Detection of physical layer parameter of a master device in an ethernet network

An apparatus, comprising:

• a second network interface device for coupling the apparatus with a first network interface device via a network link, the second network interface device comprising:
• a transceiver, implemented on one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices, configured to receive a training signal transmitted by the first network interface device over the network link as part of establishing a communication link between the second network interface device and the first network interface device, the training signal being for timing synchronization of the second network interface device with the first network interface device,
• a physical layer (PHY) operating parameter detector, implemented on the one or more IC devices, configured to determine, based on at least one physical characteristic of the training signal, a PHY operating parameter of the first network interface device, the at least one physical characteristic of the training signal including one or more of i) a continuity of the training signal, ii) an amplitude of the training signal, iii) a fundamental frequency of the training signal and iv) a modulation of the training signal, and
• a controller, implemented on the one or more IC devices, configured to configure one or more components of the second network interface device to operate in a mode that corresponds to the determined PHY operating parameter of the first network interface device.