Sunnyvale, Calif. — AMD introduced the PCnet-PRO (Am79C976) Fast Ethernet controller, a high-performance 10/100 Mbps PCI bus Ethernet controller with support for oversize packets. The device boasts enhanced packet processing capabilities, for reduced system resource overhead and improved performance in throughput intensive applications like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and streaming video. AMD offers software driver support for Linux based operation of the PCnet-PRO.

The PCnet-PRO supports oversize Ethernet frames — up to 64KB long — allowing multi-protocol frame encapsulation, which is useful in backplane communications and as a LAN interface for routers. Up to 4MB of external SRAM can be added to support extra packet storage and offload system memory, making the device especially attractive in proxy server, access concentrator, and LAN-to-WAN router applications.

The PCnet-PRO supports the latest IEEE standards including 802.1D traffic prioritization, 802.1Q Virtual LANs, and 802.3 Flow Control. Supporting these standards enables efficient use of network bandwidth important for Internet telephony, secure switched networks, Virtual Private Networks (VPN) bridges, Web servers, and network-attached storage devices.

The PCnet-PRO includes an IEEE 802.3-compliant Fast Ethernet Media Access Controller (MAC) with full Auto-Negotiation of 10 or 100 Mbps and half- or full-duplex operation and a Media Independent Interface (MII) for connection to any standard IEEE 802.3 compliant 10/100 Mbps Ethernet physical layer (PHY) device.

The device also integrates an External Address Detection Interface (EADI) for use with Content Addressable Memories (CAMs) to perform fast, hardware-based address filtering for high-speed routers. The device allows for operation without a PHY for flexibility in backplane communications within a chassis-based system. The controller also contains a high performance 32-bit PCI bus master interface and Direct Memory Access (DMA) architecture with programmable interrupts to provide high-speed data throughput and low CPU and system bus utilization.

The PCnet-PRO operates on 3.3V DC, for reduced power consumption, and provides 5V tolerant I/O lines. It meets industrial temperature range specifications, of -40 to +85 deg. C, enabling 100 Mbps connectivity in extreme temperature environments.

Pricing and Availability

The Am79C976 PCnet-PRO is packaged in a 208-pin PQFP package and priced at $9.95 in 10,000 unit OEM quantities. The part is sampling now, with production scheduled for June 2000.

 
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