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Altera_Forum
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16 years ago

Network Supervision

Hi all,

I'm just starting 'my adventure' with Altera DE2 and I've been given a project that requires reading data from board's registers and passing it to a program on a computer via the Ethernet Port. It sounds like a complicated task and my first idea is to use SOPC Builder for passing the content of registers to Ethernet Controller and then using the demonstration project as a starting point to send it to a computer, where I would initially receive it with Wireshark and later write a program in Java, for example.

I would like to ask all of you that have a bit more experience with Altera (since I have none :)) if it is a good way of thinking. What is more, I would be sooooo grateful if you could provide me with some tips (any information on how to do it).

Finally, does the ethernet controller do the framing for the information to be sent?

Please, if you have some comment for at least one of my doubts, help me... :)

Cheers,

Adam

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  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    Alberto,

    Thank you. In fact I have not seen your reply and already learnt what I should do by myself. But here is the problem I have now: when I change the content of the packet by putting into the loop TXT[some payload byte] = *switch_pio, it gets changed only once (at the start-up of the demonstration) and then nothing changes when I change the position of the switches. What is more I can't seem to turn LEDs on and off.

    I have a strange feeling it has something to do with the clock. The problem might be that I'm currently modifying the demonstration of the version 1.1 and I'm working with QuartusII and NiosII of version 8.1.

    Do you know what might be the problem? And do you have a newer version of the demonstration than 1.1 (in my project I don't really need packets being sent fast)?

    I can't thank you enough for your help. I already learnt so much :).

    cheers,

    Adam
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    In fact, just a small correction... wherever I put TXT[some payload byte] = *switch_pio in the loop (even after a few packets being sent), the configuration of switches will be read only once and after that every next call to the switches will keep the same value. It's as if reading the switches causes them to freeze.

    I hope, if there is another version, it'll help.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    cheers,

    Adam
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    Thanks. It makes sense! Do you know if I can somehow increase the cache size alocated to the system?

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    Oh, and by the way. Do you know if I can find somewhere QuartusII and NiosII trial version, or something? Thanks again.

    cheers,

    Adam
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    I was referring to bypassing the cache whenever you access I/O. There's ample documentation and options on how to do this in the Nios II Software Developer's Guide.

    You can either use one of the IORD commands or OR bit 31 with whatever address you'd like to read.

    Cheers,

    - Brendan
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    Thank you very much. So from what I can understand I can bypass the cache for the switches just by changing their base address in the SOPC Builder, so that the most significant bit (32th) is set to one. Is that right?

    cheers,

    Adam