Abstract: A method for testing a network switch chip having an expansion port configured for transferring data according to a prescribed expansion port protocol. The method includes outputting the expansion port frame data from the expansion port according to the prescribed expansion port protocol, converting the expansion port frame data from the prescribed expansion port protocol to a prescribed network protocol such as IEEE 802.3-based Media Independent Interface (MII) protocol, and outputting the converted data according to the prescribed MII protocol to a test device having an MII interface configured for receiving the data according to the prescribed MII protocol. The conversion of the data from the prescribed expansion port protocol to the prescribed MII protocol enables the use of the test device for validation of the expansion port, without the necessity of another network switch chip.

Abstract: A network switch chip having an expansion port configured for transferring data according to a prescribed bus protocol is tested using an external logic unit (e.g., a field programmable gate array) configured to emulate a connected expansion port. The external logic unit is configured for receiving an expansion port frame from the expansion port via an expansion bus, generating a new expansion port frame, and outputting the new expansion port frame to the expansion port via the expansion bus. Hence, a test engineer can validate the expansion port of the network switch chip by detecting the reception of the new expansion port frame by the expansion port. Hence, the expansion port of the network switch chip can be tested without the necessity of a second network switch chip.

Abstract: An arrangement for testing flow control logic in a network device such as a network switch includes a traffic generator configured for transmitting pause frames having prescribed pause values. The network device is configured for continuously transmitting data frames on a network medium. The traffic generator is configured for outputting a first pause frame to the network device that specifies a first pause interval on the order of ten minutes, followed by outputting during the first pause interval a second pause frame specifying a second pause interval substantially less than the first pause interval, for example on the order of ten seconds. The traffic generator is configured for measuring a time interval between transmission of the first pause frame and reception of subsequent data frames from the network device for evaluation of the flow control logic. Hence, the traffic generator can determine whether the second pause frame causes the flow control logic to cancel the first pause frame.