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

# nep(4)

Sun Neptune 10Gb Ethernet device

## NAME

**nep** – Sun Neptune 10Gb Ethernet device

## SYNOPSIS

**nep\* at pci?** **brgphy\* at mii?**

## DESCRIPTION

The **nep** driver provides support for various NICs based on the Sun Neptune Ethernet controller chips, including the following:

- Sun Quad GbE UTP x8 PCI Express Card

- Sun Quad GbE UTP x8 PCIe ExpressModule

It uses an internal or external PHY or an external 10-bit interface.

The **nep** driver supports several media types, which are selected via the [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md) command. The supported media types are:

- **media** autoselect

  Attempt to autoselect the media type (default)

- **media** 1000baseT **mediaopt** full-duplex

  Use 1000baseT on copper, full duplex

- **media** 1000baseT **mediaopt** half-duplex

  Use 1000baseT on copper, half duplex

- **media** 100baseTX **mediaopt** full-duplex

  Use 100baseTX, full duplex

- **media** 100baseTX **mediaopt** half-duplex

  Use 100baseTX, half duplex

## SEE ALSO

[arp(4)](/arp/4.md), [brgphy(4)](/brgphy/4.md), [ifmedia(4)](/ifmedia/4.md), [inet(4)](/inet/4.md), [intro(4)](/intro/4.md), [netintro(4)](/netintro/4.md), [hostname.if(5)](/hostname.if/5.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md)

## HISTORY

OpenBSD support for **nep** first appeared in OpenBSD 5.7.

## AUTHORS

The **nep** driver was written by Mark Kettenis ⟨*kettenis@openbsd.org*⟩.

## BUGS

The **nep** driver currently only supports 1Gb Ethernet NICs. It also does not yet use many of the advanced features the Neptune chip offers.