Multiple Avalon OpenCores Ethernet MACs Possible?

[Altera_Forum]

Hi all, 

I was wondering if it is possible to use multiple (in my case 2) Avalon OpenCores Ethernet MAC controllers in uClinux? I currently have 1 configured and working, I'm just looking to add a second. If this is possible, how might I go about it?  Thanks, Jason Duell

[Altera_Forum]

The question came up before in the NIOS forum before the forum crashed. I would try sending a private message to "hippo" on the NIOS forum. With regards to the MAC itself, it doesn't matter how many you instantiate and you can use multiple MACs with the InterNiche stack. I have no idea what limitations might exist currently in the uClinux driver. 

 Jake

[Altera_Forum]

Hi again everyone, 

I have found a solution to my problem. It was essentially a brute force approach.  I'm going from memory, so I may accidentally leave out some details during my explanation...  I added a second OpenCores MAC Controller to my SOPC project. I named it 'eth_web'. I auto-assigned base addresses and IRQs, then generated my SOPC system. I modified my top level VHDL to include the changes to my SOPC system. Then I compiled in Quartus II.  I then copied my PTF to my uClinux development system. I first made a copy of open_eth.c and named the copy open_eth_2.c. In open_eth_2.c I renamed a few of the functions (the names escape me at the moment) from 'whatever()' to 'whatever_2()'. I also modified the MAC address assignments and the hard-coded 'na_igor_mac' values to 'na_eth_web'. Space.c will need to be modified to include the second OpenCores MAC instance as well as the new _2 function calls. I think for the _2 call in Space.c, I passed a parameter value of '1' instead of '0' like the rest of the calls did. I believe I also had to modify one of the Makefiles to include the open_eth_2.o file or something like that.  I did a 'make clean', 'make vendor_hwselect...', 'make romfs', and finally 'make'.  After copying my zImage file back to my Windows PC, I loaded my SOF and uploaded my zImage to my board.  All said and done, I had two OpenCore MAC controllers available in uClinux. Eth0 and Eth1. I did a simple 'ifconfig eth1 192.168.0.1 netmask 255.255.255.0' to associate the MAC controller with an IP and away I go.  This may not be the most efficient or best way to solve the problem, but it definitely worked and may be a starting point for further investigation in the future.  Hope this helps anyone that may be interested!  -Jason

[Altera_Forum]

papyenfurie... i apologize, but i cannot respond to your pm. apparently i must have at least 10 posts in order to send a pm to anyone but a site admin. if you pm me your email address, i will respond to that. thanks!