Abstract: A system and method for auto-polling a status register within a physical layer (PHY) interface to a local area network (LAN). The system includes a host CPU which needs to detect and service interrupts generated by a PHY device on the LAN which is coupled between a first transmission medium (such as copper or fiber cable) and a management interface to the system. The system further includes an auto-polling unit which monitors activity on the management interface of the PHY device. When the auto-polling unit detects a lack of activity on the management interface of the PHY for a predetermined interval, the auto-polling unit reads a first value from the PHY status register. This first status value is then compared to a previously stored value which corresponds to the last PHY status value read by the host CPU. If a mismatch is detected between these two values, an interrupt is generated to the CPU.