Realtek PDF datasheets for RTL8101

The Realtek RTL8101E Fast Ethernet controller combines an IEEE 802.3 10/100Base-T compliant Media Access Controller (MAC), PCI Express bus controller, and embedded memory. With state-of-the-art DSP technology and mixed-mode signal technology, the RTL8101E offers high-speed transmission over CAT 5 UTP cable or CAT 3 UTP (10Mbps only) cable. Functions such as Crossover Detection & Auto-Correction, polarity correction, adaptive equalization, cross-talk cancellation, echo cancellation, timing recovery, and error correction are implemented to provide robust transmission and reception capability at high speeds.

The device supports the PCI Express 1.0a bus interface for host communications with power management and is compliant with the IEEE 802.3u specification for 10/100Mbps Ethernet. It also supports an auxiliary power auto-detect function, and will auto-configure related bits of the PCI power management registers in PCI configuration space.

Advanced Configuration Power management Interface (ACPI)—power management for modern operating systems that are capable of Operating System-directed Power Management (OSPM)—is supported to achieve the most efficient power management possible. PCI Message Signaled Interrupt (MSI) is also supported.

In addition to the ACPI feature, remote wake-up (including AMD Magic Packet™, Re-LinkOk, and Microsoft® Wake-up frame) is supported in both ACPI and APM (Advanced Power Management) environments. To support WOL from a deep power down state (e.g., D3cold, i.e. main power is off and only auxiliary exists), the auxiliary power source must be able to provide the needed power for the RTL8101E.

The RTL8101E is fully compliant with Microsoft® NDIS5 (IP, TCP, UDP) Checksum and Segmentation Task-offload features, and supports IEEE 802 IP Layer 2 priority encoding and IEEE 802.1Q Virtual bridged Local Area Network (VLAN). The above features contribute to lowering CPU utilization, especially benefiting performance when in operation on a network server.

The device also features next-generation interconnect PCI Express technology. PCI Express is a high-bandwidth, low-pin-count, serial interconnect technology that offers significant improvements in performance over conventional PCI and also maintains software compatibility with existing PCI infrastructure.

The RTL8101E is suitable for multiple market segments and emerging applications, such as desktop, mobile, workstation, server, communications platforms, and embedded applications.