RiceNIC - Getting Started

The RiceNIC is composed of several key elements, some of which are provided by Rice University, and others that must be obtained separately.

Materials provided by Rice University:

• Firmware
  • Firmware is provided for one of the embedded PowerPC processors to enable basic NIC operation, including serial console debugging and profiling.
• FPGA bitstream
  • FPGA bitstreams are provided for both the Spartan and Virtex FPGAs to enable all necessary hardware functions, including the MAC, DMA, and memory controller units.
• (Optional) FPGA VHDL files (by special request)
  • These files are only required to modify the RiceNIC hardware
  • In order to modify the NIC hardware, VHDL source files for Rice-designed custom logic can be provided by special request. Note that this logic also requires licenses for standard Xilinx IP cores, as described below, in order to build a fully-functioning NIC. These Xilinx cores provide low-level primitives for MAC and DMA operation and are wrapped by custom RiceNIC logic

Materials that must be obtained separately:

• Avnet Virtex-II Pro Development Kit, P30 version
  • Available from Avnet Electronics Marketing, this development board features a 64-bit, 66 MHz PCI interface, a 10/100/1000 Ethernet PHY, two FPGAs, and multiple on-board memory resources. The specific development board used must have the Xilinx XC2VP30 FPGA and is Avnet model number ADSXLX-V2PRO-DEVP30-6. Academic discounts are usually available.
• Xilinx Parallel Cable IV (or USB programming cable)
  • Available from Xilinx, this cable is used to program the FPGAs and PROMs on the development card via JTAG, as well as for optional hardware debugging support via Chipscope.
• Infineon 256MB SODIMM
  • The hardware memory controller on the Virtex FPGA is currently configured for a particular SODIMM which should be used for reliable operation. The preferred memory is an Infineon SODIMM, part number HYS64D32020GDL-7-B, 32Mx64 SDRAM, PC 2100S-2033-0-A1, with labels 256MB, DDR, 266, CL2. This part is frequently available on eBay from used laptops for a minimal cost.
• Compact Flash Card Reader
  • To copy the Virtex hardware bitstream to the compact flash card, a compact flash reader is used.
• Xilinx Embedded Development Kit
  • This product may be available for free as part of the Xilinx University program
  • The Xilinx EDK is required to recompile the FPGA bitstream (if desired) and to update the hardware bitstream with the NIC loader firmware. This package can be purchased from Avnet with the development board or obtained from Xilinx. Version 8.1i was used for development, although the necessary utilities are likely unchanged in other versions.
• Xilinx ISE
  • This product may be available for free as part of the Xilinx University program
  • Xilinx ISE is required for the EDK to function. (The inexpensive EDK merely provides a wrapper GUI, some scripts, and new IP for the ISE compilation tools). Most importantly for the RiceNIC, ISE includes the Impact software that downloads the compiled bitstream to the FPGA. The free ISE WebPack, although not tested, should suffice for this purpose, and can be downloaded from the Xilinx website. Version 8.1i was used for development, although the necessary utilities are likely unchanged in other versions.
• (Optional) Xilinx Chipscope
  • This product may be available for free as part of the Xilinx University program
  • This software package is only used to debug the hardware during customization and is not necessary for normal operation of the RiceNIC.
• (Optional) Xilinx IP core licenses
  • These products may be available for free as part of the Xilinx University program
  • In order to customize the hardware design, Xilinx IP licenses are required. Rice University is unable to redistribute the source code obtained under our license, and can only provide compiled bitfiles using this IP. (Source VHDL code for our custom wrapper logic can be distributed, however).
  • Virtex FPGA - Xilinx Gigabit MAC core [PDF of specific core used]
  • Virtex FPGA - Xilinx DDR core (this license is included with the EDK)
  • Spartan FPGA - Xilinx 64-bit/66-MHz PCI core for Spartan IIE FPGA [PDF of specific core used]