The Microchip KSZ8895RQXC-TR: A Compact 5-Port Integrated Ethernet Switch Solution

In the realm of embedded networking, the demand for highly integrated, reliable, and cost-effective switching solutions is ever-present. The Microchip KSZ8895RQXC-TR stands out as a premier choice, offering a robust 5-port integrated Ethernet switch in a compact 80-pin QFP package. This highly versatile IC is engineered to provide seamless Layer 2 switching capabilities, making it an ideal cornerstone for a wide array of industrial, consumer, and enterprise applications.

A key feature of the KSZ8895RQXC-TR is its flexible support for both MII and RMII interfaces. This dual-interface capability provides crucial design flexibility, allowing the switch to efficiently connect to a broad spectrum of host processors or microcontrollers (MCUs) with either a Media Independent Interface (MII) or a Reduced Media Independent Interface (RMII). This significantly simplifies the design-in process and reduces dependency on specific processor architectures, enabling designers to choose the best MCU for their application without networking constraints.

The integration level of this device is exceptional. It consolidates five 10/100 Ethernet PHYs, a full-featured Layer 2 switch engine with MAC units, and all necessary packet buffering memory into a single chip. This high level of integration drastically reduces the Bill of Materials (BOM) and overall PCB footprint, accelerating time-to-market and lowering total system cost. The switch core supports essential management features, including VLAN support, priority queues for Quality of Service (QoS), and IGMP snooping for optimized multicast traffic handling, ensuring efficient and deterministic data flow across the network.

Four of the five ports are accessible externally via standard Ethernet magnetics, while the fifth port is dedicated as the host CPU port through the selectable MII/RMII. The switch also offers advanced power management features, including energy-detect power-down mode, which is critical for developing energy-efficient products.

ICGOOODFIND: The Microchip KSZ8895RQXC-TR is a highly integrated, flexible, and cost-optimized solution that effectively addresses the core requirements of embedded Ethernet switching. Its support for multiple MAC interfaces, comprehensive feature set, and small form factor make it an excellent choice for designers building connected products in the Internet of Things (IoT), factory automation, and networked office equipment markets.

Keywords: Integrated Ethernet Switch, MII/RMII Interfaces, Layer 2 Switching, Quality of Service (QoS), Power Management.