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

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ID 813669
Date 10/24/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. About Triple-Speed Ethernet IP for Agilex™ 3 and Agilex™ 5 devices 2. Getting Started 3. Parameter Settings 4. Functional Description 5. Configuration Register Space 6. Interface Signals 7. Design Considerations 8. Timing Constraints 9. Testbench 10. Triple-Speed Ethernet Debug Checklist 11. Software Programming Interface 12. Triple-Speed Ethernet IP User Guide: Agilex™ 3 and Agilex™ 5 FPGAs and SoCs Archives 13. Document Revision History for the Triple-Speed Ethernet IP User Guide: Agilex™ 3 and Agilex™ 5 FPGAs and SoCs A. Ethernet Frame Format B. Simulation Parameters
1. About Triple-Speed Ethernet IP for Agilex™ 3 and Agilex™ 5 devices x
1.1. Release Information 1.2. Device Family Support 1.3. Device Speed Grade Support 1.4. Features 1.5. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC Versus Small MAC 1.6. High-Level Block Diagrams 1.7. Performance and Resource Utilization
2. Getting Started x
2.1. Introduction to Altera IP Cores 2.2. Installing and Licensing IPs 2.3. Specifying the IP Core Parameters and Options 2.4. IP Core Generation Output 2.5. Simulating IP Cores
2.2. Installing and Licensing IPs x
2.2.1. IP Evaluation Mode
2.4. IP Core Generation Output x
2.4.1. Design Constraint File
3. Parameter Settings x
3.1. Core Configuration 3.2. Ethernet MAC Options 3.3. FIFO Options 3.4. Timestamp Options 3.5. PCS/Transceiver Options 3.6. Analog Parameter Settings 3.7. LVDS Pin Settings
4. Functional Description x
4.1. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC 4.2. 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS With Optional Embedded PMA (GTS) 4.3. HPS GMII Adapter 4.4. Precision Time Protocol 4.5. Deterministic Latency
4.1. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC x
4.1.1. MAC Architecture 4.1.2. MAC Interfaces 4.1.3. MAC Transmit Datapath 4.1.4. MAC Receive Datapath 4.1.5. MAC Transmit and Receive Latencies 4.1.6. FIFO Buffer Thresholds 4.1.7. Congestion and Flow Control 4.1.8. Magic Packets 4.1.9. MAC Local Loopback 4.1.10. MAC Reset 4.1.11. PHY Management (MDIO) 4.1.12. Connecting MAC to External PHYs
4.1.3. MAC Transmit Datapath x
4.1.3.1. IP Payload Re-alignment 4.1.3.2. Address Insertion 4.1.3.3. Frame Payload Padding 4.1.3.4. CRC-32 Generation 4.1.3.5. Interpacket Gap Insertion 4.1.3.6. Collision Detection in Half-Duplex Mode
4.1.4. MAC Receive Datapath x
4.1.4.1. Preamble Processing 4.1.4.2. Collision Detection in Half-Duplex Mode 4.1.4.3. Address Checking 4.1.4.4. Frame Type Validation 4.1.4.5. Payload Pad Removal 4.1.4.6. CRC Checking 4.1.4.7. Length Checking 4.1.4.8. Frame Writing 4.1.4.9. IP Payload Alignment
4.1.4.3. Address Checking x
4.1.4.3.1. Unicast Address Checking 4.1.4.3.2. Multicast Address Resolution
4.1.6. FIFO Buffer Thresholds x
4.1.6.1. Receive Thresholds 4.1.6.2. Transmit Thresholds 4.1.6.3. Transmit FIFO Buffer Underflow
4.1.7. Congestion and Flow Control x
4.1.7.1. Remote Device Congestion 4.1.7.2. Receive FIFO Buffer and Local Device Congestion
4.1.8. Magic Packets x
4.1.8.1. Sleep Mode 4.1.8.2. Magic Packet Detection
4.1.11. PHY Management (MDIO) x
4.1.11.1. MDIO Connection 4.1.11.2. MDIO Frame Format
4.1.12. Connecting MAC to External PHYs x
4.1.12.1. Gigabit Ethernet 4.1.12.2. Programmable 10/100 Ethernet 4.1.12.3. Programmable 10/100/1000 Ethernet Operation
4.2. 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS With Optional Embedded PMA (GTS) x
4.2.1. 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS Architecture 4.2.2. Transmit Operation 4.2.3. Receive Operation 4.2.4. Transmit and Receive Latencies 4.2.5. GMII Converter 4.2.6. SGMII Converter 4.2.7. Auto-Negotiation 4.2.8. Ten-bit Interface 4.2.9. 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS Reset
4.2.2. Transmit Operation x
4.2.2.1. Frame Encapsulation 4.2.2.2. 8b/10b Encoding
4.2.3. Receive Operation x
4.2.3.1. Comma Detection 4.2.3.2. 8b/10b Decoding 4.2.3.3. Frame De-encapsulation 4.2.3.4. Synchronization 4.2.3.5. Carrier Sense 4.2.3.6. Collision Detection
4.2.6. SGMII Converter x
4.2.6.1. Transmit 4.2.6.2. Receive
4.2.7. Auto-Negotiation x
4.2.7.1. 1000BASE-X Auto-Negotiation 4.2.7.2. SGMII Auto-Negotiation
4.4. Precision Time Protocol x
4.4.1. IEEE 1588v2 Supported Configurations 4.4.2. IEEE 1588v2 Features 4.4.3. IEEE 1588v2 Architecture 4.4.4. IEEE 1588v2 Transmit Datapath 4.4.5. IEEE 1588v2 Receive Datapath 4.4.6. IEEE 1588v2 Frame Format
4.4.6. IEEE 1588v2 Frame Format x
4.4.6.1. PTP Frame in IEEE 802.3 4.4.6.2. PTP Frame over UDP/IPv4 4.4.6.3. PTP Frame over UDP/IPv6
5. Configuration Register Space x
5.1. MAC Configuration Register Space 5.2. PCS Configuration Register Space 5.3. Register Initialization
5.1. MAC Configuration Register Space x
5.1.1. Base Configuration Registers (Dword Offset 0x00 – 0x17) 5.1.2. Statistics Counters (Dword Offset 0x18 – 0x38) 5.1.3. Transmit and Receive Command Registers (Dword Offset 0x3A – 0x3B) 5.1.4. Supplementary Address (Dword Offset 0xC0 – 0xC7) 5.1.5. IEEE 1588v2 Feature (Dword Offset 0xD0 – 0xD6) 5.1.6. Deterministic Latency (Dword Offset 0xE1– 0xE3) 5.1.7. IEEE 1588v2 Feature PMA Delay
5.1.1. Base Configuration Registers (Dword Offset 0x00 – 0x17) x
5.1.1.1. Command_Config Register (Dword Offset 0x02)
5.2. PCS Configuration Register Space x
5.2.1. Control Register (Word Offset 0x00) 5.2.2. Status Register (Word Offset 0x01) 5.2.3. Dev_Ability and Partner_Ability Registers (Word Offset 0x04 – 0x05) 5.2.4. An_Expansion Register (Word Offset 0x06) 5.2.5. If_Mode Register (Word Offset 0x14)
5.2.3. Dev_Ability and Partner_Ability Registers (Word Offset 0x04 – 0x05) x
5.2.3.1. 1000BASE-X 5.2.3.2. SGMII MAC Mode Auto Negotiation 5.2.3.3. SGMII PHY Mode Auto Negotiation
5.3. Register Initialization x
5.3.1. Triple-Speed Ethernet System with MII/GMII or RGMII 5.3.2. Triple-Speed Ethernet System with SGMII 5.3.3. Triple-Speed Ethernet System with 1000BASE-X Interface
6. Interface Signals x
6.1. Interface Signals 6.2. Timing
6.1. Interface Signals x
6.1.1. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC Signals 6.1.2. 10/100/1000 Multiport Ethernet MAC Signals 6.1.3. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC with 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS Signals 6.1.4. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC with Internal FIFO Buffers, and 1000BASE-X/SGMII 2XTBI PCS with Embedded PMA (GTS) Signals 6.1.5. 10/100/1000 Multiport Ethernet MAC with 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS Signals 6.1.6. 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS Signals 6.1.7. 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS and PMA (LVDS) Signals 6.1.8. 1000BASE-X/SGMII 2XTBI PCS Signals 6.1.9. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC with 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS and Embedded PMA (LVDS) Signals 6.1.10. 10/100/1000 Multiport Ethernet MAC with 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS and Embedded PMA (LVDS) Signals 6.1.11. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC without Internal FIFO Buffers with 1000BASE-X/SGMII 2XTBI PCS and Embedded PMA Signals (GTS) with IEEE 1588v2 6.1.12. 10/100/1000 Multiport Ethernet MAC with 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS and Embedded PMA Signals (LVDS) with IEEE 1588v2
6.1.1. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC Signals x
6.1.1.1. Clock and Reset Signals 6.1.1.2. Clock Enabler Signals 6.1.1.3. MAC Control Interface Signals 6.1.1.4. MAC Status Signals 6.1.1.5. MAC Receive Interface Signals 6.1.1.6. MAC Transmit Interface Signals 6.1.1.7. Pause and Magic Packet Signals 6.1.1.8. MII/GMII/RGMII Signals 6.1.1.9. PHY Management Signals
6.1.2. 10/100/1000 Multiport Ethernet MAC Signals x
6.1.2.1. Multiport MAC Clock and Reset Signals 6.1.2.2. Multiport MAC Receive Interface Signals 6.1.2.3. Multiport MAC Transmit Interface Signals 6.1.2.4. Multiport MAC Packet Classification Signals 6.1.2.5. Multiport MAC FIFO Status Signals
6.1.3. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC with 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS Signals x
6.1.3.1. TBI Interface Signals 6.1.3.2. Status LED Control Signals 6.1.3.3. SERDES Control Signals
6.1.4. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC with Internal FIFO Buffers, and 1000BASE-X/SGMII 2XTBI PCS with Embedded PMA (GTS) Signals x
6.1.4.1. GMII Clock Signals 6.1.4.2. GTS Transceiver Direct PHY Signals 6.1.4.3. GTS Reset Sequencer Signals 6.1.4.4. PMA Reconfiguration Interface Signals
6.1.6. 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS Signals x
6.1.6.1. PCS Control Interface Signals 6.1.6.2. PCS Reset Signals 6.1.6.3. MII/GMII Clocks and Clock Enablers 6.1.6.4. GMII 6.1.6.5. MII 6.1.6.6. SGMII Status Signals
6.1.8. 1000BASE-X/SGMII 2XTBI PCS Signals x
6.1.8.1. Clock Enablers 6.1.8.2. PCS Reset Signals 6.1.8.3. TBI Interface Signals
6.1.9. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC with 1000BASE-X/SGMII PCS and Embedded PMA (LVDS) Signals x
6.1.9.1. 1.25 Gbps LVDS Serial Interface
6.1.11. 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC without Internal FIFO Buffers with 1000BASE-X/SGMII 2XTBI PCS and Embedded PMA Signals (GTS) with IEEE 1588v2 x
6.1.11.1. Deterministic Latency Clock Signals 6.1.11.2. IEEE 1588v2 RX Timestamp Signals 6.1.11.3. IEEE 1588v2 TX Timestamp Signals 6.1.11.4. IEEE 1588v2 TX Timestamp Request Signals 6.1.11.5. IEEE 1588v2 TX Insert Control Timestamp Signals 6.1.11.6. IEEE 1588v2 Time-of-Day (TOD) Clock Interface Signals
6.2. Timing x
6.2.1. Avalon Streaming Receive Interface 6.2.2. Avalon Streaming Transmit Interface 6.2.3. GMII Transmit 6.2.4. GMII Receive 6.2.5. RGMII Transmit 6.2.6. RGMII Receive 6.2.7. MII Transmit 6.2.8. MII Receive
7. Design Considerations x
7.1. Exposed Ports in the New User Interface 7.2. Clocking Scheme of MAC with 2XTBI PCS and Embedded PMA (GTS)
8. Timing Constraints x
8.1. Creating Clock Constraints 8.2. Recommended Clock Frequency
9. Testbench x
9.1. Triple-Speed Ethernet Testbench Architecture 9.2. Testbench Components 9.3. Testbench Verification 9.4. Testbench Configuration 9.5. Test Flow 9.6. Simulation Model
9.6. Simulation Model x
9.6.1. Generate the Simulation Model 9.6.2. Simulate the IP 9.6.3. Simulation Model Files
10. Triple-Speed Ethernet Debug Checklist x
10.1. Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Issues 10.2. Debug Checklist 10.3. Case Study
10.3. Case Study x
10.3.1. Avalon Streaming Interface 10.3.2. Statistic Counter 10.3.3. Packet Drop 10.3.4. Congestion and Flow Control 10.3.5. Loopback 10.3.6. Link Synchronization
11. Software Programming Interface x
11.1. Driver Architecture 11.2. Directory Structure 11.3. PHY Definition 11.4. Using Multiple SG-DMA Descriptors 11.5. Using Jumbo Frames 11.6. API Functions 11.7. Constants
11.6. API Functions x
11.6.1. alt_tse_mac_get_common_speed() 11.6.2. alt_tse_mac_set_common_speed() 11.6.3. alt_tse_phy_add_profile() 11.6.4. alt_tse_system_add_sys() 11.6.5. tse_mac_setMIImode() 11.6.6. tse_mac_SwReset()
A. Ethernet Frame Format x
A.1. Basic Frame Format A.2. VLAN and Stacked VLAN Frame Format A.3. Pause Frame Format
A.3. Pause Frame Format x
A.3.1. Pause Frame Generation
B. Simulation Parameters x
B.1. Functionality Configuration Parameters B.2. Test Configuration Parameters
1. About Triple-Speed Ethernet IP for Agilex™ 3 and Agilex™ 5 devices
2. Getting Started
3. Parameter Settings
4. Functional Description
5. Configuration Register Space
6. Interface Signals
7. Design Considerations
8. Timing Constraints
9. Testbench
10. Triple-Speed Ethernet Debug Checklist
11. Software Programming Interface
12. Triple-Speed Ethernet IP User Guide: Agilex™ 3 and Agilex™ 5 FPGAs and SoCs Archives
13. Document Revision History for the Triple-Speed Ethernet IP User Guide: Agilex™ 3 and Agilex™ 5 FPGAs and SoCs
A. Ethernet Frame Format
B. Simulation Parameters

10.1. Troubleshooting and Diagnosing Issues

Table 106.  Troubleshooting Checklist
Issue Troubleshooting Checklist
The ethernet link fails to come up/link is unstable.

Follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:

  • Review the IP configuration in the parameter editor to ensure it matches the requirements.
  • Confirm that all required reset inputs are properly driven, as described in the reset requirements.
  • Confirm that all specified clock inputs are correct, as described in the clocking scheme.
  • Confirm if tx_pll_locked, rx_is_lockedtoref, and rx_is_lockedtodata are asserted.
  • Confirm if rx_ready is asserted.
  • The status signal led_link should go high once the RX reset is successfully completed.
Missing ethernet packets at the receiver side.

Follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:

  • Review the IP configuration in the parameter editor to ensure it matches the requirements.
  • Once the link is up, led_crs when asserted will indicate the confirmation of some activity on transmit and receive path.
  • Verify the MAC RX datapath clocks (rx_clk_125) are working at specified frequencies.
  • Check if rx_err_stat[] is asserted and the respective bit indicates the error type.
  • Check if there is congestion on the client side, ff_rx_rdy and ff_rx_a_full is deasserted.
  • Check the MAC statistics register.
Mismatch in the data rate/throughput. Follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:
  • Review the IP configuration in the parameter editor to ensure it matches the requirements.
  • Verify the MAC TX/RX datapath clocks are working at specified frequencies:
    • tx_clk_125
    • rx_clk_125
  • Check the input clocks/enable signals expected from connected PHY for the datarate:
    • tx_clk/rx_clk
    • tx_clkena/rx_clkena
  • Check if the frame is received with error: gmii_rx_err/mii_rx_err/rx_err
  • Check is the frame received is valid using ff_rx_mod.
The IP is not responding to the data flow Follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue:
  • Review the IP configuration in the parameter editor to ensure it matches the requirements.
  • Confirm that all required reset inputs are properly driven, as described in the reset requirements.
  • Confirm that all specified clock inputs are correct, as described in the clocking scheme.
  • Check if there is congestion in the client side, ff_rx_rdy is deasserted and rx_err is asserted
PTP: Measure valid is not being asserted. Recheck that the proper clock is given and resets are de-asserted.
Figure 73. Troubleshooting the Reset Sequence
Level Two Title