Method and apparatus for establishing a communication mode between network devices in a network

A method for establishing a communication mode between (i) a first physical layer module of a first network device and (ii) a second physical layer module of a second network device, the method comprising:

• advertising a plurality of communication modes of the first physical layer module to the second physical layer module, the plurality of communication modes of the first physical layer module including a half duplex mode and a full duplex mode;
• detecting whether one or more communication modes of the second physical layer module have been advertised to the first physical layer module, the one or more communication modes of the second physical layer module including at least one of (i) the half duplex mode or (ii) the full duplex mode;
• in response to detecting that one or more communication modes of the second physical layer module have been advertised to the first physical layer module,
• synchronizing the communication mode between the first physical layer module and the second physical layer module based on the plurality of advertised communication modes of the first physical layer module and the one or more advertised communication modes of the second physical layer module;
• and
• in response to not having detected that one or more communication modes of the second physical layer module have been advertised to the first physical layer module,
• detecting whether the second physical layer module has been preset to communicate in the full duplex mode, and
• setting the communication mode between the first physical layer module and the second physical layer module to the full duplex mode in response to the second physical layer module having been preset to communicate in the full duplex mode.

A first network device comprising:

• a first physical layer module configured to
• advertise a plurality of communication modes of the first physical layer module to a second physical layer module of a second network device, the plurality of communication modes of the first physical layer module including a half duplex mode and a full duplex mode;
• detect whether one or more communication modes of the second physical layer module have been advertised to the first physical layer module, the one or more communication modes of the second physical layer module including at least one of (i) the half duplex mode or (ii) the full duplex mode;
• in response to detecting that one or more communication modes of the second physical layer module have been advertised to the first physical layer module,
• synchronize a communication mode between the first physical layer module and the second physical layer module based on the plurality of advertised communication modes of the first physical layer module and the one or more advertised communication modes of the second physical layer module;
• and
• in response to not having detected that one or more communication modes of the second physical layer module have been advertised to the first physical layer module,
• detect whether the second physical layer module has been preset to communicate in the full duplex mode, and
• set the communication mode between the first physical layer module and the second physical layer module to the full duplex mode in response to the second physical layer module having been preset to communicate in the full duplex mode.