---
name: "axge"
section: "4"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/axge"
---

# axge(4)

ASIX Electronics AX88178A/179/179A USB Gigabit Ethernet driver

## NAME

**axge** – ASIX Electronics AX88178A/179/179A USB Gigabit Ethernet driver

## SYNOPSIS

To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

**device xhci** **device ehci** **device uhci** **device ohci** **device usb** **device miibus** **device uether** **device axge**

Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the following line in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
if_axge_load="YES"
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **axge** driver provides support for USB Gigabit Ethernet adapters based on the ASIX Electronics AX88179/AX88179A USB 3.0 and AX88178A USB 2.0 chipsets.

The AX88179, AX88179A and AX88178A contain a 10/100/1000 Ethernet MAC with a GMII interface for interfacing with the Gigabit Ethernet PHY.

These devices will operate with both USB 1.x and USB 2.0 controllers, and the AX88179/AX88179A will operate with USB 3.0 controllers. Packets are received and transmitted over separate USB bulk transfer endpoints.

The **axge** driver supports the following media types:

- **autoselect**

  Enable autoselection of the media type and options. The user can manually override the autoselected mode by adding media options to [rc.conf(5)](/rc.conf/5.md).

- **10baseT/UTP**

  Set 10Mbps operation. The [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) **mediaopt** option can also be used to select either **full-duplex** or **half-duplex** modes.

- **100baseTX**

  Set 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet) operation. The [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) **mediaopt** option can also be used to select either **full-duplex** or **half-duplex** modes.

- **1000baseT**

  Set 1000Mbps (Gigabit Ethernet) operation (AX88178 only). The [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) **mediaopt** option can also be used to select either **full-duplex** or **half-duplex** modes.

The **axge** driver supports the following media options:

- **full-duplex**

  Force full duplex operation.

- **half-duplex**

  Force half duplex operation.

For more information on configuring this device, see [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md).

## HARDWARE

The **axge** driver supports the following USB Gigabit Ethernet controllers:

- ASIX Electronics AX88179A

- ASIX Electronics AX88179

- ASIX Electronics AX88178A

## SEE ALSO

[altq(4)](/altq/4.md), [arp(4)](/arp/4.md), [miibus(4)](/miibus/4.md), [netintro(4)](/netintro/4.md), [ng\_ether(4)](/ng_ether/4.md), [rgephy(4)](/rgephy/4.md), [vlan(4)](/vlan/4.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **axge** device driver first appeared in FreeBSD 10.1.

## AUTHORS

The **axge** driver was written by Kevin Lo ⟨*kevlo@FreeBSD.org*⟩ and Li-Wen Hsu ⟨*lwhsu@FreeBSD.org*⟩. This manual page was adapted by Mark Johnston ⟨*markj@FreeBSD.org*⟩ from the [axe(4)](/axe/4.md) manual page.