Startup Resolutions for

1000BASE-T

Sailesh K. Rao
Level One Communications, Inc.

LEVEL
1 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Outline
Description of Montreal Startup Protocol
Synchronization Problem in D1.2 Phy Control State Diagram
Proposed Resolution in Agazzi/Creigh writeup
Difficulties with Resolution
1. Phase Multiplication Problem
2. Phase Chasing Problem
3. Continuance of Synchronization Problem
4. Signal Detect Compliance Problem
Potential Resolutions
1. Reduced Phase Approach
2. Fixed Timer Approach
3. Blind Startup Approach
Conclusions

LEVEL
2 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Master NOT_OK OK NORMAL

Slave NOT_OK OK NORMAL

LEVEL
3 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 The Montreal Protocol

Intended to allow both blind startup and 3-phase sequenced star-

tup with minimum impact on either.
Approved in Montreal, subject to verification of robustness of the
implementation.
Written up in Draft D1.1 using handshake mechanism, but was
not fully defined.
Can be implemented using fixed timers alone provided initial
synchronization is achieved via auto-negotiation.

LEVEL
4 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 D1.2 PHY Control
link_control = DISABLE +
pma_reset = ON

DISABLE 1000BASE-T-TRANSMITTER

link_control = ENABLE

SLAVE DFE CONVERGENCE

Start maxwait_timer
Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_Z

config = MASTER loc_rcvr_status = RNOK *

config = SLAVE *
minwait_timer_done *
MASTER ECHO CONVERGENCE
tx_mode = SEND_I
SLAVE ECHO CONVERGENCE
minwait_timer_done *
signal_detect = TRUE Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_I

MASTER DFE CONVERGENCE

Start minwait_timer minwait_timer_done *
tx_mode = SEND_Z signal_detect = TRUE

minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = RNOK

TRAINING
Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_I
minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = OK * loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = OK minwait_timer_done * rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
SEND IDLE OR DATA rem_rcvr_status = OK SEND IDLE
Stop maxwait_timer Stop maxwait_timer
Start minwait_timer Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_N minwait_timer_done * tx_mode = SEND_I
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK
minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = RNOK loc_rcvr_status = RNOK

minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = TNOK loc_rcvr_status = TNOK

LEVEL
5 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Synchronization Problem
link_control = DISABLE +
pma_reset = ON

DISABLE 1000BASE-T-TRANSMITTER

link_control = ENABLE

SLAVE DFE CONVERGENCE

Start maxwait_timer
Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_Z
3pS
config = MASTER loc_rcvr_status = RNOK *
config = SLAVE *
minwait_timer_done *
MASTER ECHO CONVERGENCE
tx_mode = SEND_I
SLAVE ECHO CONVERGENCE
minwait_timer_done *
signal_detect = TRUE Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_I

MASTER DFE CONVERGENCE

Start minwait_timer minwait_timer_done *
tx_mode = SEND_Z signal_detect = TRUE

minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = RNOK bM
TRAINING
Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_I
minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = OK * loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = OK minwait_timer_done * rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
SEND IDLE OR DATA rem_rcvr_status = OK SEND IDLE
Stop maxwait_timer Stop maxwait_timer
Start minwait_timer Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_N minwait_timer_done * tx_mode = SEND_I
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK
minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = RNOK loc_rcvr_status = RNOK

minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = TNOK loc_rcvr_status = TNOK

LEVEL
6 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Synchronization Problem
Occurs primarily due to Blind PHY/ 3-phase Sequenced Startup
PHY interoperability requirements
Pointed out John Creigh in Comment 69 on D1.1.
Example problem:
Blind Master transitions to Training State due to
signal_detect = TRUE (noise burst/magnified AGC) in presence of Echo in Master
Echo Convergence state - John Creigh reflector e-mail of 1/23/98
Blind Master PHY does nothing during Master DFE Convergence state
3-phase Sequenced Startup Slave PHY is still in auto-negotiation

B Master Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 ???

3P Slave
noise

LEVEL
7 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Agazzi/Creigh Proposed Resolution
Dated 2/6/1998
Insert an intial SEND_Z phase on both Master and Slave (Phase
0)
Insert a feedback edge based on signal_detect=FALSE condition
so that Phase 1/2/3 transitions of Blind Master in previous exam-
ple can become Phase 0/1/2/0/1/2 ... 0/1/2/3
Slave must Lock On when it comes out of auto-negotiation.

B Master P0 P1 P2 P0 P1 P2 P0 P1 P2 Phase 3

P0 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

3P Slave
noise noise

LEVEL
8 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Agazzi/Creigh PHY Control Diagram
link_control = DISABLE +
pma_reset = ON

DISABLE 1000BASE-T-TRANSMITTER

link_control = ENABLE

START MAXWAIT
TIMER
Start maxwait_timer
UCT
SYNCHRONIZE
Start sync_timer
P0
signal_detect = FALSE tx_mode = SEND_Z

config = MASTER * config = SLAVE *

signal_detect = FALSE* signal_detect = TRUE*
sync_timer_done sync_timer_done

P1 MASTER ECHO CONVERGENCE

Start transition_timer
tx_mode = SEND_I
SLAVE DFE CONVERGENCE
Start transition_timer
P1
tx_mode = SEND_Z
transition_timer_done *
signal_detect = TRUE transition_timer_done * signal_detect = FALSE
phase_complete
P2 MASTER DFE CONVERGENCE SLAVE ECHO CONVERGENCE
Start transition_timer
tx_mode = SEND_Z
Start transition_timer
tx_mode = SEND_I
P2
transition_timer_done *
phase_complete P3 transition_timer_done *
signal_detect = TRUE
signal_detect = FALSE
TRAINING
minwait_timer_done *
Start minwait_timer
loc_rcvr_status = OK * tx_mode = SEND_I minwait_timer_done *
rem_rcvr_status = OK loc_rcvr_status = OK *
UCT rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK
RESTART MAXWAIT
TIMER
Start maxwait_timer
minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = NOT_OK minwait_timer_done *
minwait_timer_done * loc_rcvr_status = NOT_OK
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
SEND IDLE OR DATA rem_rcvr_status = OK SEND IDLE
Stop maxwait_timer Stop maxwait_timer
Start minwait_timer Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_N minwait_timer_done * tx_mode = SEND_I
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK

LEVEL
9 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Problems with the A/C resolution

Process Problem:
consistent with Montreal Protocol?
Technical Problems (BM/BS, 3PM/BS, BM/3PS, 3PM,3PS)
1. Phase Multiplication Problem (All 4 combinations)
2. Phase Chasing Problem (BM/3PS, 3PM/3PS)
3. Continuance of Synchronization Problem (BM/3PS, e.g.)
4. Signal Detect Compliance Problem.

LEVEL
10 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Phase Multiplication Problem
Number of On/Off phases can multiply to indefinite values, even
when startup is successful and even for Blind PHY implementa-
tions.

B Master P0 P1 P2 P0 P1 P2 P0 P1 P2 Phase 3

P0 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

3P Slave
noise noise

Example: solved synchronization problem of D1.2, but Blind

Master PHY had to do 8 ON/OFF phases.

LEVEL
11 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Phase Chasing Problem

If Master does Phase 0/1/2 loop, Slave must do Phase 0/1 loop!
Potential difficulty in DFE convergence if Slave resets FFE/DFE
in Phase 0, since this is supposed to be the START phase.
Note: Blind Slave can just ignore Master ON/OFF phases since it
ignores Phase 1. Here FFE/DFE convergence will not be an issue.

B Master P0 P1 P2 P0 P1 P2 P0 P1 P2 Phase 3

P1 P0 P1 Phase 2 Phase 3
3P Slave noise
P0
noise

LEVEL
12 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Continuance of Synchronization Problem

Probability of Synchronization problem is much reduced.

Synchronization problem will occur if for some reason (e.g.,
noise immunity tests being conducted on PHY, bad
signal_detect=FALSE implementation), Blind Master skips
signal_detect=FALSE transition in Phase 2.
In example below, only option for 3P Slave is to do 2-phase
sequenced startup.
B Master P0 P1 P2 P0 P1 P2 P0 P1 P2 Phase 3

P1 P0 P1 Phase 0 Phase 1
3P Slave noise
P0
noise
noise

Note: noise could be just poor signal_detect implementation in

presence of Echo.

LEVEL
13 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Signal Detect Compliance Problem
Difficult to expect compliance with signal_detect requirements in
presence of Echo/NEXT
Compliance is with respect to signal waveform at input of receiver
Echo/NEXT cancellation occurs after considerable signal processing of waveform

Hence, difficult to verify if intent of compliance requirements is

being met, if there are interoperability problems.

LEVEL
14 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Suggested Resolutions

1. Reduced Phase Approach: If a handshake mechanism is

desired for purposes of flexibility in implementation choices, and
sequenced startup is desired, reduce the number of phases in the
sequenced startup to 2
e.g., eliminate Phase 2 of Montreal protocol.
2. Fixed Timer Approach: Insert Phase 0 as in A/C resolution,
but use fixed timers and initial delay on Master PHY transmis-
sion.
fixes all timer values and potentially restricts implementation choices
uses 3-phase sequencing only during startup and not during retraining
initial delay of 200ms to cover auto-negotiation variability is a fixed penalty on three
PHY combinations (3PM/BS, 3PM/3PS, BM/3PS)
3. Blind Startup.
LEVEL
15 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 1. Reduced Phase Approach
link_control = DISABLE +
pma_reset = ON

DISABLE 1000BASE-T
TRANSMITTER

link_control = ENABLE

SLAVE
DFE CONVERGENCE
Start maxwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_Z
config = MASTER +
loc_rcvr_status = SCR_OK
TRAINING
Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_I
minwait_timer_done *
minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = OK * loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = OK rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK
minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
SEND IDLE OR DATA rem_rcvr_status = OK SEND IDLE
Stop maxwait_timer Stop maxwait_timer
Start minwait_timer Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_N minwait_timer_done * tx_mode = SEND_I
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK

minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status != OK loc_rcvr_status != OK

LEVEL
16 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 2. Fixed Timer Approach
link_control = DISABLE +
pma_reset = ON

DISABLE 1000BASE-T SYNCHRONIZE

TRANSMITTER
link_control = ENABLE*
seq_enable = TRUE Start sync_timer
P0
tx_mode = SEND_Z
link_control = ENABLE*
seq_enable = FALSE
P3 config = SLAVE*
signal_detect = TRUE
config = MASTER*
TRAINING sync_timer_done
Start minwait_timer
Start maxwait_timer SLAVE DFE MASTER ECHO

minwait_timer_done *
tx_mode = SEND_I
minwait_timer_done *
P1 CONVERGENCE
Start phase_timer
CONVERGENCE

Start phase_timer
P1
loc_rcvr_status = OK * loc_rcvr_status = OK * tx_mode = SEND_Z tx_mode = SEND_I
rem_rcvr_status = OK rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK
phase_timer_done phase_timer_done

minwait_timer_done * SLAVE ECHO MASTER DFE

loc_rcvr_status = OK * phase_timer_done CONVERGENCE CONVERGENCE
SEND IDLE OR DATA rem_rcvr_status = OK
Stop maxwait_timer
SEND IDLE
Stop maxwait_timer P2 Start phase_timer Start phase_timer P2
tx_mode = SEND_I tx_mode = SEND_Z
Start minwait_timer Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_N minwait_timer_done * tx_mode = SEND_I
loc_rcvr_status = OK * phase_timer_done
rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK

minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = NOT_OK loc_rcvr_status = NOT_OK

LEVEL
17 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 3. Blind Startup
link_control = DISABLE +
pma_reset = ON

DISABLE 1000BASE-T
TRANSMITTER

link_control = ENABLE

TRAINING
Start minwait_timer
Start maxwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_I
minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = OK * loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = OK rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK

minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
SEND IDLE OR DATA rem_rcvr_status = OK SEND IDLE
Stop maxwait_timer Stop maxwait_timer
Start minwait_timer Start minwait_timer
tx_mode = SEND_N minwait_timer_done * tx_mode = SEND_I
loc_rcvr_status = OK *
rem_rcvr_status = NOT_OK

minwait_timer_done * minwait_timer_done *
loc_rcvr_status = NOT_OK loc_rcvr_status = NOT_OK

LEVEL
18 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA
 Conclusions

Significant problems with A/C resolution of Phy Control section

that makes it technically not robust - does not satisfy the Montreal
requirement.

Presented three other acceptable resolutions

Reduced Phase Approach: written as a D1.2 drop in replacement by S. Rao
Blind Startup Approach: written as a D1.2 drop in replacement by Ramin Nobakht.
Fixed Timer Approach: written as D1.2 change text by John Creigh, analysis pending
by A. Castellano.

LEVEL
19 February 12-13, 1998 ONE
IEEE 802.3ab Interim
San Jose, CA