an ethernet auto - negotiate extension incorporates a gigabit verification procedure following the establishment of a gigabit level of serve . if auto - negotiate resolves a gigabit data rate for a particular connection , the auto - negotiate extension verifies that each of the eight required wires is functional . the verification extension sends a data pattern that can by detected only if all eight wires are functional . in this manner , the ability of each wire to transition between 1 &# 39 ; s and 0 &# 39 ; s at the highest possible data rate is verified . the gigabit verification extension will detect flag any wires that are missing , grounded from a previous 10 or 100 mbps system or otherwise non - functional . by incorporating this functional verification extension , the invention recognizes the limited functional verification inherent in auto - negotiate . the invention leaves the core pieces of the auto - negotiate process intact thereby minimizing the impact on existing systems .