AX88871A Overview
   The AX88871A 10/100Mbps Dual Speed “Bripeater” Controller is “a dual speed repeater with build in bridge function” It is design for low cost dumb HUB application. The AX88871A directly supports up-to eight 10/100Mbps automatic links MII interfaces. Maximum up-to 192 ports can be constructed when using inter-repeater bus horizontally cascades 4 AX88871A and vertically cascades 6 repeaters. When using the legacy method, maximum up-to 64 ports can be constructed when using expansion bus cascades 8 AX88871As. The AX88871A is designed base on IEEE 802.3u clause 27 “ Repeater for 100Mb/s base-band networks” It is fully compatible with IEEE 802.3u standard.

General Description
   The AX88871A Repeater Controller is a subset of a repeater set containing all the repeater-specific components and functions, exclusive of PHY components and functions. The AX88871A has only Media Independent Interface (MII) to connect to PHY devices. Other then AX88850 series chips that has 2 kinds of interfaces. There are Physical coding sub-layer (PCS) interface and Media Independent Interface (MII).

   The AX88871A supports 8 MII interfaces ports, a bridge packet buffer SRAM interface, a 100Mbps port expansion interface and LED display interface.

   The AX88871A supports stand along 10/100Mbps dual speed repeater applications. Also it can expand the ports count via cascade to other AX88850 and AX88860 pure 100Mbps repeater chips..