• State Resolved
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 4 replies
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 100 subscribers
  • Views 699 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Related

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

Sitara configuration to handle 1Gb standard Ethernet and one EtherCAT master.

MichaelG
Prodigy 50 points

I have targeted a Sitara processor as main CPU system running linux. The goal is to build a small EtherCAT Master.
The master Ethercat would use one network interface and if possible use redundancy: 2 network interfaces at 100 Mb links.
I also want to implement a TCP/IP stack for standard ethernet communication over one additional network interface at 1 Gb link.
With an evaluation board I'm able to use the only network interface for the EtherCAT master stack by using Ethernet-Over-USB.
I have a quotation from an EtherCAT master stack manufacturer specifying their stack cannot run in same time as a TCP/IP stack over the TI CPSW.
There are few unanswered however interesting posts on the forum and preparing an home-made board I'm looking for enlightenment on the restriction(s)/solution(s).

1. Can the Sitara CPSW be configured to handle such configuration: one 1Gb standard Ethernet and one master EtherCAT (with or without redundancy) running in same time without conflict?
2. Is there any CPSW restriction on such principle?
3. Is Dual MAC port mode the preferred mode on such configuration?
4. Any experienced user want to testify or simply add information or remarks?

  • 0
    TI__Guru**** 393215 points
    Hi,

    I will ask the Ethernet experts to comment.
  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 40080 points

    The vendor quote may have to do with the architecture of the CPSW in that Ethercat has very tight deterministic timing requirements and since dual mac mode uses the same DMA support there is not a way to distinguish the two channels and prioritize one over the other.

    I was under the impression that there are Ethercat vendors who have solutions for using the PRU ethernet interface which would then leave the cpsw interface for the tcp/ip traffic you mention.

  • 0 in reply to Schuyler Patton
    Prodigy 50 points
    Thank you Biser and Schuyler,

    From what I know there is no Ethercat master stack vendor using the PRU interface available right now. Maybe later, maybe TI...
    Reducing the ethernet interface to a 10/100 Mbps with an external controller should free the CPSW for the master, right ?

    Best regards,
  • 0 in reply to MichaelG
    TI__Mastermind 44306 points
    Latest IA-SDK 2.1.1.2 does contain PRU firmware for a pure Ethernet MAC function. This is usually sufficient to implement EtherCAT master via PRU-ICSS. However it is a matter of the EtherCAT stack vendor to adapt their driver for this. It is not complicated but needs to be done. We have used that approach in a recent demo at SPS 2015 where we demonstrated a Industry 4.0 gateway combining PROFINET slave and EtherCAT master.
    IA-SDK examples are so far Sys/Bios based...