The M-AHBE(TM) module from Mentor Graphics provides a DMA bridge between ahost system that uses an AMBA AHB(TM) bus and Ethernet MACs available in the Mentor Graphics Ethernet IP library. Use of the M-AHBE module also requires the use of a suitable FIFO alongside the Ethernet MAC. The M-AHBE module interfaces to the host system through 32-bit AHB master and slave ports. On the MAC side of the module, it has a high-performance synchronous interface for DMAdata transfer to/from the FIFO and a semisynchronous interface for configuring the MAC and the FIFO through their HST interfaces.