(struct phy_device *phydev);