[j-nsp] GE/10GE link-mode config on M/T-series has no effect

[Richard A Steenbergen]

On Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 12:37:03PM -0500, Richard A Steenbergen wrote:
> On Tue, Dec 11, 2007 at 12:16:23PM -0500, Chuck Anderson wrote:
> > I don't think so, although what I said may be limited to copper links 
> > only:
> > 
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonegotiation
> > 
> > "The debatable portions of the autonegotiation specifications were 
> > eliminated by the 1998 release of 802.3. This was later followed by 
> > the release of IEEE 802.3ab in 1999. The new standard specified that 
> > gigabit Ethernet over copper wiring requires autonegotiation."
> 
> What they mean to say is that autonegotiation SUPPORT is mandatory (i.e. 
> as a hw manufacturer you must implement it), but it is not mandatory that 
> you USE it (it can still be disabled). This is in contrast to FastE 
> autonegotiation, which was originally optional and had many problems with 
> interoperation between vendors due to an ambiguous specification. With 
> 10GE, it is actually mandatory that you use it (i.e. as a user there is no 
> command to disable it).

Actually no you're right about the requirement for autonegotiation on 
copper. It is a requirement under 802.3ab to use autonegotiation when 
doing GigE over 1000BASE-T. It is not a requirement with other GigE 
imeplementations where it can be turned off completely, and half duplex is 
still a supported and negotiable option.

-- 
Richard A Steenbergen <ras at e-gerbil.net>       http://www.e-gerbil.net/ras
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