Maxim Integrated 78Q8430 Software Driver - Manual (Page 5)

UG_8430_004 78Q8430 Software Driver Development Guidelines
Rev. 1.0 5
1 Introduction
The 78Q8430 is a 10/100 Fast Ethernet MAC and PHY controller supporting multi-media offload. The
device is optimized to enhance throughput and offload network protocol tasks from the host processor for
demanding multi-media applications found in Set Top Boxes, IP video, and Broadband Media Appliances.
This document provides guidelines for developing the software driver needed to implement the hardware
supported features of the 78Q8430. A description of each feature and the procedure required to exercise
the feature is included. The guidelines presented in this document assume a basic knowledge of the
78Q8430 architecture and operation and familiarity with the 78Q8430 register set. Appendix B provides a
list of the register acronyms and descriptions.
For more information refer to the 78Q8430 Data Sheet. For an overview of the 78Q8430 functional
blocks refer to Figure 5: Device Block Diagram in the data sheet. Data sheet Figure 13: Internal Digital
Block Diagram presents an overview of the functional layers, internal connections and external signals.
The “Register Descriptions” section of the data sheet contains a detailed description of the registers.