
MB86964
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The MB86964 provides additional loopback testing functions
controlled by LBC. When the twisted-pair port is selected and
LBC is asserted, the loopback is forced regardless of the state of
the TPI inputs or link test failure. When the AUI port is selected
and LBC is asserted, internal local loopback is enabled. If LBC
is negated, no local AUI loopback occurs.
During loopback, data is routed from the transmit buffer to the
transmit section of the data link controller, through the Man-
chester encoder, back through the Manchester decoder,
through the receiver section of the data link controller, and is
then stored in the receive buffer. Software can then read and
check the received packet that has traveled through the
MB86964 transmit and receive sections. Receipt of the loop-
back data into the receive buffer can be disabled by asserting
FILTER SELF RX, BMPR14<0>.
The transmitted data is
blocked from appearing at the network outputs while the
MB86964 is in forced loopback mode (LBC asserted).
Link Integrity Test
The link integrity test determines the status of the receive side
twisted-pair cable. Link integrity testing is enabled when
LINK TEST EN, BMPR13<5>, is set low. When enabled, the
receiver recognizes the link integrity pulses transmitted in the
absence of receive traffic. If no serial data stream or link integ-
rity pulses are detected within 50 to 150 milliseconds, the
MB86964 enters a link-fail state and disables the transmit and
automatic local loopback functions. The MB86964 ignores
any link integrity pulse with an interval less than 2 to 7 millisec-
onds. The MB86964 remains in the link-fail state until it de-
tects either a serial data packet or two or more link integrity
pulses.
Remote Signaling
The MB86964 transmits standard link pulses that meet the
10BASE-T specification. However, the MB86964 encodes
additional status information into the link pulse by varying the
link-pulse timing; this is referred to as remote signaling. By us-
ing alternate pulse intervals, the MB86964 signals three condi-
tions: Remote Linkdown, Remote Jabber, and Remote Signal-
ing Capability. The MB86964 also recognizes these alternate
pulse intervals when received from a remote unit. Remote sta-
tus conditions are indicated as RLD, BMPR15<7>, RJAB,
BMPR15<5>, and RMT PORT, BMPR15<4>.
Connecting to the Network
Figure 11 shows typical connections between the MB86964’s
twisted pair and AUI ports and the network.