International Business Machines Corporation

James G Douglas

Seth David Lewis

Robert L Martin, Iii

James A Heiberger

Todd D Podhaisky

A physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system provides a PHY-NIM device and an attachable media access control (MAC) device. The PHY-NIM device interconnects with the attachable MAC device and the attachable MAC device interconnects to a network appliance to provide at least one of network switch capabilities and MAC device capabilities for use by the network appliance. The PHY-NIM device interconnects directly to the network appliance where the network appliance has at least one of an internal network switch and an internal MAC device in a southbridge input/output (I/O) interface chip of the network appliance.

Physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system

A physical layer network interface module (PHY-NIM) adaptation system provides a PHY-NIM device and an attachable media access control (MAC) device. The PHY-NIM device interconnects with the attachable MAC device and the attachable MAC device interconnects to a network appliance where the network appliance does not have at least one of an internal network switch and a MAC device in a southbridge input/output (I/O) interface chip of the network appliance. The PHY-NIM device interconnects directly to the network appliance without the attachable MAC device where the network appliance has at least one of the internal network switch and the MAC device in the southbridge I/O interface chip of the network appliance.

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Pine Island, MN, United States of America

James G Douglas