X2 10GBASE-T transceiver with 1 Gigabit side-band support

A method comprising:

• in an X2 form factor pluggable transceiver module conveying signals between a system device and a network device, determining whether the signals have a first data rate or a second data rate;
• conveying signals according to a first Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) protocol between the transceiver module and the system device via first dedicated pins of an X2 form factor pluggable connector of the transceiver module in response to determining the signals have the first data rate;
• conveying signals according to a second PCS protocol between the transceiver module and the system device via second dedicated pins of the X2 form factor pluggable connector of the transceiver module in response to determining the signals have the second data rate, wherein the second dedicated pins of the pluggable connector are distinct from the first dedicated pins of the X2 form factor pluggable connector;
• and
• conveying signals between the transceiver module and the network device via a port device configured to receive a transmission cable, the transmission cable conveying signals at the first data rate or at the second data rate, of the transceiver module.

A method comprising:

• mounting a transceiver device on a printed circuit board of an X2 form factor module, the transceiver device being configured to selectively transmit and receive signals at a first data rate according to a first Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) protocol or signals at a second data rate according to a second PCS protocol;
• arranging an X2 form factor pluggable connector at one end of the printed circuit board, the X2 form factor pluggable connector being configured to plug into an X2 port of a system device;
• providing first dedicated pins and second dedicated pins on the X2 form factor pluggable connector, wherein the first dedicated pins are configured to convey signals at the first data rate between the transceiver device and the system device and the second dedicated pins are distinct from the first dedicated pins and configured to convey signals at the second data rate between the transceiver device and the system device;
• arranging a port device at an opposite end of the printed circuit board, the port device being configured to receive a transmission cable, the transmission cable conveying signals at the first data rate or at the second data rate and conveying signals between the transceiver device and a network device;
• mounting a management circuit on the printed circuit board, the management circuit being configured to determine which of the first and second data rates is selected based on transmissions between the system device and the network device;
• and
• configuring the transceiver device to transmit and receive signals via the first dedicated pins in response to the management circuit indicating the first data rate and to transmit and receive signals via the second dedicated pins in response to the management circuit indicating the second data rate.

A method comprising:

• in an X2 form factor pluggable transceiver module conveying signals between a system device and a network device, determining whether the signals have a first data rate or a second data rate;
• conveying one or more signals having a first data rate and corresponding to Ethernet traffic between the transceiver module and the system device via first dedicated pins of an X2 form factor pluggable connector of the transceiver module;
• conveying one or more signals having a second data rate and corresponding to Ethernet traffic between the transceiver module and the system device via second dedicated pins of the X2 form factor pluggable connector of the transceiver module, wherein the second dedicated pins of the pluggable connector are distinct from the first dedicated pins of the X2 form factor pluggable connector;
• and
• conveying signals between the transceiver module and the network device via a port device configured to receive a transmission cable, the transmission cable conveying signals at the first data rate or at the second data rate, of the transceiver module.