I’ve been having the same issue with Debian on the Alta. The problems is intermittent (it works about 1/3 of the time). I found a workaround is to unplug the ethernet cable until u-boot passes control to the Linux kernel. Once the kernel starts loading it should be ok to plug the cable back in. That works for me, anyway.
In my case I do have the latest firmware installed from here: https://hub.libre.computer/t/libre-computer-board-bios-firmware-update-images/3113
First snippet:
[ 11.178651] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 11.178694] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 16.868492] ------------[ cut here ]------------
[ 16.868536] NETDEV WATCHDOG: end0 (meson8b-dwmac): transmit queue 0 timed out
[ 16.868675] WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 0 at net/sched/sch_generic.c:525 dev_watchdog+0x278/0x280
[ 16.868719] Modules linked in: hid_logitech_hidpp overlay mousedev joydev binfmt_misc btusb btrtl btbcm btintel panfrost crct10dif_ce btmtk gpu_sched polyval_ce snd_soc_meson_axg_sound_card drm_shmem_helper bluetooth polyval_generic snd_soc_meson_card_utils ecdh_generic ecc meson_vdec(C) videobuf2_dma_contig snd_soc_meson_g12a_tohdmitx snd_soc_meson_g12a_toacodec snd_soc_meson_axg_tdmout v4l2_mem2mem snd_soc_meson_codec_glue snd_soc_meson_axg_toddr snd_soc_meson_axg_frddr meson_rng videobuf2_memops snd_soc_meson_axg_tdmin rng_core snd_soc_meson_axg_fifo videobuf2_v4l2 videobuf2_common snd_soc_meson_t9015 videodev meson_ir mc onboard_usb_hub rc_core ao_cec_g12a snd_soc_meson_axg_tdm_interface snd_soc_meson_axg_tdm_formatter snd_soc_simple_amplifier hid_logitech_dj cfg80211 rfkill fuse efi_pstore pstore dm_mod bpf_preload ip_tables x_tables ipv6 crc_ccitt rtc_meson_vrtc dw_hdmi_i2s_audio reset_meson_audio_arb axg_audio sclk_div clk_phase
[ 16.869207] CPU: 0 PID: 0 Comm: swapper/0 Tainted: G C 6.1.74-12781-g74961fb0a5d2 #1
[ 16.869227] Hardware name: libre-computer aml-a311d-cc/aml-a311d-cc, BIOS 2024.01+ 01/01/2024
[ 16.869240] pstate: 60000005 (nZCv daif -PAN -UAO -TCO -DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--)
[ 16.869261] pc : dev_watchdog+0x278/0x280
[ 16.869282] lr : dev_watchdog+0x278/0x280
[ 16.869302] sp : ffff800008003dc0
[ 16.869312] x29: ffff800008003dc0 x28: ffffdbe4040c6b84 x27: ffff800008003ee0
[ 16.869346] x26: ffffdbe4052ab008 x25: 0000000000000000 x24: ffffdbe4058bea20
[ 16.869381] x23: ffffdbe4058b7000 x22: 0000000000000000 x21: ffff7ca36c3d041c
[ 16.869444] x20: ffff7ca36c3d0000 x19: ffff7ca36c3d04c8 x18: ffffffffffffffff
[ 16.869483] x17: 756f2064656d6974 x16: 2030206575657571 x15: 2074696d736e6172
[ 16.869567] x14: 74203a2963616d77 x13: 74756f2064656d69 x12: 7420302065756575
[ 16.869606] x11: 712074696d736e61 x10: ffffdbe405942558 x9 : ffffdbe4030d6048
[ 16.869638] x8 : 00000000ffffefff x7 : ffffdbe405942558 x6 : 80000000fffff000
[ 16.869670] x5 : ffff7ca3b3f47a10 x4 : 0000000000000040 x3 : 0000000000000006
[ 16.869701] x2 : 0000000000000000 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : ffffdbe4058c8300
[ 16.869734] Call trace:
[ 16.869744] dev_watchdog+0x278/0x280
[ 16.869766] call_timer_fn+0x3c/0x1cc
[ 16.869791] __run_timers+0x258/0x314
[ 16.869813] run_timer_softirq+0x28/0x4c
[ 16.869837] __do_softirq+0x128/0x3b0
[ 16.869855] ____do_softirq+0x18/0x24
[ 16.869875] call_on_irq_stack+0x24/0x54
[ 16.869895] do_softirq_own_stack+0x24/0x3c
[ 16.869914] __irq_exit_rcu+0xd4/0xe0
[ 16.869939] irq_exit_rcu+0x18/0x24
[ 16.869963] el1_interrupt+0x38/0x70
[ 16.869986] el1h_64_irq_handler+0x18/0x2c
[ 16.870008] el1h_64_irq+0x64/0x68
[ 16.870024] arch_cpu_idle+0x18/0x2c
[ 16.870047] default_idle_call+0x58/0x188
[ 16.870068] do_idle+0x24c/0x2c0
[ 16.870086] cpu_startup_entry+0x3c/0x44
[ 16.870104] rest_init+0xf8/0x100
[ 16.870125] arch_post_acpi_subsys_init+0x0/0x28
[ 16.870153] start_kernel+0x6d0/0x710
[ 16.870176] __primary_switched+0xbc/0xc4
[ 16.870201] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]---
[ 16.870287] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
Second snippet:
[ 83.479257] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 83.479312] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 88.804710] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 88.918467] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 89.152548] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 89.163745] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 89.163762] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 89.163771] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 92.494595] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 92.494648] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 98.020575] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 98.135218] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 98.328575] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 98.340191] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 98.340203] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 98.340213] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 101.721882] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 101.721954] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 106.980729] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 107.094681] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 107.300565] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 107.312497] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 107.312509] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 107.312519] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 110.574717] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 110.574991] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 115.940593] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 116.054981] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 116.256569] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 116.269043] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 116.269066] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 116.269086] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 119.550162] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 119.550215] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 124.900748] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 125.019019] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 125.248626] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 125.256520] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 125.256539] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 125.256550] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 128.702389] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 128.702439] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 133.860542] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 133.979129] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 134.192567] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 134.200494] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 134.200510] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 134.200520] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 137.777187] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 137.777257] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 142.824509] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 142.936853] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 143.172575] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 143.184958] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 143.184981] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 143.185001] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 146.478594] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 146.478668] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 152.036546] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 152.152562] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 152.384567] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 152.396493] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 152.396506] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 152.396516] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 155.704678] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 155.704928] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 160.996548] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 161.111194] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 161.312572] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 161.324519] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 161.324545] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 161.324565] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 164.655588] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 164.655643] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 169.956549] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 170.071366] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 170.308571] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 170.320539] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 170.320549] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 170.320558] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 173.650594] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 173.650662] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 178.916595] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 179.033080] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 179.260564] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 179.272690] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 179.272717] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 179.272737] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 182.548376] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 182.548448] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 183.819534] logitech-hidpp-device 0003:046D:400E.0007: HID++ 2.0 device connected.
[ 187.876572] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 187.990769] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 188.188573] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 188.200479] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 188.200489] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 188.200498] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 191.523307] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 191.523381] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 196.836577] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 196.951374] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 197.152575] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 197.164601] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 197.164614] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 197.164623] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode
[ 200.499476] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
[ 200.499528] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): end0: link becomes ready
[ 206.052549] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Reset adapter.
[ 206.167443] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: Register MEM_TYPE_PAGE_POOL RxQ-0
[ 206.368571] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PHY [mdio_mux-0.0:00] driver [RTL8211F Gigabit Ethernet] (irq=19)
[ 206.379698] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: No Safety Features support found
[ 206.379707] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: PTP not supported by HW
[ 206.379716] meson8b-dwmac ff3f0000.ethernet end0: configuring for phy/rgmii link mode