Non-PCI Single-Chip Full Duplex Ethernet Controller with Magic Packet
The receive packet FIFO stores the packet numbers already received into memory, in the order they were
received. The FIFO is advanced (written) by the DMA block upon reception of a complete valid packet into
memory. The number is determined the moment the DMA block first requests memory from the MMU for
that packet. The first receive packet number in the FIFO can be read via the FIFO Ports Register, and the
data associated with it can be accessed through the receive area. The packet number can be removed
from the FIFO with or without an automatic release of its associated memory.
The FIFO is read out upon CPU command (remove packet from top of RX FIFO, or remove and release
command) after processing the receive packet in the receive area.
The width of each FIFO is 5 bits per packet number. The depth of each FIFO equals the number of
packets the LAN91C96 can handle (18).
The guideline is software transparency; the software driver should not be aware of different devices or
FIFO depths. If the MMU memory allocation succeeded, there will be room in the transmit FIFO for
enqueuing the packet. Conversely if there is free memory for receive, there should be room in the receive
FIFO for storing the packet number.
Note that the CPU can enqueue a transmit command with a packet number that does not follow the
sequence in which the MMU assigned packet numbers. For example, when a transmission failed and it is
retried in software, or when a receive packet is modified and sent back to the network.
SMSC DS – LAN91C965v&3v
Page 83
Rev. 09/10/2004
DATASHEET
SMSC [ SMSC CORPORATION ]
