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Our product, with a design based on a single TMS570LC4357, will require dual Ethernet interfaces for redundancy. Although dual Ethernet channels are not initially needed, we would like to future-proof the hardware design (circuit card as well as physical connections) to support it. Our application doesn’t require redundant MACs just redundant connections where only one connection is active at a time.
We have a prototype design that utilizes a single DP83848 PHY interfaced to the MCU EMAC and wonder if it is possible to add a second PHY. We’ve found the DP83849I dual PHY. Looking at the snla086a app note, section 2.8 describes “Dedicated Redundant Connections”. This suggests that two ports connected to the PHY and a single connection to the EMAC from the PHY would allow the type of redundancy we desire – at least physically. Is this correct?
Another option: In reading the MCU technical reference manual I also find that the MDIO module can “interrogate and control up to 32 Ethernet PHYs connected to the device by using a shared two-wire bus” (32.1.3). The alternative, leveraging the DP83848, would be to include two of these single-channel PHYs in our design interconnected to the MCU via the EMAC MII/MDIO interface. Of course, if my assumptions are correct, the dual-PHY provides a more integrated approach.
Thanks in advance,
Bill
