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diff --git a/Documentation/arm/ixp4xx.rst b/Documentation/arm/ixp4xx.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000..a57235616 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/arm/ixp4xx.rst @@ -0,0 +1,173 @@ +=========================================================== +Release Notes for Linux on Intel's IXP4xx Network Processor +=========================================================== + +Maintained by Deepak Saxena <dsaxena@plexity.net> +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +1. Overview + +Intel's IXP4xx network processor is a highly integrated SOC that +is targeted for network applications, though it has become popular +in industrial control and other areas due to low cost and power +consumption. The IXP4xx family currently consists of several processors +that support different network offload functions such as encryption, +routing, firewalling, etc. The IXP46x family is an updated version which +supports faster speeds, new memory and flash configurations, and more +integration such as an on-chip I2C controller. + +For more information on the various versions of the CPU, see: + + http://developer.intel.com/design/network/products/npfamily/ixp4xx.htm + +Intel also made the IXCP1100 CPU for sometime which is an IXP4xx +stripped of much of the network intelligence. + +2. Linux Support + +Linux currently supports the following features on the IXP4xx chips: + +- Dual serial ports +- PCI interface +- Flash access (MTD/JFFS) +- I2C through GPIO on IXP42x +- GPIO for input/output/interrupts + See arch/arm/mach-ixp4xx/include/mach/platform.h for access functions. +- Timers (watchdog, OS) + +The following components of the chips are not supported by Linux and +require the use of Intel's proprietary CSR software: + +- USB device interface +- Network interfaces (HSS, Utopia, NPEs, etc) +- Network offload functionality + +If you need to use any of the above, you need to download Intel's +software from: + + http://developer.intel.com/design/network/products/npfamily/ixp425.htm + +DO NOT POST QUESTIONS TO THE LINUX MAILING LISTS REGARDING THE PROPRIETARY +SOFTWARE. + +There are several websites that provide directions/pointers on using +Intel's software: + + - http://sourceforge.net/projects/ixp4xx-osdg/ + Open Source Developer's Guide for using uClinux and the Intel libraries + + - http://gatewaymaker.sourceforge.net/ + Simple one page summary of building a gateway using an IXP425 and Linux + + - http://ixp425.sourceforge.net/ + ATM device driver for IXP425 that relies on Intel's libraries + +3. Known Issues/Limitations + +3a. Limited inbound PCI window + +The IXP4xx family allows for up to 256MB of memory but the PCI interface +can only expose 64MB of that memory to the PCI bus. This means that if +you are running with > 64MB, all PCI buffers outside of the accessible +range will be bounced using the routines in arch/arm/common/dmabounce.c. + +3b. Limited outbound PCI window + +IXP4xx provides two methods of accessing PCI memory space: + +1) A direct mapped window from 0x48000000 to 0x4bffffff (64MB). + To access PCI via this space, we simply ioremap() the BAR + into the kernel and we can use the standard read[bwl]/write[bwl] + macros. This is the preffered method due to speed but it + limits the system to just 64MB of PCI memory. This can be + problamatic if using video cards and other memory-heavy devices. + +2) If > 64MB of memory space is required, the IXP4xx can be + configured to use indirect registers to access PCI This allows + for up to 128MB (0x48000000 to 0x4fffffff) of memory on the bus. + The disadvantage of this is that every PCI access requires + three local register accesses plus a spinlock, but in some + cases the performance hit is acceptable. In addition, you cannot + mmap() PCI devices in this case due to the indirect nature + of the PCI window. + +By default, the direct method is used for performance reasons. If +you need more PCI memory, enable the IXP4XX_INDIRECT_PCI config option. + +3c. GPIO as Interrupts + +Currently the code only handles level-sensitive GPIO interrupts + +4. Supported platforms + +ADI Engineering Coyote Gateway Reference Platform +http://www.adiengineering.com/productsCoyote.html + + The ADI Coyote platform is reference design for those building + small residential/office gateways. One NPE is connected to a 10/100 + interface, one to 4-port 10/100 switch, and the third to and ADSL + interface. In addition, it also supports to POTs interfaces connected + via SLICs. Note that those are not supported by Linux ATM. Finally, + the platform has two mini-PCI slots used for 802.11[bga] cards. + Finally, there is an IDE port hanging off the expansion bus. + +Gateworks Avila Network Platform +http://www.gateworks.com/support/overview.php + + The Avila platform is basically and IXDP425 with the 4 PCI slots + replaced with mini-PCI slots and a CF IDE interface hanging off + the expansion bus. + +Intel IXDP425 Development Platform +http://www.intel.com/design/network/products/npfamily/ixdpg425.htm + + This is Intel's standard reference platform for the IXDP425 and is + also known as the Richfield board. It contains 4 PCI slots, 16MB + of flash, two 10/100 ports and one ADSL port. + +Intel IXDP465 Development Platform +http://www.intel.com/design/network/products/npfamily/ixdp465.htm + + This is basically an IXDP425 with an IXP465 and 32M of flash instead + of just 16. + +Intel IXDPG425 Development Platform + + This is basically and ADI Coyote board with a NEC EHCI controller + added. One issue with this board is that the mini-PCI slots only + have the 3.3v line connected, so you can't use a PCI to mini-PCI + adapter with an E100 card. So to NFS root you need to use either + the CSR or a WiFi card and a ramdisk that BOOTPs and then does + a pivot_root to NFS. + +Motorola PrPMC1100 Processor Mezanine Card +http://www.fountainsys.com + + The PrPMC1100 is based on the IXCP1100 and is meant to plug into + and IXP2400/2800 system to act as the system controller. It simply + contains a CPU and 16MB of flash on the board and needs to be + plugged into a carrier board to function. Currently Linux only + supports the Motorola PrPMC carrier board for this platform. + +5. TODO LIST + +- Add support for Coyote IDE +- Add support for edge-based GPIO interrupts +- Add support for CF IDE on expansion bus + +6. Thanks + +The IXP4xx work has been funded by Intel Corp. and MontaVista Software, Inc. + +The following people have contributed patches/comments/etc: + +- Lennerty Buytenhek +- Lutz Jaenicke +- Justin Mayfield +- Robert E. Ranslam + +[I know I've forgotten others, please email me to be added] + +------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Last Update: 01/04/2005 |