What is the purpose of the fast link pulse?
The purpose of the fast link pulse (FLP) burst is to "advertise" one computer's capabilities to another computer before a link is established between them. The FLP burst sends information to the other computer telling it, for example, how fast it is. The other computer then checks to see if this is an upgrade and, if it is, decides to use it when a link is established. The computer sending out the FLP then clocks itself at the same speed as the normal link pulse of the other computer, establishing a link with it. This process is called autonegotiation.