Switching device and loopback detecting method

#1. Technical Field

#Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to switching devices, and more particularly to a switching device and a loopback detecting method thereof.

#2. Description of Related Art

#The details of the disclosure, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers and designations refer to like elements.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of environment and the functional modules of one embodiment of a switching device of the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a link code word employed by the switching device for automatic negotiation with a partner device in FIG. 1;

#All of the processes described may be embodied in, and fully automated via, software code modules executed by one or more general purpose computers or processors. The code modules may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some or all of the methods may alternatively be embodied in specialized computer hardware or communication apparatus.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of environment and functional modules of one embodiment of a switching device 10 of the present disclosure. The switching device 10 communicates with a partner device 30 by an Ethernet 20. In one embodiment, the switching device 10 can be a network devices that employs an Ethernet switch integrated circuit (IC) to achieve a switching function, such as an Ethernet switch, an Ethernet router, or an Ethernet gateway. The partner device 30 can be a network device in the Ethernet 20, such as a switch, a router, a gateway, or a personal computer.

#The switching device 10 and the partner device 30 can automatically negotiate with each other. The automatic-negotiation is an Ethernet procedure by which two connected devices, for example, the switching device 10 and the partner device 30, select common transmission parameters, such as speed and a duplex mode. In this process, the connected devices first share their capabilities as for these parameters using a 16-bit logical word and then select the fastest transmission mode that they both support. The 16-bit logical word is called a link code word.