Open Source Ethernet Switch Project: Unlocking Hidden Features of the Microchip VSC8512
While building the open-source 1U managed Ethernet switch LATENTRED, the author encountered a challenge with missing documentation for the Microchip VSC8512 PHY chip. The official documentation lacked information on SERDES TX equalizer settings, requiring an NDA for complete details. By analyzing publicly available documents, the IBIS-AMI model, and the Microchip Ethernet Switch API (MESA), along with reverse engineering techniques, the author successfully found a way to modify the equalizer settings. He discovered an undocumented MCU interface within the VSC8512, and through a series of register manipulations, successfully adjusted the SERDES TX equalizer, improving signal integrity. This project showcases the power of open-source principles and reverse engineering, offering valuable experience for other developers.
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