Need an Ethernet MII PHY for K52 series processors

[jeffsutherland]

I'm looking for advice choosing a MII Ethernet PHY for a K52 processor.  Using the full MII interface because I have loads of leftover pins on this design and 25MHz oscillators by the boatload.  Any brands/models that seem to work particularly well?  Any I should avoid like the plague?

Thanks!

-Jeff

[mjbcswitzerland · Accepted solution]

Hi Jeff

I like the Micrel KSZ8081 RNA together with the Kinetis parts. Although you have enough pins free for MII most modern designs prefer to use RMII still since it is more efficient and has no disadvantages.

You can use a 25MHz crystal/oscillator for the PHY and it will generate a 50MHz clock for the processor (with its x2 output) - just check that it accepts an oscillator because I always use it with a (cheaper) crystal.

The Micrel KSZ8863MLL is also popular (MII) if there is an advantage in having two Ethernet ports (so that there is an integrated switch in the design). As well as the switch functionality (makes wiring between multiple devices easier and cheaper or adds redundancy in high availability designs) it allows advanced filtering and VLAN modes and a very useful tail-tagging functionality so that individual Ethernet frames can be sent out on just one of the ports to create a dual-homed system (two separate Ethernet interfaces with different MAC, IP addresses from a single ENET controller).

Regards

Mark

Kinetis: µTasker Kinetis support

K53: µTasker Kinetis TWR-K53N512 support

For the complete "out-of-the-box" Kinetis experience and faster time to market