---
name: "ie"
section: "4"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["linux", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ie"
---

# ie(4)

Intel i82596 Ethernet device

## NAME

**ie** – Intel i82596 Ethernet device

## SYNOPSIS

**ie0 at gsc? irq 8**

## DESCRIPTION

The **ie** interface provides access to the 10 Mb/s Ethernet network via the Intel i82596 DX/CA 32-bit Local Area Network Coprocessor for Ethernet.

The i82596 comes basically in two different flavors:

- i82596DX

  Systems with an ASP or WAX Main Bus Adapter (MBA), e.g. 720, 735 etc. These types of systems generally have only AUI or BNC and AUI connectors at the back. On the models with both you usually have to switch a big jumper-block on the mainboard to choose which one to activate.

- i82596CA

  Systems with LASI MBA, e.g. 712/\*, 715/100 have the i82596CA integrated on the LASI macrochip. They usually have TP and AUI connectors and autodetect to which one the network is connected to.

By default, the system will select the media type automatically, but the [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) command can be used to force the media selection. The media types are shown below:

- media autoselect

  Attempt to autoselect the media type (default)

- media 10base5

  Use the AUI connector

- media 10baseT

  Use the twisted pair connector

- media 10base2

  Use the BNC connector

## SEE ALSO

[arp(4)](/arp/4.md), [ifmedia(4)](/ifmedia/4.md), [inet(4)](/inet/4.md), [intro(4)](/intro/4.md), [io(4)](/io/4.md), [hostname.if(5)](/hostname.if/5.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) *82596DX AND 82596SX High-Performance 32-bit Local Area Network Coprocessor*, Intel. *82596CA High-Performance 32-bit Local Area Network Coprocessor*, Intel.