# Ethernet architecture The following figure shows the architecture and its components involved in communicating data over Ethernet on the reference kits. Page-1 Sheet.1007 Sheet.8 Sheet.13 Sheet.1 Applications Applications Sheet.2 Linux kernel network stack Linux kernel network stack Sheet.3 Ethernet/switch driver Ethernet/switch driver Sheet.4 PHY driver 1, 2,...n PHY driver 1, 2,...n Sheet.5 Ethernet/switch hardware Ethernet/switch hardware Sheet.6 PHY hardware 1, 2,...n PHY hardware 1, 2,...n Sheet.7 RJ45/IX 1, 2,…n RJ45/IX 1, 2,…n Sheet.9 Sheet.10 Sheet.11 Sheet.12 Sheet.14 Sheet.15 Sheet.16 Sheet.25 Sheet.26 Sheet.27 Sheet.28 User space User space Sheet.29 Kernel space Kernel space Sheet.30 APSS APSS Sheet.32 Ethernet hardware Ethernet hardware Sheet.1002 Sheet.1006 PCIe/USB connect PCIe/USB connect Sheet.1008 Sheet.1009 Sheet.1010 Sheet.1011 Sheet.1012 Sheet.1013 Sheet.1014 Sheet.1015 Sheet.1016 Sheet.1017 Sheet.1018 Sheet.1019 Sheet.1020 Developer specific Developer specific Sheet.1021 Sheet.1022 Open source Open source Sheet.1023 Sheet.1024 Software Software Sheet.1025 Sheet.1026 Hardware Hardware Ethernet architecture on reference kits Tab QCS6490 Tab IQ-9075 Tab IQ-8275 Tab IQ-615 The following table describes the components of Ethernet architecture on QCS6490. | Component | Description | | --- | --- | | Application processor subsystem (APSS) | Runs on a Linux-based operating system. | | Ethernet driver | | | PHY driver | | | Ethernet hardware (RB3 Gen 2 Development Kit) |

Note


The sample outputs shown in tools for ethernet operations are based on the verification of QEP8121 PHY, USB2ETH, and AQR113C PHY.

| The following table describes the components of Ethernet architecture on IQ-9075. | Component | Description | | --- | --- | | Application processor subsystem (APSS) | Runs on a Linux-based operating system. | | Ethernet driver | | | PHY driver | | | Ethernet hardware | 1 x QEP8121 PHY for 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps is validated on [IQ-9075 EVK](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70030-261/topic/iq9-ug-hw-overview.html#evk-ports-and-interfaces) and enabled by RJ45 connector. | The following table describes the components of Ethernet architecture on IQ-8275. | Component | Description | | --- | --- | | Application processor subsystem (APSS) | Runs on a Linux-based operating system. | | Ethernet driver | | | PHY driver | | | Ethernet hardware | 1 x QEP8121 PHY for 10/100/1000/2500 Mbps is validated on IQ-8275 EVK and enabled by RJ45 connector. | The following table describes the components of Ethernet architecture on IQ-615. | Component | Description | | --- | --- | | Application processor subsystem (APSS) | Runs on a Linux-based operating system. | | Ethernet driver | | | PHY driver | | | Ethernet hardware (IQ-615 EVK) | 1 x KSZ9031RNX PHY for 10/100/1000 Mbps is validated on IQ-615 EVK and enabled by RJ45 connector. | ## Next steps > > > - [Bring up Ethernet](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70030-26/topic/bring_up-ethernet.html#bring-up-ethernet) > - [Perform Ethernet operations](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70030-26/topic/perform-ethernet-operations.html#perform-ethernet-operations) > - [Configure Ethernet features](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70030-26/topic/configure-ethernet-features.html#config-ethernet-features) > - [Troubleshoot Ethernet issues](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70030-26/topic/troubleshoot-ethernet-issues.html#troubleshoot-ethernet-issues) Last Published: Jun 23, 2026 [Previous Topic Get started with Ethernet](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-70030-26/topics/get-started-with-ethernet.md) [Next Topic Bring up Ethernet](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-70030-26/topics/bring_up-ethernet.md)