Ethernet

and FPGAs

what is Ethernet ?
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area
networks (LANs). Ethernet was commercially introduced in 1980 and
standardized in 1983 as IEEE 802.3. Ethernet has largely replaced competing
wired LAN technologies such as token ring, FDDI, and ARCNET.


Ethernet has since become the most popular and most
widely deployed network technology in the world.
Many of the issues involved with Ethernet are common
to many network technologies

The original Ethernet described communication over a single cable shared
by all devices on the network. Once a device attached to this cable, it had
the ability to communicate with any other attached device. This allows the
network to expand to accommodate new devices without requiring any
modification to those devices already on the network.
An 8P8C modular connector (often called RJ45) commonly used on Cat 5
cables in Ethernet networks
Ethernet and FPGAs
Although Ethernet is known as a networking and system-to-system
protocol, it has been adapted to other applications, including the
backplane.
is a group of electrical connectors in parallel with each other, so that each pin of
each connector is linked to the same relative pin of all the other connectors
forming a computer bus.
Backplanes are normally used in preference to cables because of their greater
reliability.
Ethernet is a popular protocol choice in FPGAs because of
its
flexibility
Reliability
performance.

Why use the Xilinx solutions for Ethernet?
Whether you are designing low cost Ethernet applications with Spartan-6
FPGAs or multi-port gigabit Ethernet applications with 7 Series FPGAs,
Xilinx has an Ethernet solution for you.
Implemented in 40-nm technology, the Virtex-6 FPGA incorporates four tri-
mode Ethernet MAC hard blocks that support a wide variety of PHY
interfaces from MII using SelectIO technology, to SGMII using the GTP
transceivers.

Tri-Mode Ethernet Media Access Controller
(TEMAC)

The Xilinx Tri-Mode Ethernet MAC core is a parameterizable core ideally
suited for use in networking equipment such as switches and routers. The
customizable TEMAC core enables system designers to implement a broad
range of integrated Ethernet designs, from low cost 10/100 Ethernet to
higher performance 1 Gigabit ports.
Benefits of hard tri-mode MACs
Reduce design and verification effort
Free approximately 1,800 logic cells per Ethernet MAC
in the FPGA fabric
Simplify system design with pre-verified UNH
compliant embedded blocks
Xilinx helps you implement your Ethernet
Applications
Virtex family
Reduce Power with Multiple Embedded Blocks for TEMAC Function

Spartan-3 generation
Lower Cost for a Wide Range of Applications
Reduce Risk with Proven Compliance & Protocol Characterization
Finish Faster with Easy-to-Use Development Kits



Example of application

design the FPGA part of an FPGA-to-PC link over Ethernet. The purpose of
the link is typically transporting a large amount of data to the PC. The
application varies from continuous data acquisition to frame grabbing or
transport of a raw video image stream. What these applications have in
common, is that the client expects a reliable, easy-to-implement data
channel. Just send the packets to the broadcast MAC address, and youre
done.