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NDK, Ethernet Drivers and TI eval kits - where to go?

BillP
Intellectual 585 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TLK110, AM3359

I am still confused after trying to understand responses from my previous posts on the Sitara forum so let me restate my problem in this forum.

I would like to explore some options in a realtime OS that includes a TCP stack.  I tried the LM3S9B96 eval kit with SafeRTOS and lwIP,  but I ran into interrupt conflicts and unreliable operation. [I did learn a lot about StellarisWare and lwIP though].  Next, I bought the TMDXICE3359 eval kit because it was a newer design and had 2 Ethernet ports and supported a number of Ethernet protocols (which I did not care about).  I intended to use the AM335x software with StarterWare and SYS/BIOS as my starting point and add the NDK stack.

Upon further review, I discovered that the ICE kit, the evm kit and the BeagleBone all use the AM335x chip but implement Etherent differently.  Apparently the ICE connects a TLK110 chip to a PRUSS subsystem, whereas the other boards use the CPSW subsystem on the AM335x chip.  Needless to say, the drivers in StarterWare do not reflect the PRUSS configuration.  Upon further review of the NDK software and the support package (NSP), I find that the Ethernet drivers are not compatible with the AM335x or its CPSW or PRUSS subsystem.  In fact, the NSP is only for the evmOMAPL138 ARM and evm6748 C674X DSP. 

So, if I want to use the NDK and SYS/BIOS, are my only eval kit options the  evmOMAPL138 ARM and evm6748 C674X DSP?  Aren't these kits a little old?  The LM3S9B96 is already in the NRND category.  How do I stay up with the newer TI offerings if the embedded software lags behind?

Can anyone recommend a path through this maze?  Thanks in advance.

 

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 45025 points

    BillP said:
    So, if I want to use the NDK and SYS/BIOS, are my only eval kit options the  evmOMAPL138 ARM and evm6748 C674X DSP?  Aren't these kits a little old?  The LM3S9B96 is already in the NRND category.  How do I stay up with the newer TI offerings if the embedded software lags behind?

    For the LM3S9B96, you can use the TI-RTOS, which has driver support for the LM3S9D96 for SYS/BIOS and NDK (The LM3S9D96 is the same as the LM3S9B96, but with more flash memory).

    You should use TI-RTOS version 1.01.00.25 for the latest LM3S9D96 support.

    (Note that the latest available version of TI-RTOS no longer supports the LM3S9D96)

    Steve

  • 0 in reply to Steven Connell
    Intellectual 585 points

    Hi Steve,

    So, help me understand what you are telling me.

    If I want to use TI-RTOS and NDK, I can use my old LM3S9B96 eval kit to do some TCP evaluations.  However, the latest version of TI-RTOS no longer supports my eval kit.

    If I want to use one of the newer chips (i.e. the AM3359) with the dual Ethernet capability on the CPSW, neither TI-RTOS or the NDK software are configured for these devices.  If that is true, what do I use for prototyping something that is not labeled NRND?

    Bill

  • 0 in reply to BillP
    TI__Mastermind 45025 points

    Hi Bill,

    BillP said:
    If I want to use TI-RTOS and NDK, I can use my old LM3S9B96 eval kit to do some TCP evaluations.  However, the latest version of TI-RTOS no longer supports my eval kit.

    Yes, that is correct.  I linked the download page in my response above (the '1.01.00.25'), but it looks like the forum automatically creates key word links, so it appears hidden.

    BillP said:
    If I want to use one of the newer chips (i.e. the AM3359) with the dual Ethernet capability on the CPSW, neither TI-RTOS or the NDK software are configured for these devices.  If that is true, what do I use for prototyping something that is not labeled NRND?

    There is an SDK for the AM335x that supports SYS/BIOS + NDK + driver for that hardware.  It's due out this summer, called the "AM335x Starter Kit", although I don't have an exact date.

    The following thread has a discussion on it: http://e2e.ti.com/support/embedded/bios/f/355/t/268538.aspx

    Steve

  • 0 in reply to Steven Connell
    Intellectual 585 points

    Steve,

    Thanks for the info.  I think I can move forward using the old system for now and wait for the AM335x Starter Kit to be released.

    One small remaining question:  The AM335x ICE uses the PRUSS and the CPSW but the other AM335x kit and BeagleBone only use the CPSW (as I understand it). Is this correct?  If so, will the starter kit work on the ICE kit? or will I need to buy a different kit?

    I think you can mark this thread as answered.

    Bill

  • 0 in reply to BillP
    TI__Mastermind 45025 points

    Bill,

    I don't know the answer to that.  Since you original question for this thread is answered, I would recommend posting a new forum question for that.

    Steve