Programmable Inter Packet Gap (IPG)

The Triple Speed Ethernet MAC core supports a programmable IPG, configurable from 8 to 63 octets. The default IPG value can be set during IP generation in the IP Configuration window under Programmable Inter Packet Gap.

After the core is generated, the IPG can also be updated dynamically by writing to the tx_ipg_length register. Refer to Control and Status Registers for register configuration guidelines.

Based on the configured IPG value, the MAC automatically inserts the minimum required gaps between transmitted frames. The implementation of IPG insertion is illustrated in Figure 1.