Using ethernet with Microblaze

Hi,
I want to use Ethernet to connect my Microblaze based design to my PC. Is it possible without using Zynq processor. How can this be accomplished?

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I will highly appreciate if someone can point out any tutorial for this.
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0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Hello Habib,

If you are asking if you can use one of the Zynq PS (Processor System) Ethernet MACs with a MicroBlaze implemented in the Zynq PL (Programmable Logic) without using the Zynq processor the answer is no. There is no direct access to the Zynq PS peripherals from the PL.

You could implement a MicroBlaze in the PL along with a 'soft' PL based Ethernet MAC but you would have to provide an Ethernet PHY external to the Zynq. You would also be limited to the BRAM memory available in the PL as you would not be able to access the Zynq DDR without a Zynq PS design running.

You can look at this forum thread for links to some MicroBlaze tutorials but keep in mind that XAPP1093 is now pretty dated and uses the older Xilinx ISE tool suite:

http://zedboard.org/content/using-different-board-tutorial

-Gary
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0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Hi,
Thank you very much for your reply. By Ethernet PHY you mean that I have to use PMOD interface and put some external Ethernet port to it?
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0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Hi,

You will need an external Ethernet PHY device and a physical (RJ45) connector as you will not be able to access the one built into the ZedBoard from the PL based MicroBlaze. I don't know of any PMOD based PHY and connector. There are several FMC boards with Ethernet PHYs and connectors:

http://ethernetfmc.com/
http://products.avnet.com/shop/en/ema/development-kits/3074457345623533991

-Gary
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0 Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi,
Thank you again for your quick response. I am bothering you because I am new to Zedboard. I have searched on the net and found PmodNIC100 which can be plugged to PMOD interfaces. Can this device help me.
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0 Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hello,

Sure, that would be another way to provide an Ethernet interface to a MicroBlaze. I the case of this PMOD the Ethernet MAC function is on the PMOD as well and the interface to your MicroBlaze is SPI. This has the advantage of being very simple but it will also be very limited in bandwidth. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

-Gary
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0 Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi,
Thanks for your quick response. On Zedboard website under the following heading "Onboard Ethernet to FPGA" I have come to know that peripherals connected to MIO (like SD Card, Ethernet) can be connected to PL side by using EMIO. Can't the same methodology be used to connect ethernet to microblaze without using ZyNQ PS.
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0 Former Member over 9 years ago

No.

If you take a look at the block diagrams in the Zynq Technical Reference Manual ( http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/user_guides/ug585-Zynq-7000-TRM.pdf ) you will see that the MIO connections you can access via the EMIO are the 'device' side of the connection, not the 'user interface' side. That is you could connect the GMII/RGMII connection from one of the PS Ethernet MACs via EMIO but there is no way to access the registers that control the Ethernet MAC or those that transfer the data. Same with the SD Card. You could make a connection to an external SD Card but would not be able to control the SD Card controller or transfer data via the EMIO connection.

-Gary
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0 Former Member over 9 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi Habib,

I am also trying to do the same. Did PMODNIC100 work? or Did you try some other method? I am trying to implement LwIP TCP stack on microblaze and use PMODNIC100 to access Ethernet from the PL. Does that work? Please give your experience.

Thanks
Goutham
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