Re: [microblaze-uclinux] Questions about the Ethernet interface

[John Williams <jwilliams@itee.uq.edu.au>]

Hi Günter,

Günter Dannoritzer wrote:
> After my first steps with the EDK my next goal is to get an Ethernet 
> interface going. I was a bit hesitant to use the Xilinx one, because of 
> the license fee. However, it is probably easier to adapt. 

 > My idea was to
> use the Ethernet Controller from OpenCore.org. Unfortunately this one 
> has a whisbone interface and mandates some more work to adapted it to 
> the MicroBlaze.

I haven't done it, but apparently mapping wishbone onto OPB isn't 
necessarily very difficult.

> I was wondering whether you gave the OpenCore controller a thought?

We have considered it, but haven't yet decided which way to go.  One 
approach we are considering is to use an external integrated MAC/PHY 
chip like the CS9800 or SMC that Hannes mentioned earlier.  The reason 
is that you still need an external PHY and magnetics anyway, even if the 
MAC is on-chip.

> I read that you have the platform going with the Xilinx Ethernet interface.
> Are there any plans when you put it on the web page?

I've integrated the Xilinx EMAC driver into the uclinux source, and have 
compiled it and so on.  However, I still have some low level uClinux 
tcp/ip issues to resolve, so have been unable to test the EMAC driver.

All of the driver code and kernel integration etc goes into the public 
domain via the cvs server at cvs.uclinux.org, as is required by the GPL. 
  Once I get the network interface up and running I'll probably add to 
my documentation collection, and also release network-capable demo 
package as well.

By the way, we don't have a license for the Xilinx EMAC core, just using 
the evaluation core that comes with EDK.  IT lets you run for a couple 
of hours before shutting down, so it's ok for us in initial testing work 
etc.

Regards,

John


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