Abstract: A communication protocol detection system for enabling a network system to detect and interface one or more network devices each operating according to at least one of a plurality of different communication protocols. In one embodiment, a network interface card (NIC) is capable of operating according to one of two different communication protocols, such as the 10Base-T and 100Base-TX Ethernet Standards. The NIC includes two corresponding transceivers, where the transceivers are interfaced to a network connector for interfacing an external network device. Control logic initially enables the 10Base-T transceiver to determine if link pulses are detected. If link pulses are detected, the 100Base-T transceiver is enabled to determine if it detects the link pulses. If so, the 100Base-T transceiver is used to establish communications, and if not, the 10Base-T transceiver is used.

Abstract: A congestion management scheme for managing traffic in a data communication system having a plurality of port blocks at least one of which may be connected to a communication medium, the congestion management scheme including a structure for determining whether a sender is congested, a structure for determining whether a receiver is congested, and a structure for determining whether a RX FIFO is congested and a structure for determining a memory buffer, associated with at least one of the sender and the receiver, is congested. The congestion scheme further includes a structure for handling traffic by taking one of the preferred actions depending upon the congestion indicators.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for facilitating data flow through a multiple port multicast data switch includes receiving a data packet at a first port of the multicast data switch, the data packet formed of sequentially positioned cells of data. Determining if the second port is congested and if congested sending the selected cell to the second port if and when the second port becomes uncongested within a selected period of time. If otherwise uncongested, copying the cell data to the second port.

Abstract: A communication protocol detection system for enabling a network system to detect and interface one or more network devices each operating according to at least one of a plurality of different communication protocols. In one embodiment, a network interface card (NIC) is capable of operating according to one of two different communication protocols, such as the 10Base-T and 100Base-TX Ethernet Standards. The NIC includes two corresponding transceivers, where the transceivers are interfaced to a network connector for interfacing an external network device. Control logic initially enables the 10Base-T transceiver to determine if link pulses are detected. If link pulses are detected, the 100Base-T transceiver is enabled to determine if it detects the link pulses. If so, the 100Base-T transceiver is used to establish communications, and if not, the 10Base-T transceiver is used.