Intel Corporation

Kent C Lusted

Adee Ofir Ran

Ilango S Ganga

Kevan A Lillie

Nishantkumar Shah

Scott P Dubal

Eliel Louzoun

Douglas Boom

Richard I Mellitz

Itamar Fredi Levin

David L Chalupsky

Ronald Frederick Barbee

K Andrew Lillie

Adee Ranjan

Douglas D Boom

Ronald F Barbee

Apparatus and methods for implementing high-speed Ethernet links using a hybrid PHY (Physical layer) selectively configurable to employ a non-interleaved RS-FEC (Reed Solomon Forward Error Correction) sublayer or an interleaved RS-FEC sublayer. An adaptive link training protocol is used during link training to determine whether to employ the non-interleaved or interleaved RS-FEC during link DATA mode. Training frames are exchanged between link partners including control and status fields used to respectfully request a non-interleaved or interleaved FEC mode and confirm the requested FEC mode is to be used during link DATA mode. The hybrid PHY includes interleaved RS-FEC and non-interleaved RS-FEC sublayers for transmitter and receiver operations. During link training, a determination is made to whether a local receiver is likely to see decision feedback equalizer (DFE) burst errors. If so, the interleaved FEC mode is selected; otherwise the non-interleaved FEC mode is selected or is the default FEC mode. The apparatus and methods may be implemented for 100 GB ASE-CR1 and 100 GB ASE-KR1 Ethernet links and interfaces.

Hybrid PHY with interleaved and non-interleaved RS-FEC and FEC mode determination during adaptive link training protocol

Examples described herein relate to a network interface comprising physical medium dependent (PMD) circuitry, the PMD circuitry to during link training of at least one lane consistent with IEEE 802.3, exit to TIME_OUT state during TRAIN_LOCAL state based on consideration of expiration of a wait timer, loss of local_tf_lock state, and loss of remote_tf_lock state. In some examples, during link training for at least one lane consistent with IEEE 802.3, the PMD circuitry is to exit to TIME_OUT state during TRAIN_REMOTE state based on consideration of expiration of a wait timer, loss of local_tf_lock state, and loss of remote_tf_lock state. In some examples, link training consistent with IEEE 802.3 comprises performance of the PMD control function in Section 162.8.11 of IEEE 802.3ck.

Device-to-device link training

Apparatus and methods for implementing high-speed Ethernet links using a hybrid PHY (Physical layer) selectively configurable to employ a non-interleaved RS-FEC (Reed Solomon Forward Error Correction) sublayer or an interleaved RS-FEC sublayer. An adaptive link training protocol is used during link training to determine whether to employ the non-interleaved or interleaved RS-FEC during link DATA mode. Training frames are exchanged between link partners including control and status fields used to respectfully request a non-interleaved or interleaved FEC mode and confirm the requested FEC mode is to be used during link DATA mode. The hybrid PHY includes interleaved RS-FEC and non-interleaved RS-FEC sublayers for transmitter and receiver operations. During link training, a determination is made to whether a local receiver is likely to see decision feedback equalizer (DFE) burst errors. If so, the interleaved FEC mode is selected; otherwise the non-interleaved FEC mode is selected or is the default FEC mode. The apparatus and methods may be implemented for 100GBASE-CR1 and 100GBASE-KR1 Ethernet links and interfaces.

Loop timing is performed in a Reconciliation Sublayer (RS) so that the transmit clock frequency can be adjusted to be equal to the receive clock frequency for the entire PHY (including the physical coding sublayer (PCS)). One of two partners is selected to be the timing Slave to the other. If only one partner is capable of loop timing, that partner becomes the Slave. If both partners are capable of loop timing, symmetry breaking can be used to determine which partner should become Slave.

Method and apparatus for synchronous signaling between link partners in a high-speed interconnect

Technologies for cooperative link equalization include a network device with a network interface controller (NIC). The NIC is to monitor variation in a property of a link channel that connects the network device with a target network device. The NIC detects, based on the channel variation, an event that triggers a condition to change an equalization setting of the link channel. In response to the detection, the NIC communicates, via an in-band equalization control channel, changes to the equalization setting of the link channel to the target network device.

Technologies for cooperative link equalization without disruption to link traffic

Technologies for autonegotiation of communications operational modes over copper cable include a network port logic having a communication link coupled to a remote link partner. The network port logic may start an autonegotiation protocol upon reset, when the link is broken, or upon manual renegotiation. The network port logic transmits an autonegotiation page to the remote link partner that indicates single-lane communications ability over copper cable. The network port logic receives an autonegotiation page from the link partner indicating single-lane communications ability over copper cable. If the network port logic and link partner have a common single-lane communication ability, the link may be activated. The autonegotiation pages may be base pages or next pages. The single-lane communication ability may be indicated by one or more bits of the autonegotiation pages. The link may be established at 1 gigabit or 10 gigabits per second. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Technologies for autonegotiating 10G and 1G serial communications over copper cable

Methods and apparatus for register Read and Write operations over Auto Negotiation Next Pages. Register Reads and Writes are implemented using sequences of Auto Negotiation (AN) Next Page messages. The embodiments define mechanisms to use AN Next Pages to carry write and read instructions. It defines a bi-directional communication mechanism to allow writes to be confirmed and read data to be returned to the requestor. Sequences of several AN Next Pages are used to assemble full address and data fields, when necessary. Two link partners (endpoints or an endpoint and an intermediate partner) exchange AN Next Pages with address and data information. The method uses a unique device address assigned to each device discovered in the serial chain to enable write and read operations to specific devices.

Register read and write operations over auto negotiation next pages

Technologies for autonegotiation of communications operational modes over copper cable include a network port logic having a communication link coupled to a remote link partner. The network port logic may start an autonegotiation protocol upon reset, when the link is broken, or upon manual renegotiation. The network port logic transmits an autonegotiation page to the remote link partner that indicates single-lane communications ability over copper cable. The network port logic receives an autonegotiation page from the link partner indicating single-lane communications ability over copper cable. If the network port logic and link partner have a common single-lane communication ability, the link may be activated. The autonegotiation pages may be base pages or next pages. The single-lane communication ability may be indicated by one or more bits of the autonegotation pages. The link may be established at 1 gigabit or 10 gigabits per second. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Methods and apparatus for Ethernet auto-negotiation (AN) with parallel detect for 10G DAC or other non-auto-negotiated modes. AN base pages are transmitted from an Ethernet apparatus to advertise the ability to support at least one Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 Ethernet specification supporting AN. A receiver and associated processing circuitry is configured to perform two detection modes in parallel, including a first detection mode that looks for a valid signal transmitted from an Ethernet link peer that does not support AN and a second detection mode looking for AN pages from an IEEE 802.3 Ethernet link peer that supports AN. If the link peer does not support AN, an Ethernet link is set up to use signaling in accordance with the Ethernet specification that does not support AN. If the link peer supports AN, an Ethernet link is set up using a corresponding IEEE 802.3 Ethernet link supporting AN. Supported non-AN Ethernet links include 10G DAC links.

Ethernet auto-negotiation with parallel detect for 10G DAC or other non-auto-negotiated modes

One embodiment provides an apparatus. The example apparatus includes a root mean square (RMS) distortion determination module configured to determine an RMS distortion error and a signal to noise and distortion ratio (SNDR), the RMS distortion error determined based, at least in part, on a portion of a transmitted pulse centered at or near a transmitted pulse maximum amplitude and the SNDR determined based, at least in part, on the RMS distortion error.

Transmitter noise in system budget

Methods for implementing mini-mezzanine Open Compute Project (OCP) plug-and-play Network PHY Cards and associated apparatus. In accordance with one aspect, the MAC (Media Access Channel) and PHY (Physical) layer functions in one or more communication protocol stacks are split between a MAC block in a Platform Controller Hub (PCH) or processor SoC and a PHY card installed in a mezzanine slot of a platform and including one or more ports. During platform initialization operations, configuration parameters are read from the PHY card including a PHY card ID, and a corresponding configuration script is selected and executed to configure the PHY card for use in the platform. The configuration parameters are also used to enumerate PCIe devices associated with physical functions and ports supported by the PHY card.

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Aloha, OR, United States of America

Kent C Lusted