100BASE-FX to PCIe?

[Schluug]

Hi

I am working on a project where I need to make an addon-card which communicates with an other unit over a 1310nm multimode 100BASE-FX fiber connection.

The problem I have is how to interface the 100BASE-FX connections to the computers PCIe-bus..

Earlier I made a design using an Intel 82575 Ethernet controller and a ML6652 media converter chip which worked OK but the media converter chip has been EOL for a few years so I need to find a new solution.

The system would look something like this:

|CPU-<PCIe>-"CHIP1"-<MII?>-"CHIP2"|-<100BASE-FX>-|UNIT|

For "CHIP2" I have found Microchips KSZ8441 which is a PHY/MAC that supports 100BASE-FX but on the host side has a 8/16-bit MII interface. I can not find any suitable solution for "CHIP1", any one got an idea?

Regards,

Schluug

[drussell]

Does this computer not have a PCIe slot?  If you are you building this system from scratch, some kind of embedded thing rather than a standard PC, can't you just stick a PCIe slot on it?  Then you can just buy a standard 100BASE-FX network card.  They're readily available.

[Gribo]

What about media converters? There are many 100Base-T to 100Base-FX converters out there.

[Schluug]

Does this computer not have a PCIe slot?  If you are you building this system from scratch, some kind of embedded thing rather than a standard PC, can't you just stick a PCIe slot on it?  Then you can just buy a standard 100BASE-FX network card.  They're readily available.

Sadly no, it has a completely different form factor.



So i basically need to make one of those network cards, but with a different form factor but I can not come up with a good chip solution..

[Schluug]

What about media converters? There are many 100Base-T to 100Base-FX converters out there.

You mean on of these?



Any one know what circuits they use inside by chance? 

[AndyC_772]

Probably just a pair of back-to-back Ethernet PHYs linked by MII.

[Schluug]

Thank you for your help!

I have also managed to find similar circuits, http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/dp83849if.pdf may work for my needs but it also "only" have a MII interface so still need to "convert" MII to PCI Express preferably. For that I need an Ethernet controller or MAC, where I have mostely found Intel parts which are not industrial temped. Hmm..

[AndyC_772]

Have you thought about using a USB to Ethernet chip instead? Microchip do them.