A network switch including a physical layer device and a media access controller. The physical layer device includes an auto-negotiation circuit configured to negotiate a first data rate for transmission of data between the physical layer device and a network client external to the network switch, and a first serializer interface configured to receive the first data rate from the auto-negotiation circuit. The media access controller includes a second serializer interface. The first serializer interface of the physical layer device is configured to, based on the negotiated first data rate received from the auto-negotiation circuit, selectively replicate portions of data received from the network client, and transmit the data to the second serializer interface of the media access controller at a second data rate regardless of the first data rate negotiated between the auto-negotiation circuit and the network client. The first data rate and the second data rate are different.