Ethernet Subsystem Intel® FPGA IP User Guide

ID 773413
Date 11/04/2024
Public
Document Table of Contents

4.6. Auto-Negotation and Link Training

E-Tile Auto Negotiation and Link Training

When you enable the AN/LT feature in the IP GUI, the AN/LT logic, which includes the AN/LT CSR and CPU, is instantiated in the E-Tile Ethernet IP.

F-Tile Auto-Negotiation and Link Training

Unlike previous AN/LT blocks, such as Stratix 10 and older, this block is not dependent on the main or base Ethernet IP. That is, the AN/LT block is a distinct and independent IP from the basic Ethernet address. The Ethernet Subsystem IP automatically connects the AN/LT IP to the base Ethernet IP.

The number of AN/LT IP instantiated in the Ethernet Subsystem IP depends on the different Ethernet configurations configured in the Ethernet Subsystem IP. With the same configuration, one AN/LT IP can be connected to multiple Ethernet ports.

AN/LT IP can be enabled with dynamic reconfiguration, and only once instance of the IP is required per dynamic reconfiguration group. When you enable AN/LT IP in the DR group, the AN/LT IP is instantiated and connected to the Ethernet Subsystem Base IP. AXI-Lite provides you the access to control and status monitoring.

The following steps are applicable for AN/LT Dynamic Reconfiguration:
  1. After power on, wait for the auto-negotiation process to complete. The auto-negotiation completion can be monitored using the port X status register bit 29, which is per port register.
  2. Once AN is complete, please check AN results and based on that, you can decide on the dynamic reconfiguration profile (You can skip dynamic reconfiguration if the auto-negotiation results match the startup profile).
  3. Once dynamic reconfiguration is complete, write 1 to the AN/LT configuration register bit 16, 'Continue AN Flow', with address (Offset + 0x314) to unpause the AN/LT IP.
    Note:
    • keep unused ports in reset, as multiport dynamic reconfiguration is not supported. For example, when dynamically reconfiguring form 100G-4 > 25G, keep ports 1,2, and 3 in reset, while port 0 remains active.
    • Before step 3, you must apply a reset before starting dynamic reconfiguration. Once completed, remove the reset. Once completed, remove the reset, but note that the ACK signal does not toggle. (AN/LT applies a reset that remains in place, and AN/LT removes it during LT).