Attachment Unit Interface

Abstract: A local area network (LAN) having a 10Base-T media attachment unit (MAU) is disclosed for coupling an attachment unit interface (AUI) to a twisted pair link through an AUI port of the 10Base-T MAU. In addition to meeting or exceeding standards set forth in the proposed supplement (P802.3I/D10) to IEEE standard 802.3 for LANs, the MAU provides an interface between the AUI and a RJ45 (twisted pair) connector which auto-engages when activity is detected on the twisted pair link. Lack of activity on the twisted pair link forces the 10Base-T MAU to isolate its AUI port from the AUI. An Ethernet (coaxial) type MAU commonly connected with the 10Base-T MAU at the AUI may be utilized without manual intervention when the twisted pair link is inactive.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely powering an Ethernet network repeater through an attachment unit interface (AUI) between the repeater and a remote personal computer (“PC”) or workstation. The AUI includes logic circuitry to detect when the Ethernet is supporting a transmit signal and a receive signal. Associated with the AUI is a DC to DC converter which receives, remotely through the AUI interface, a DC voltage from the PC or workstation and converts the DC voltage into working voltages for the remote repeater.

Abstract: Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a form factor adapter module (100) may include a small form factor (SFF) host connector (102), an X2 or XENPAK edge finger connector (106), and a serial to XAUI transceiver (110). The SFF host connector (102) may be configured receive a small form factor pluggable (SFP or SFP+) module (104) and to transmit and receive data according to a Serial Gigabit Media Independent Interface (SGMII) or Senalizer-deserializer Framer Interface (SFI) protocol. The X2 or XENPAK edge finger connector (106) may be configured to mate with an X2 or XENPAK edge finger socket (108) and to transmit and receive data according to a Ten Gigabit Ethernet Attachment Unit Interface (XAUI) protoco.l The seπal to XAUI transceiver (110) may be coupled to both the SFF host connector (102) and the X2 or XENPAK edge finger connector (106).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system (such as a multiprotocol LAN adapter) for use in a workstation or other processing machine for automatically determining the type of network to which the workstation is connected and for automatically determining the type of physical medium to which the workstation is attached. The system comprises a plurality of different physical ports for supporting various available physical media over which network data may be transmitted. For example, the system may comprise a port for connecting to shielded twisted pair (STP) wiring, a port for connecting to unshielded twisted pair (UTP) wiring, a port for connecting to coaxial cable, and a port for supporting the Attachment Unit Interface (AUI). Connected to each of these physical ports are various network interface devices for supporting the various available networking protocols, e.g., token ring, Ethernet, etc. Logic circuitry and control software are connected to the network interface devices. In order to determine the valid network connections to the individual ports, a short interrogation frame is successively transmitted by each of the network interface devices to each of the ports. Depending upon the status of each transmission, the system determines what type of network (if any) is connected to and by which type of physical medium. Based upon these two determinations, the workstation can be automatically configured without user intervention.