Consider this...

Altera_Forum · ‎06-10-2004

Suppose I wanted to connect an ATA hard-drive to my Nios-DevKit (1S10/1S40/1C20).

The Santa Cruz connector electrically supports ATA, meaning that the VCC, GND connections match. I doubt this is a coincidence.

My question is this:

Has anyone connected a hard-disk to the Nios processor.

I have a need to store a large amount of data. This data will be passed to a host system via ethernet (perhaps via a web-server).

Here's the catch: I would like the ability to remove the drive and connect it to a standard PC, running Windows.

Figuring that it may be difficult to replicate the Windows FAT32 File System, I figure the "simplist" solution would be to run either uC/OS-II or Linux for Nios - assuming these OS'es support a FAT32 or equivalent File System. Better yet, can Win XP/2000 read a Linux O/S (through inodes, etc)?

Lastly, I see that opencores.org has an ATA interface to wishbone. Knowing that the wishbone & avalon busses are similar, it is feasible to use this core... However, I see that the core is in rev 0.2 and considered to be preliminary.

Has anyone used this ATA core, or written an avalon ATA component?

Thanks,

-Terry

Altera_Forum · ‎06-10-2004

The Nios 1 Linux Development Kit supported the CompactFlash slot and IDE header on the OS Support board using a modified version of the ATA controller from Opencores.org. DMA support was removed and the Wishbone interface was modified to Avalon.

Later on we tried putting DMA support back in and connecting a DMA controller. We had a little demo that served a couple web pages from the hard drive using DMA transfers. This was using a Nios 1 on Altera's Apex board. (This demo used the sample web server, not Linux)

Dennis

Microtronix Datacom

Altera_Forum · ‎06-10-2004

You can use CF interface.

CF interface can used for IDE , excpet DMA/UMDA mode.

Altera_Forum · ‎06-10-2004

Regarding "can Win XP/2000 read a Linux O/S (through inodes, etc)?"

There is a couple of device drivers/programs than can allowing window to read an ext2 linux partion

Take a look (under chapter 3) at http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html (http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html)

Regards Jacob

Altera_Forum · ‎06-10-2004

Are you still looking for more information?

Altera_Forum · ‎06-10-2004

--- Quote Start ---

originally posted by dennis@Jun 10 2004, 10:41 AM

re: we had a little demo that served a couple web pages from the hard drive using dma transfers. this was using a nios 1 on altera's apex board. (this demo used the sample web server, not linux)

--- Quote End ---

good to see that part of it has been done. Have you considered posting the demo, or the ATA interface?

Also, did you use your own filesystem? (WOSFS)?

Altera_Forum · ‎06-10-2004

--- Quote Start ---

originally posted by jacob@Jun 10 2004, 10:52 AM

there is a couple of device drivers/programs than can allowing window to read an ext2 linux partion

take a look (under chapter 3) at http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html (http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/info/ntfs.html)

--- Quote End ---

Jacob, thanks for the link. It may prove useful.

Does anyone know whether the same drivers would can be used with UC/OS-II? or do I need to use Linux?

Altera_Forum · ‎07-13-2004

I don't think this got answered. Hopefully it will if the topic gets active again.