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New to Ethernet

C

Chris Cheung

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi all,

I need to design a device that talks to PC using gigabit ethernet. It
is my first time to "touch" the ethernet stuff....Any suggestion in where
should I start? Any good online documents / books for a ethernet newbie
like me?

Thanks

Chris
 
I

Ian Stirling

Jan 1, 1970
0
Chris Cheung said:
Hi all,

I need to design a device that talks to PC using gigabit ethernet. It
is my first time to "touch" the ethernet stuff....Any suggestion in where
should I start? Any good online documents / books for a ethernet newbie
like me?

I'd go with looking at some chipsets for GE.
 
M

Mac

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi all,

I need to design a device that talks to PC using gigabit ethernet. It
is my first time to "touch" the ethernet stuff....Any suggestion in where
should I start? Any good online documents / books for a ethernet newbie
like me?

Thanks

Chris


I would start with IEEE specification 802.3 (IIRC). It covers all types of
ethernet up to gigabit ethernet. You should be able to find this on the
IEEE website. It is not a free download, but I think it would be
worthwhile for you to obtain.

Probably what you will want to do is get a combination MAC/PHY. This is
jargon for Media Access Controller/Physical Layer device. I believe that
for gigabit ethernet, the interface is called GMII.

The physical layer device is what actually connects to the wire. The MAC
is a digital logic type device, and communicates using some kind of
protocol, which you will have to learn about and use.

In theory, you could drive the PHY directly, but this will be very
challenging.

Broadcom might be a good place to look for parts.

Good luck!

Mac
 
A

Allan Herriman

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi all,

I need to design a device that talks to PC using gigabit ethernet. It
is my first time to "touch" the ethernet stuff....Any suggestion in where
should I start? Any good online documents / books for a ethernet newbie
like me?

There are probably several "Understand Ethernet" books, but they're
all second hand information and never complete. They're ok for an
introduction, but Real Engineers(tm) go straight to the standard:
http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/portfolio.html

You will need to know how to put e.g. IPv4 inside an Ethernet frame.
The IETF has the information you need:
RFC0948 (IPv4 over 802.3 and Ethernet II)
RFC2464 (IPv6 over Ethernet) (You probably won't need IPv6)
etc.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc0948.txt

You will need (well, not really *need* but it sure makes things
easier) a protocol stack. You can buy these, or write your own, or
use a free one, or use the one that comes with the operating system
your have on your embedded system.
This will take care of all the low level software details in the above
RFCs, etc.

You will needs some hardware! I recommend any of the regular Ethenet
PHY and MAC combinations. Follow the application notes carefully.
E.g. Intel (Level One)
http://www.intel.com/design/network/products/ethernet/index.htm


Hmmm, you specified that it must be Gigabit Ethernet. Do you have
throughput requirements?

Regards,
Allan.
 
T

Tim Hubberstey

Jan 1, 1970
0
Mac said:
I would start with IEEE specification 802.3 (IIRC). It covers all types of
ethernet up to gigabit ethernet. You should be able to find this on the
IEEE website. It is not a free download, but I think it would be
worthwhile for you to obtain.

Actually, 802.3 IS a free download (all the IEEE 802.x docs are),
although I believe you have to register. However, it may not be the best
place for a newbie to start as it comes in at something around 1500
pages. I do recommend getting it though, for reference.

There are some much simpler docs around that give the fundamental
concepts. Black Box has some intro tutorials on their site,
http://www.blackbox.com
 
M

Mac

Jan 1, 1970
0
[snip]
I would start with IEEE specification 802.3 (IIRC). It covers all types of
ethernet up to gigabit ethernet. You should be able to find this on the
IEEE website. It is not a free download, but I think it would be
worthwhile for you to obtain.

Actually, 802.3 IS a free download (all the IEEE 802.x docs are),
although I believe you have to register. However, it may not be the best
place for a newbie to start as it comes in at something around 1500
pages. I do recommend getting it though, for reference.

Thanks for letting me know. You used to have to order it. I guess IEEE has
become more enlightened. Now I can check out the various 802.11x documents
just for fun.

[snip]

Mac
 
M

Mac

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'd go with looking at some chipsets for GE.

For some reason, when the OP wrote "device," I was thinking of an FPGA or
something. If the "device" could be CPU-based, that would make things MUCH
easier. The OP can probably find an eval board for some kind of embeddable
computer that already boots an OS and has a working gigabit ethernet chip
on it. Then the OP could just copy the eval board reference design (it's
not cheating, they WANT you to copy it.)

But if the "device" has to be simpler, then the MAC/PHY is the way to go.
By the way, in this case, it will be pretty hard to get anything beyond a
rudimentary UDP capability. TCP is probably out of the question for an
FPGA. Which means no FTP, no HTTP, etc. All the more reason to use a CPU.

Mac
 
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