Method and board for high-speed link auto-negotiation

A method for high-speed link auto-negotiation, comprising:

• setting, by a first board, a first port rate to a public rate supported by both the first board and a second board, wherein a second port rate of the second board is also the public rate;
• sending, by the first board, a first auto-negotiation packet to the second board according to the public rate, wherein the first auto-negotiation packet carries a first rate supported by the first board, so that the second board determines, according to both the first rate supported by the first board that is carried in the first auto-negotiation packet and a second rate supported by the second board, a same highest rate which is supported by both the first board and the second board, and sets the second port rate of the second board to the same highest rate;
• receiving, by the first board, a second auto-negotiation packet at the public rate-that is sent by the second board according to the public rate, wherein the second auto-negotiation packet carries the second rate supported by the second board;
• and
• determining, by the first board, according to the first rate supported by the first board and the second rate supported by the second board, the same highest rate supported by both the first board and the second board, and setting the first port rate of the first board to the same highest rate;
• wherein identical rates are being used by both the first board and the second board in carrying out respective independent determinations of the same highest rate for both the first board and the second board.