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I was wondering what the exact difference between SGMII and 1000Base-X is, because both seem very similar. Is the "big" difference only the physical medium they are supposed to be transmitted on?
Both standards transmit Ethernet frames and use the same medium access method (CSMA/CD), so what's the crux here that justifies to use two names for basically the same thing?

andrsmllr
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  • @Majenko: So if I use SGMII to connect a MAC to a PHY, the PHY may turn the serial data from the MAC back into parallel data e.g. for transmission over 1000Base-T? That was the point that seemed somehow pointless to me .. O.o – andrsmllr Dec 03 '14 at 16:53
  • My comment has turned into an answer. – Majenko Dec 03 '14 at 16:54

3 Answers3

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To elaborate on @Majenko's answer, both SGMII and 1000Base-x are dual 1000Mbps SERDES pairs (one in each direction), at least until the 1000Base-X signals reach the optical transceiver. The main difference is in the auto-negotiation capabilities.

In 1000Base-X, auto-negotiation is limited to flow-control (and duplex, which is not really used since it's always full-duplex).

In SGMII, auto-negotiation also allows the PHY to indicate to the MAC the post-PHY link speed. Even though the MAC-to-PHY SGMII link is always 1000Mbps, it supports 10, 100 and 1000Mbps past the PHY and the MAC need to know this to space out the bits properly (e. g. if the external link is 100Mbps, each bit on the SGMII link is sent 10 times).

DoxyLover
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  • To my knowledge 1000Base-X has no flow control or duplex negotiation. It is just hardwired 1gigabit full duplex, intended for fiberoptics and nothing else. RGMII is an extension to 1000Base-X, allowing it to be used as a MAC-PHY interface. – Timmy Brolin Jan 16 '20 at 23:59
  • Clause 37 auto-negotiation (used with 1000BASE-X) _does_ allow link partners to negotiate flow control. – claymation Feb 04 '22 at 23:40
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Most Ethernet systems are made up of a number of building blocks. The two most important are the Ethernet MAC Device (the device that actually makes and receives Ethernet frames), and the Ethernet PHY (PHYsical interface) device - the device that connects you to your wires, fibre, etc.

These two devices are connected using a Media Independent Interface (MII). In gigabit ethernet it's the SGMII - Serial Gigabit Media Independent Interface.

So your Ethernet chip would connect to a 1000Base-X PHY using SGMII. It could instead connect to a 1000Base-T PHY device using the same SGMII interface.

Majenko
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There are PHYs with RGMII, SGMII and MDI. In these case RGMII connect to MAC. SGMII connect to a media module, such as SFP module which can be fiber or copper. MDI as usual for Copper Transformer interface. In some PHY the link to MAC is over SGMII.

SenVel
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