Autonegotiation over an interface for which no autonegotiation standard exists

摘要

A method for enabling autonegotiation over an interface for which no autonegotiation standard exists comprises establishing network communication between a first network device and a second network device over a communication link. The first network device includes a first media access controller (MAC) associated with a communication port coupled to the communication link and a second MAC positioned between the first MAC and the communication port, and the second MAC operates as a proxy MAC for the first MAC. The first MAC outputs an outbound data communication to the communication port at a first communication rate. The proxy MAC intercepts the outbound data communication. The proxy MAC then outputs the outbound data communication to the communication port at a second communication rate different from the first communication rate.