Shared auto-negotiation logic for multiple port network devices

A device which interconnects across links a plurality of terminals having respective modes of operation, comprising:

• a plurality of ports for connection to respective links;
• logic coupled to the plurality of ports to exercise a protocol with terminals coupled the respective links to resolve modes of operation for the respective links, the logic including a shared unit for executing the protocol, and an arbiter unit for arbitrating among the plurality of ports for use of the shared unit, wherein the arbiter unit includes:
• memory storing a set of status signals, status signals in the set indicating states of corresponding ports in the plurality of ports, wherein the states indicate whether a mode of operation of a corresponding port is resolved or unresolved, and
• logic which polls the memory to read the set of status signals in a sequence, and in response to status signals in the set, enables use of the shared unit by the corresponding ports, wherein if a status signal indicates that a mode of operation of a port is unresolved, the logic causes the corresponding port to connect to the shared unit and changes the status signal from unresolved to resolved.