diff --git a/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_common.c b/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_common.c
index 0dd33b8..9645667 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_common.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_common.c
@@ -410,8 +410,10 @@ s32 ixgbe_start_hw_generic(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 
 	/* Setup flow control */
 	ret_val = ixgbe_setup_fc(hw);
-	if (ret_val != IXGBE_SUCCESS && ret_val != IXGBE_NOT_IMPLEMENTED)
+	if (ret_val != IXGBE_SUCCESS && ret_val != IXGBE_NOT_IMPLEMENTED) {
+		DEBUGOUT1("Flow control setup failed, returning %d\n", ret_val);
 		return ret_val;
+	}
 
 	/* Cache bit indicating need for crosstalk fix */
 	switch (hw->mac.type) {
@@ -501,6 +503,9 @@ s32 ixgbe_init_hw_generic(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 	/* Initialize the LED link active for LED blink support */
 	hw->mac.ops.init_led_link_act(hw);
 
+	if (status != IXGBE_SUCCESS)
+		DEBUGOUT1("Failed to initialize HW, STATUS = %d\n", status);
+
 	return status;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_phy.c b/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_phy.c
index e0d7125..c953805 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_phy.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_phy.c
@@ -291,8 +291,11 @@ static bool ixgbe_probe_phy(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u16 phy_addr)
 {
 	u16 ext_ability = 0;
 
-	if (!ixgbe_validate_phy_addr(hw, phy_addr))
+	if (!ixgbe_validate_phy_addr(hw, phy_addr)) {
+		DEBUGOUT1("Unable to validate PHY address 0x%04X\n",
+			phy_addr);
 		return false;
+	}
 
 	if (ixgbe_get_phy_id(hw))
 		return false;
@@ -411,6 +414,8 @@ bool ixgbe_validate_phy_addr(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 phy_addr)
 	if (phy_id != 0xFFFF && phy_id != 0x0)
 		valid = true;
 
+	DEBUGOUT1("PHY ID HIGH is 0x%04X\n", phy_id);
+
 	return valid;
 }
 
@@ -439,6 +444,9 @@ s32 ixgbe_get_phy_id(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 		hw->phy.id |= (u32)(phy_id_low & IXGBE_PHY_REVISION_MASK);
 		hw->phy.revision = (u32)(phy_id_low & ~IXGBE_PHY_REVISION_MASK);
 	}
+	DEBUGOUT2("PHY_ID_HIGH 0x%04X, PHY_ID_LOW 0x%04X\n",
+		  phy_id_high, phy_id_low);
+
 	return status;
 }
 
@@ -570,7 +578,7 @@ s32 ixgbe_reset_phy_generic(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
  *  @phy_data: Pointer to read data from PHY register
  **/
 s32 ixgbe_read_phy_reg_mdi(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 reg_addr, u32 device_type,
-		       u16 *phy_data)
+			   u16 *phy_data)
 {
 	u32 i, data, command;
 
@@ -592,12 +600,13 @@ s32 ixgbe_read_phy_reg_mdi(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 reg_addr, u32 device_type,
 
 		command = IXGBE_READ_REG(hw, IXGBE_MSCA);
 		if ((command & IXGBE_MSCA_MDI_COMMAND) == 0)
-				break;
+			break;
 	}
 
 
 	if ((command & IXGBE_MSCA_MDI_COMMAND) != 0) {
 		ERROR_REPORT1(IXGBE_ERROR_POLLING, "PHY address command did not complete.\n");
+		DEBUGOUT("PHY address command did not complete, returning IXGBE_ERR_PHY\n");
 		return IXGBE_ERR_PHY;
 	}
 
@@ -627,6 +636,7 @@ s32 ixgbe_read_phy_reg_mdi(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 reg_addr, u32 device_type,
 
 	if ((command & IXGBE_MSCA_MDI_COMMAND) != 0) {
 		ERROR_REPORT1(IXGBE_ERROR_POLLING, "PHY read command didn't complete\n");
+		DEBUGOUT("PHY read command didn't complete, returning IXGBE_ERR_PHY\n");
 		return IXGBE_ERR_PHY;
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_x540.c b/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_x540.c
index 49bf154..499b1fa 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_x540.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_x540.c
@@ -775,8 +775,10 @@ s32 ixgbe_acquire_swfw_sync_X540(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 mask)
 		/* SW NVM semaphore bit is used for access to all
 		 * SW_FW_SYNC bits (not just NVM)
 		 */
-		if (ixgbe_get_swfw_sync_semaphore(hw))
+		if (ixgbe_get_swfw_sync_semaphore(hw)) {
+			DEBUGOUT("Failed to get NVM access and register semaphore, returning IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC\n");
 			return IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC;
+		}
 
 		swfw_sync = IXGBE_READ_REG(hw, IXGBE_SWFW_SYNC_BY_MAC(hw));
 		if (!(swfw_sync & (fwmask | swmask | hwmask))) {
@@ -798,6 +800,7 @@ s32 ixgbe_acquire_swfw_sync_X540(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 mask)
 	if (swmask == IXGBE_GSSR_SW_MNG_SM) {
 		ERROR_REPORT1(IXGBE_ERROR_POLLING,
 			     "Failed to get SW only semaphore");
+		DEBUGOUT("Failed to get SW only semaphore, returning IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC\n");
 		return IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC;
 	}
 
@@ -806,8 +809,10 @@ s32 ixgbe_acquire_swfw_sync_X540(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 mask)
 	 * of the requested resource(s) while ignoring the corresponding FW/HW
 	 * bits in the SW_FW_SYNC register.
 	 */
-	if (ixgbe_get_swfw_sync_semaphore(hw))
+	if (ixgbe_get_swfw_sync_semaphore(hw)) {
+		DEBUGOUT("Failed to get NVM sempahore and register semaphore while forcefully ignoring FW sempahore bit(s) and setting SW semaphore bit(s), returning IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC\n");
 		return IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC;
+	}
 	swfw_sync = IXGBE_READ_REG(hw, IXGBE_SWFW_SYNC_BY_MAC(hw));
 	if (swfw_sync & (fwmask | hwmask)) {
 		swfw_sync |= swmask;
@@ -829,9 +834,11 @@ s32 ixgbe_acquire_swfw_sync_X540(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 mask)
 			rmask |= IXGBE_GSSR_I2C_MASK;
 		ixgbe_release_swfw_sync_X540(hw, rmask);
 		ixgbe_release_swfw_sync_semaphore(hw);
+		DEBUGOUT("Resource not released by other SW, returning IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC\n");
 		return IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC;
 	}
 	ixgbe_release_swfw_sync_semaphore(hw);
+	DEBUGOUT("Returning error IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC\n");
 
 	return IXGBE_ERR_SWFW_SYNC;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_x550.c b/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_x550.c
index e15054b..6f9c034 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_x550.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ixgbe/base/ixgbe_x550.c
@@ -1311,13 +1311,20 @@ s32 ixgbe_get_phy_token(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 					      sizeof(token_cmd),
 					      IXGBE_HI_COMMAND_TIMEOUT,
 					      true);
-	if (status)
+	if (status) {
+		DEBUGOUT1("Issuing host interface command failed with Status = %d\n",
+			  status);
 		return status;
+	}
 	if (token_cmd.hdr.cmd_or_resp.ret_status == FW_PHY_TOKEN_OK)
 		return IXGBE_SUCCESS;
-	if (token_cmd.hdr.cmd_or_resp.ret_status != FW_PHY_TOKEN_RETRY)
+	if (token_cmd.hdr.cmd_or_resp.ret_status != FW_PHY_TOKEN_RETRY) {
+		DEBUGOUT1("Host interface command returned 0x%08x , returning IXGBE_ERR_FW_RESP_INVALID\n",
+			  token_cmd.hdr.cmd_or_resp.ret_status);
 		return IXGBE_ERR_FW_RESP_INVALID;
+	}
 
+	DEBUGOUT("Returning  IXGBE_ERR_TOKEN_RETRY\n");
 	return IXGBE_ERR_TOKEN_RETRY;
 }
 
@@ -2495,9 +2502,10 @@ s32 ixgbe_reset_hw_X550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 
 	/* Call adapter stop to disable Tx/Rx and clear interrupts */
 	status = hw->mac.ops.stop_adapter(hw);
-	if (status != IXGBE_SUCCESS)
+	if (status != IXGBE_SUCCESS) {
+		DEBUGOUT1("Failed to stop adapter, STATUS = %d\n", status);
 		return status;
-
+	}
 	/* flush pending Tx transactions */
 	ixgbe_clear_tx_pending(hw);
 
@@ -2506,14 +2514,23 @@ s32 ixgbe_reset_hw_X550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 	/* PHY ops must be identified and initialized prior to reset */
 	status = hw->phy.ops.init(hw);
 
-	if (status == IXGBE_ERR_SFP_NOT_SUPPORTED)
+	if (status)
+		DEBUGOUT1("Failed to initialize PHY ops, STATUS = %d\n",
+			  status);
+
+	if (status == IXGBE_ERR_SFP_NOT_SUPPORTED) {
+		DEBUGOUT("Returning from reset HW since PHY ops init returned IXGBE_ERR_SFP_NOT_SUPPORTED\n");
 		return status;
+	}
 
 	/* start the external PHY */
 	if (hw->phy.type == ixgbe_phy_x550em_ext_t) {
 		status = ixgbe_init_ext_t_x550em(hw);
-		if (status)
+		if (status) {
+			DEBUGOUT1("Failed to start the external PHY, STATUS = %d\n",
+				  status);
 			return status;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* Setup SFP module if there is one present. */
@@ -2587,6 +2604,9 @@ s32 ixgbe_reset_hw_X550em(struct ixgbe_hw *hw)
 	if (hw->device_id == IXGBE_DEV_ID_X550EM_X_SFP)
 		ixgbe_setup_mux_ctl(hw);
 
+	if (status != IXGBE_SUCCESS)
+		DEBUGOUT1("Reset HW failed, STATUS = %d\n", status);
+
 	return status;
 }
 
@@ -4336,21 +4356,34 @@ STATIC s32 ixgbe_acquire_swfw_sync_X550a(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u32 mask)
 		status = IXGBE_SUCCESS;
 		if (hmask)
 			status = ixgbe_acquire_swfw_sync_X540(hw, hmask);
-		if (status)
+		if (status) {
+			DEBUGOUT1("Could not acquire SWFW semaphore, Status = %d\n",
+				  status);
 			return status;
+		}
 		if (!(mask & IXGBE_GSSR_TOKEN_SM))
 			return IXGBE_SUCCESS;
 
 		status = ixgbe_get_phy_token(hw);
+		if (status == IXGBE_ERR_TOKEN_RETRY)
+			DEBUGOUT1("Could not acquire PHY token, Status = %d\n",
+				  status);
+
 		if (status == IXGBE_SUCCESS)
 			return IXGBE_SUCCESS;
 
 		if (hmask)
 			ixgbe_release_swfw_sync_X540(hw, hmask);
-		if (status != IXGBE_ERR_TOKEN_RETRY)
+
+		if (status != IXGBE_ERR_TOKEN_RETRY) {
+			DEBUGOUT1("Unable to retry acquiring the PHY token, Status = %d\n",
+				  status);
 			return status;
+		}
 	}
 
+	DEBUGOUT1("Semaphore acquisition retries failed!: PHY ID = 0x%08X\n",
+		  hw->phy.id);
 	return status;
 }
 
