This module provides a communication capability according to the Ethernet IEEE 802.1 standard.

The following figure shows the basic architecture.

Figure 1. GETH block diagram

The module consists of the following blocks:

  • Host Interface

    • Master interface for transfer of Ethernet-frame-data to and from host

    • Slave interface for configuration

  • Bridge (exists in products with Ethernet Bridge only)

    • Connects two XGMACs and the host

    • Forwards Ethernet frames

      • From the host to a XGMAC

      • From the two XGMACs to the host

      • From one XGMAC to the other XGMAC

  • XGMAC core

    • Contains the blocks for protocol handling

    • Contains Ethernet frame filters and forwarding rules

    • Contains buffers for Ethernet frames

Note that GETH has no own connection (with the exception of PPS outputs) to I/O but they are routed to the High Speed Phy (HSPHY) which controls the connections with the actual I/O in the PORTS. PPS outputs are connected directly to PORTS output. Please refer to High Speed Physical Layer (HSPHY) chapter for correct setup.

HSPHY provides connection to physical pads for the following interfaces.

  • SGMII

  • UXSGMII

  • RGMII

  • RMII

  • MII

  • MDIO

Note: Kindly refer to HSPHY device specific chapter for availability of an interface in the corresponding device.