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====== MAC Control Frame ======
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|desc=Introduce the ''MAC control frame'' in Ethernet.}}
===== MAC Control Frame Format =====
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Table-1 MAC Control Frame Fileds
^ Field ^ Description ^
| Destination Address | 48-bit address of the station(s) for which the frame is intended. It may be an **individual** or **multicast** (including broadcast) address. |
| Source Address | 48-bit individual address of the station sending the frame. |
| Length/Type | Fixed to ''0x8808''. |
| MAC Control Opcode | Indicate the MAC Control function. Some of the functions I have researched are listed [[#MAC Control Functions|here]]. |
| MAC Control Parameters | MAC Control opcode-specific parameters. The length range of the MAC control parameter field is ''0'' to ''44''((note:>$64\ (minFrameSize) - 14\ (Ethernet Head) - 2\ (Opcode) - 4\ (FCS) = 44\ Bytes$)). |
| Reserved | Fill with ''0'' to achieve 64 bytes ($minFrameSize$). |
===== MAC Control Functions =====
Here is just a list of some of the functions I have researched. You can find the full opcodes assignments from 802.3-2022 Annex 31A.
Table-2 MAC Control Functions
^ Opcode(Hex) ^ MAC Control function ^ Description ^
| ''00-01'' | [[network:ethernet:macctrl:pause|PAUSE]] | Requests that the recipient stops transmitting **non-control** frames for __a period of time__ indicated by the parameters of this function. |
| ''01-01'' | [[network:ethernet:macctrl:pfc|PFC]] | Requests that the recipient stops transmissions in the **priorities** indicated in the parameters of the function for __a period of time__ also indicated in the parameters. |
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===== Further Reading =====
* 802.3-2022
* Chapter 31.4 - MAC Control frames
* Annex 31A