What is NET + ARM?
netarm.com
1.What is NET+ARM?
The NET+ARM is a complete embedded, integrated networking solution. It includes all of the hardware in the form of an ASIC containing an ARM 7TDMI processing core, an integral 10/100 Ethernet MAC, a 10 channel DMA controller, 2 serial ports, IEEE 1284 parallel port, a bus interface along with all the software you need to function in an Ethernet or Internet environment.
2.Can I use the NET+ARM to run my application as well as networking?
Yes. As some processing intensive applications may require a dual processor configuration, NET+ARM provides for an easy connection to your processor via a hardware bus.
3.How can NET+ARM work in my current design?
The NET+ARM is designed to function as a complete microprocessor/network solution, or as a powerful network solution to be integrated into an existing application. You have two options about how to integrate Ethernet/Internet functionality
4.How can I get started with NET+ARM?
In order to get started, we offer a variety of development tools for testing the hardware, prototyping the system, compiling and linking the software, and running the application. These tools include the NET+ARM Development Board, consisting of the NET+ARM-12-0 chip, Ethernet ports, serial ports, 1284 parallel ports, LED indicators and an ARM JTAG ICE port. For a complete embedded development project, we suggest that you purchase the NET+ARM Development Kit. This kit includes the NET+ARM Development Board, the ARM EmbeddedICE for debugging the chip through the JTAG port of the NET+ARM chip, Training, and Design Support. In addition, you would need the Integrated Systems, Inc. pRISM+ development environment. This complete package from ISI provides compilers, debuggers and other tools to ease the development process.
5.What Real Time Operating System (RTOS) does NET+ARM support?
NET+ARM is supplied with the pSOS RTOS. pSOS is the RTOS environment that Integrated Systems, Inc. (ISI) has been marketing and supporting for over 15 years. As a market leader in Embedded Real Time Operating Systems, they have been used in thousands of products and systems requiring broad functionality, reliability, and ease in development.
6.What if I use want to use another RTOS?
The NET+ARM runs with a standard ARM7TDMI microprocessor core. Any RTOS that supports this core processor will be configurable to function on this chip. However, usage of a different RTOS will make it difficult for NETsilicon to support all of the protocols that are normally standard with our solution.
7.What Networking Protocols come with the NET+ARM?
The NET+ARM comes complete with all of the networking protocols that you need to function on an Ethernet or on the Internet. This list of protocols includes:
UDP
TCP/IP
FTP
PPP
HTTP
POP3
SMTP
SNMP
ENI
8.Does NETsilicon manufacture the NET+ARM silicon?
No, Atmel is our foundry for the NET+ARM family of embedded network solutions. NETsilicon is working closely with Atmel to develop and manufacture the NET+ARM embedded network ASIC. We are combining our experience at developing our networking experience and software solutions with Atmel's experience and semiconductor technology. We chose to work with Atmel because of their vast experience in creating innovative, cutting edge semiconductor products and because of their close relationship with the Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) family of microprocessors.
9.Why did NETsilicon choose ARM as its microprocessor core?
The ARM microprocessor core is a high performance, low power solution that is widely gaining acceptance as the solution for embedded systems. This unique design provides the right balance of performance, power, processing memory footprint, and acceptance within the embedded systems community. The fact that the ARM chips are being manufactured by a number of the leading semiconductor anufacturers is a testament to its advanced technology and broad capabilities.
10.Why should I move from a PC board solution to a NET+ARM solution?
The NET+ARM solution will offer a much more cost effective means of implementing the specialized functions of a PC board solution. The NET+ARM can provide you with the processing power and networking capabilities for components such as printers, scanners, sensors, data acquisition modules, or other automated systems where inter-device communication is a primary requirement. The ability to configure the NET+ARM driven device as a web server will enable users to configure, monitor, communicate and download information from a standard PC. This can be done without the added costs of an expensive video display, and other processing components involved in a complete PC board solution.
11.What applications require the NET+ARM solution?
Currently NET+ARM is being used by companies designing printer servers, remote network access servers, and switches. We are also in discussions with companies in the following industries:
Industrial Automation Systems
Data Acquisition Equipment
Automated ID Systems
Medical Devices
Building Controls
Data Communications
Wireless
Security and Monitoring
Time and Attendance
Power Utilities
12.What is the future for NET+ARM?
NETsilicon is currently in development of a series of NET+ARM embedded networking solutions that run the gamut from low cost, functional microprocessor solutions to very high performance microprocessor solutions. We are also looking at numerous
topologies for the NET+ARM product family.
13.What about Windows CE?
Windows CE is a large, embedded operating system designed and developed for complex, multifunction systems that need user interfaces that are similar to a PC. The broad capabilities of the operating system make it far too large in terms of memory footprint to function in most embedded system environments.
14.What is on the NET+ARM Development Board?
The NET+ARM development board includes:
33 MHz NETsilicon NET+ARM-12-0
ARM JTAG ICE Port
LED Indicators
ASYNC Serial Ports
IEEE-1284 Parallel Ports
10BaseT or 100BaseT Ethernet Port
8Kx8 EEPROM
8M DRAM
1M, 2M, 4M Flash Options
15.What is in the NET+ARM Development Kit?
The NET+ARM development kit includes:
Development Board
Complete Documentation
ARM EmbeddedICE
Training at NETsilicon's Facilities
Design Support
Standard Support
16.What is the performance of the NET+ARM's microprocessor?
The NET+ARM-12-0 is a 33 MHz RISC microprocessor. This translates into a rate of 12 MIPS of RISC processing. In comparison with CISC architectures, the NET+ARM-12-0 has been rated at 15 Dhrystones (Dhrystone Version 2.1). The processing involved when managing the TCP/IP network stacks utilizes approximately 20% of the total processing capacity of the chip.
17.How much memory does NET+ARM need to support networking?
The NET+ARM footprint for ROM is 300K and the footprint for RAM is approximately 208K.
18.What is the power consumption of the NET+ARM?
The NET+ARM uses 477 mWatts. When comparing the total power consumption for a solution, make sure that you include the power consumption of the microprocessor, the Ethernet controller, and any other peripherals that are needed to complete your system. The NET+ARM provides this capability in a single package.
19.What programming languages are supported by NET+ARM?
The NET+ARM currently supports ANSI C.
20.How much does the NET+ARM cost?
The NET+ARM is highly competitive when compared to other embedded networking solutions. The NET+ARM includes a microprocessor, 10/100 MbaseT Ethernet, the pSOS RTOS, TCP/IP stacks, and all of the protocols needed for network management,
electronic mail, file transfer, and web server functionality. At quantities of 10,000 units, the NET+ARM solution sells for $32.50 per unit (both hardware and software license.) This compares very favorably with other solutions in which you would have to pay
different vendors for each of these components separately and end up with a total cost that is much higher.
21.Is there a minimum volume requirement for NET+ARM?
In order to provide complete support for design efforts in NET+ARM, we normally will limit sales of NET+ARM to annual volumes greater than 5,000. If you have a smaller volume current requirement, with expectations that the sales of your products utilizing
NET+ARM will grow, please contact our sales force for special arrangements. If you are interested in long term, low annual volume relationships, please contact us so that we can provide you with a reseller in your area who can support your particular needs
effectively.
22.How much does the NET+ARM Development Kit cost?
The NET+ARM development kit costs $20,000.
23.How do I get the ISI pRISM+ Software Development Environment?
It is available from ISI. Their web site is isi.com.
24.Who is NETsilicon (and why should I buy key components from them)?
NETsilicon is a multi-faceted company with a singular mission: We are committed to being the world's best provider of innovative networking products used to connect, aggregate and exchange information among individuals and businesses. NETsilicon has a broad range of networking products solutions and the experience and know-how to provide cost effective, leading edge solutions to today's information transmission needs.
The Embedded Networking Solutions division has been actively designing and shipping OEM solutions to large multinational organizations for 10 years. These solutions expand the networking capabilities of our OEM customers' products to meet their
ever-expanding needs. The same technology that has been used with our OEM customers is now being offered to the embedded system community. In addition, NETsilicon has developed a close relationship with Atmel to manufacture our NET+ARM family of embedded network ASIC semiconductors. Our selection of Atmel as the key technology partner of our system-on-silicon solution is indicative of their technology, experience and reliability in manufacturing a broad range of semiconductor solutions.
25.How do I find out more about the NET+ARM chip?
Please feel free to contact our sales staff directly by calling 888-NETARM4 or (781) 647-1234 and asking for a NET+ARM sales representative. We can also be reached via email at netarm@NETsilicon.com. In addition, a vast amount of information on our products and services may be found at netsilicon.
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