Arrangement for reducing a media independent interface speed in a network switch emulation system

An apparatus comprising:

• a first inverted media independent interface configured for receiving first data from a connected first media independent interface, and supplying second data and a first interface clock to the connected first media independent interface;
• a second inverted media independent interface configured for receiving the second data from a connected second media independent interface, and supplying the first data and a second interface clock to the connected second media independent interface;
• and
• a clock generation circuit configured for generating the first interface clock and the second interface clock based on an external reference clock.

A test system comprising:

• a switch emulator having a first media independent interface configured for outputting first network data based on a first interface clock, the switch emulator outputting a reference clock;
• a test instrument having a second media independent interface configured for outputting second network data based on a second interface clock;
• and
• an interface converter configured for generating the first and second interface clocks based on the reference clock, the interface converter converting the first network data for reception by the second media independent interface, and the second network data for reception by the first media independent interface.