Micrel, Inc.
KSZ8041NL
MII Management (MIIM) Interface
The KSZ8041NL supports the IEEE 802.3 MII Management Interface, also known as the Management Data Input / Output
(MDIO) Interface. This interface allows upper-layer devices to monitor and control the state of the KSZ8041NL. An
external device with MIIM capability is used to read the PHY status and/or configure the PHY settings. Additional details
on the MIIM interface can be found in Clause 22.2.4.5 of the IEEE 802.3u Specification.
The MIIM interface consists of the following:
•
•
A physical connection that incorporates the clock line (MDC) and the data line (MDIO).
A specific protocol that operates across the aforementioned physical connection that allows an external controller
to communicate with one or more KSZ8041NL devices. Each KSZ8041NL device is assigned a PHY address
between 1 and 7 by the PHYAD[2:0] strapping pins.
•
An internal addressable set of thirteen 16-bit MDIO registers. Register [0:6] are required, and their functions are
defined by the IEEE 802.3u Specification. The additional registers are provided for expanded functionality.
The KSZ8041NL supports MIIM in both MII mode and RMII mode.
The following table shows the MII Management frame format for the KSZ8041NL.
Preamble
Start of
Frame
Read/Write PHY
REG
TA
Data
Idle
OP Code
Address
Address
Bits [4:0]
RRRRR
RRRRR
Bits [15:0]
Bits [4:0]
00AAA
Read 32 1’s
01
01
10
01
Z0
10
DDDDDDDD_DDDDDDDD
DDDDDDDD_DDDDDDDD
Z
Z
Write 32 1’s
00AAA
Table 1. MII Management Frame Format
Interrupt (INTRP)
INTRP (pin 21) is an optional interrupt signal that is used to inform the external controller that there has been a status
update in the KSZ8041NL PHY register. Bits[15:8] of register 1Bh are the interrupt control bits, and are used to enable
and disable the conditions for asserting the INTRP signal. Bits[7:0] of register 1Bh are the interrupt status bits, and are
used to indicate which interrupt conditions have occurred. The interrupt status bits are cleared after reading register 1Bh.
Bit 9 of register 1Fh sets the interrupt level to active high or active low.
MII Data Interface
The Media Independent Interface (MII) is specified in Clause 22 of the IEEE 802.3u Specification. It provides a common
interface between physical layer and MAC layer devices, and has the following key characteristics:
•
•
•
•
Supports 10Mbps and 100Mbps data rates.
Uses a 25MHz reference clock, sourced by the PHY.
Provides independent 4-bit wide (nibble) transmit and receive data paths.
Contains two distinct groups of signals: one for transmission and the other for reception.
By default, the KSZ8041NL is configured in MII mode after it is power-up or reset with the following:
•
•
A 25MHz crystal connected to XI, XO (pins 9, 8), or an external 25MHz clock source (oscillator) connected to XI.
CONFIG[2:0] (pins 18, 29, 28) set to ‘000’ (default setting).
October 2006
16
M9999-102406-1.0