Forum Discussion
Honored ContributorEthernet with DSP Dev. Kit Cyclone III (no NIOS)
Hi,
I have the dsp development kit, cyclone iii edition (http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/altera/kit-cyc3-dsp.html). How can I use the Ethernet? In my altera > 80 > ip Directory I have triple_speed_ethernet. Will that work with this board? Or will I need additional IP-Cores? Will they also be shipped with my dev. kit? And are there IP-Cores for USB-Communication? Kind regards, Stefan__66 Replies
Altera_ForumYes you can use triple_speed_ethernet from your quartus installation directory. It will shipped wit open core pulse feature enable so that without license you will able generate timelimited sof file.
There is no any core require to communicate with PC. For USB IP Core, there is in built IP core shipped with Quartus software desiged from SLS. (altera -> 80 -> ip -> SLS). Regards, Hardik- Altera_Forum
Thanks for your response!
But what about the avalon stream interface? Should I use this, too? And is there any possibility to make that Ethernet stuff a little bit more simple? - Altera_Forum
Yes you need to use that interface to send your Ethernet packets. It is rather simple to use.
- Altera_Forum--- Quote Start --- Yes you need to use that interface to send your Ethernet packets. It is rather simple to use. --- Quote End --- But it is only for unidirectional communication: --- Quote Start --- You can use Avalon Streaming (Avalon-ST) interfaces for components that drive high bandwidth, low latency, unidirectional data. --- Quote End --- (Source: http://www.altera.com/literature/manual/mnl_avalon_spec.pdf) Is there also something for bidirectional data?
- Altera_Forum
No there isn't. The Triple Speed Ethernet uses two Avalon streams: a source for received packets and a sink for packets to transmit.
- Altera_Forum
Where can I get this avalon ethernet core?
At opencores.org I find some Ethernet Projects, but which of them is the right one...? And is it for GigaBit Ethernet? Maybe I should ask in another way: Which is the best possibility to communicate from Cyclone III Board to PC via Ethernet? - Altera_Forum
This is the Altera Triple Speed Ethernet, available in SOPC builder, or seperately from the MegaWizard in Quartus. But I thought you found it, according to your first post.
I don't know what you mean by "best", it depends on your needs and resources. The easiest way would be to use a Nios CPU and an operating system with a TCP/IP stack. Without the Nios you'll need to code at least the ARP and UDP/IP protocols in hardware. - Altera_Forum--- Quote Start --- The easiest way would be to use a Nios CPU and an operating system with a TCP/IP stack. --- Quote End --- OK, I understand. So I have a question about nios now: As I have read, the NIOS II is an embedded soft processor on the Board. Is it possible to write a program in C for the NIOS and use that NIOS program as a core/entity in my Quartus Block Diagram/Schematic File? To get a fast speed I want to use mainly VHDL. But if Ethernet is that difficult with VHDL, I could maybe use the NIOS. I have attached two Images so you can see what I am doing.
- Altera_Forum
You can use C-2-H feature for converting your Nios C code into hardware. Using this all your c code convert into hardware block by altera tools and surly you will get the speed. But condition is that your c code is without any altera API ( like IORD, IOWR etc... ).
- Altera_Forum
I'd look at the udp offload (http://www.nioswiki.com/exampledesigns/nios2udpoffloadexample) example on the Wiki. That should give you the performance you desire.
- slacker
