Data Sheet

System Manageability—Ethernet Controller I210
689
10.6.1.2 System Topology
In NC-SI each physical endpoint (NC package) can have several logical slaves (NC channels).
NC-SI defines that one management controller and up to four network controller packages can be
connected to the same NC-SI link.
Point-to-Point
Point-to-point commonly refers to the case where only two physical communication devices
are interconnected via a physical communication medium. The devices might be in a master/
slave relationship, or could be peers. In NC-SI, point-to-point operation refers to the
situation where only a single management controller and single network controller package
are used on the bus in a master/slave relationship where the management controller is the
master.
Channel
The control logic and data paths supporting NC-SI pass-through operation on a single
network interface (port). A network controller that has multiple network interface ports can
support an equivalent number of NC-SI channels.
Package
One or more NC-SI channels in a network controller that share a common set of electrical
buffers and common buffer control for the NC-SI bus. Typically, there will be a single, logical
NC-SI package for a single physical network controller package (chip or module). However,
the specification allows a single physical chip or module to hold multiple NC-SI logical
packages.
Control Traffic/Messages/Packets
Command, response and notification packets transmitted between the BMC and the I210 for
the purpose of managing NC-SI.
Pass-Through Traffic/Messages/
Packets
Non-control packets passed between the external network and the BMC through the I210.
Channel Arbitration
Refer to operations where more than one of the network controller channels can be enabled
to transmit pass-through packets to the BMC at the same time, where arbitration of access
to the RXD, CRS_DV, and RX_ER signal lines is accomplished either by software of hardware
means.
Logically Enabled/Disabled NC
Refers to the state of the network controller wherein pass-through traffic is able/unable to
flow through the sideband interface to and from the management controller, as a result of
issuing Enable/Disable Channel command.
NC RX Defined as the direction of ingress traffic on the external network controller interface
NC TX Defined as the direction of egress traffic on the external network controller interface
NC-SI RX
Defined as the direction of ingress traffic on the sideband enhanced NC-SI Interface with
respect to the network controller.
NC-SI TX
Defined as the direction of egress traffic on the sideband enhanced NC-SI Interface with
respect to the network controller.
Table 10-30. NC-SI Terminology
Term Definition