Triple-Speed Ethernet Intel® FPGA IP User Guide: Agilex™ 3 and Agilex™ 5 FPGAs and SoCs

ID 813669
Date 4/07/2025
Public

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10.2.6. Link Synchronization

For link synchronization, ensure CDR is stable and word is aligned. Link synchronization can be achieved when 3 comma characters are received.

Example of the waveform on the transceiver interface (8-bit data):

Example of the waveform on the transceiver interface (8-bit data) for /C1/ and /C2/ character configuration for auto-negotiation:

To investigate on the link synchronization issue:
  1. Check the transceiver/LVDS interface and ensure the PLL is locked and rxfreq_lock/rxlock_todata/rx_lock_to_ref are asserted.
  2. Check all resets and ensure the core is out of reset.
  3. Run Signal Tap on the state machine and set 8-bit interface data as the output for 8b/10b decoder. Use the keywords *U_TX*U_ENCOD and *U_RX*U_DECOD to find 8b/10b decoder and encoder nodes.
  4. Use the keyword *U_SYNC|state to find the state machine nodes.
Transceiver is not encrypted in the Triple-Speed Ethernet IP library (clear text RTL is provided). Use the following keywords:
  • altera_tse_gxb_gige_inst (IV Series devices and below)
  • altera_tse_gxb_gige_phyip_inst (V series devices)

Example issue: Ethernet link down intermittenly.

  1. Check the link and AN status:
    • LED_LINK and LED_AN from the IP.
    • PCS status register bit 2 for link status and bit 5 for AN complete.
  2. Check the transmit and receive data.
Root cause: The reset sequencer is repeatedly asserting the rx_digitalreset.
Example of the correct Signal Tap waveform: