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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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15 years ago

Questions about soft MACs and uClinux Networking

I'm still working on bringing up networking on my soft processor. I have some questions.

There are at least three different soft MAC architectures I have found. The Altera TSE built into the SOPC builder, the opencores Igor available at http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21005&referrerid=2226 (http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21005&referrerid=2226) and the SLS MAC available at http://www.slscorp.com/catalog/product_info.php?cpath=22_31&products_id=53 (http://www.slscorp.com/catalog/product_info.php?cpath=22_31&products_id=53).

I'm trying to figure out which drivers go with which cores. When I do a "make menuconfig" I get two different Triple Speed Ethernet options. I get "Altera Triple Speed Ethernet MAC Support (SLS)" and I get "Altera Tripple Speed Ethernet support (EXPERIMENTAL).

Which driver supports what? Is the TSE built into the SOPC supported in uClinux? Does the (SLS) mean that it is tied to the SLS MAC or does that just mean SLS developed the driver to support the TSE?

Thanks,

David

5 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    Both of those drivers are for the Altera TSE. The (SLS) one is maintained. I guess it was originally developed by SLS.

    I don't know about the SLS MAC.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    In the SOPC builder I have four variations for the TSE Mac:

    • 10/100/100Mb Ethernet MAC

    • 10/100/100Mb Ethernet MAC with 1000Base-X/SGMII PCS

    • 1000MB Small MAC

    • 10/100Mb Small MAC

    Which of these is supported in uClinux?

    Thanks,

    David
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    10/100/100Mb Ethernet MAC is supported. I think I've had the 10/100Mb Small MAC work as well but I'm not sure. The 1000MB Small MAC would likely work too. I don't know about 1000Base-X/SGMII.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    I've done with

    10/100/1000Mb Ethernet MAC

    10/100/1000Mb Ethernet MAC with 1000Base-X/SGMII PCS

    Both worked fine in the emb-Linux with me.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    15 years ago

    davidsmoot,

    Check the Virginia Tech CCM Lab wiki page. It provides detailed information on how to install uClinux on NIOS2 in general, and Terasic DE2-70, DE4 and DE0-Nano board in particular, including Ethernet on DE2-70 and GigE on DE4.

    Tony