Abstract: A method for operating an energy-efficient Ethernet transceiver system includes establishing an initial link between a local transceiver at a local host and a remote transceiver at a remote host, receiving, at the local transceiver, initial data from the remote transceiver regarding energy-efficient Ethernet capabilities of the remote transceiver, and storing, in a first data storage location, the initial data from the remote transceiver regarding energy-efficient Ethernet capabilities of the remote transceiver that are shared by the local transceiver. Additional data is received at the local transceiver from the remote host regarding all energy-efficient Ethernet capabilities of the remote transceiver. The additional data is stored in a data storage location separate from the first data storage location. Based on at least the additional data, the local host identifies a remote transceiver that is capable of an energy-efficient Ethernet link and establishes that link through a local transceiver.