---
name: "if_tl"
section: "4"
platform: "linux"
package: "freebsd-manpages"
version: "6.0-5"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/if_tl"
---

# if\_tl(4)

Texas Instruments ThunderLAN Ethernet device driver

## NAME

**tl** – Texas Instruments ThunderLAN Ethernet device driver

## SYNOPSIS

To compile support for the

**tl** driver into your kernel, place the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

**device miibus** **device tl**

Alternatively, to load the

**tl** driver at boot time, place the following line in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
if_tl_load="YES"
```

## DESCRIPTION

The **tl** driver provides support for PCI Ethernet adapters based on the Texas Instruments ThunderLAN Ethernet controller chip.

The ThunderLAN controller has a standard MII interface that supports up to 32 physical interface devices (PHYs). It also has a built-in 10baseT PHY hardwired at MII address 31, which may be used in some 10Mbps-only hardware configurations. In 100Mbps configurations, a National Semiconductor DP83840A or other MII-compliant PHY may be attached to the ThunderLAN's MII bus. If a DP83840A or equivalent is available, the ThunderLAN chip can operate at either 100Mbps or 10Mbps in either half-duplex or full-duplex modes. The ThunderLAN's built-in PHY and the DP83840A also support autonegotiation.

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

- autoselect

  Enable autoselection of the media type and options. Note that this option is only available on those PHYs that support autonegotiation. Also, the PHY will not advertise those modes that have been explicitly disabled using the following media options.

- 10baseT/UTP

  Set 10Mbps operation

- 100baseTX

  Set 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet) operation

- 10base5/AUI

  Enable AUI/BNC interface (useful only with the built-in PHY).

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

- full-duplex

  Force full duplex operation

- half-duplex

  Force half duplex operation.

- hw-loopback

  Enable hardware loopback mode.

Note that the 100baseTX media type is only available if supported by the PHY. For more information on configuring this device, see [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md).

## HARDWARE

The **tl** driver supports Texas Instruments ThunderLAN based Ethernet and Fast Ethernet adapters including a large number of Compaq PCI Ethernet adapters. Also supported are:

- Olicom OC-2135/2138 10/100 TX UTP adapter

- Olicom OC-2325/OC-2326 10/100 TX UTP adapter

- Racore 8148 10baseT/100baseTX/100baseFX adapter

- Racore 8165 10/100baseTX adapter

The **tl** driver also supports the built-in Ethernet adapters of various Compaq Prosignia servers and Compaq Deskpro desktop machines including:

- Compaq Netelligent 10

- Compaq Netelligent 10 T PCI UTP/Coax

- Compaq Netelligent 10/100

- Compaq Netelligent 10/100 Dual-Port

- Compaq Netelligent 10/100 Proliant

- Compaq Netelligent 10/100 TX Embedded UTP

- Compaq Netelligent 10/100 TX UTP

- Compaq NetFlex 3P

- Compaq NetFlex 3P Integrated

- Compaq NetFlex 3P w/BNC

## DIAGNOSTICS

- tl%d: couldn't map memory

  A fatal initialization error has occurred.

- tl%d: couldn't map interrupt

  A fatal initialization error has occurred.

- tl%d: device timeout

  The device has stopped responding to the network, or there is a problem with the network connection (cable).

- tl%d: no memory for rx list

  The driver failed to allocate an mbuf for the receiver ring.

- tl%d: no memory for tx list

  The driver failed to allocate an mbuf for the transmitter ring when allocating a pad buffer or collapsing an mbuf chain into a cluster.

## SEE ALSO

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

## HISTORY

The **tl** device driver first appeared in FreeBSD 2.2.

## AUTHORS

The **tl** driver was written by Bill Paul ⟨wpaul@ctr.columbia.edu⟩.