About Pci Bus; About Auto-Negotiation - D-Link dge-530t User Manual

Section 3 - Advanced Features

About PCI Bus

Your DGE-530T Adapter delivers outstanding performance by fully exploiting the advance features of your computer's PCI bus.
DGE-530T Adapters utilize the Bus Master Mode of the PCI bus, allowing direct transfers of Ethernet packet content between
computer memory and the adapter's controller, thus minimizing network demands on the CPU. The adapter's controller function
provides the additional benefit of reduced command processing overhead.
The working relationship between a DGE-530T adapter and main memory working in Bus Master mode is powered by the
Bridge/Memory Controller of the PCI bus. This reduces the CPU role in network operations, thus freeing the CPU to service other
tasks, with resulting improvement in overall computing (multitasking) performance. At the same time, it produces superior
network throughput by reducing latency (waiting for CPU service) during transmissions and receptions.

About Auto-Negotiation

You have probably had the experience of making a dialup connection through a modem, and have heard the sound exchange
between your modem and the modem at the other end of the telephone line. As irritating as those few seconds of noise may
be, they do let you know that your modem and the remote modem are on the job, preparing for your intended communication
with the remote computer.
When the two modems have tested the phone-line quality and settled on the combination of shared options and parameters
which will provide the best data communication over the connecting phone line, then you are given the "connect" message
which signals the end of the intermodem negotiation and the beginning of your intended communication with the remote
computer.
Auto-negotiation between devices within an Ethernet LAN is similar in concept, but much briefer. The two devices involved in
the auto-negotiation will be the DGE-530T Adapter serving your station (installed in your computer), and the switch through
which it is connected to the LAN. The options to be negotiated between the DGE-530T and its supporting switch includes
Ethernet type (1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet or 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet) and duplex mode (half-duplex, being one-way-at-
a-time, or full duplex, being simultaneous transmit-and receive.)
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