Re: Synopsys Ethernet QoS Driver

[Joao Pinto]

On 21-11-2016 15:03, Giuseppe CAVALLARO wrote:
> On 11/21/2016 4:00 PM, Joao Pinto wrote:
>> On 21-11-2016 14:36, Giuseppe CAVALLARO wrote:
>>> Hello Joao
>>>
>>> On 11/21/2016 2:48 PM, Joao Pinto wrote:
>>>> Synopsys QoS IP is a separated hardware component, so it should be reusable by
>>>> all implementations using it and so have its own "core driver" and platform +
>>>> pci glue drivers. This is necessary for example in hardware validation, where
>>>> you prototype an IP and instantiate its drivers and test it.
>>>>
>>>> Was there a strong reason to integrate QoS features directly in stmmac and not
>>>> in synopsys/dwc_eth_qos.*?
>>>
>>> We decided to enhance the stmmac on supporting the QoS for several
>>> reasons; for example the common APIs that the driver already exposed and
>>> actually suitable for other SYNP chips. Then, PTP, EEE,
>>> S/RGMII, MMC could be shared among different chips with a minimal
>>> effort.  This meant a lot of code already ready.
>>>
>>> For sure, the net-core, Ethtool, mdio parts were reused. Same for the
>>> glue logic files.
>>> For the latter, this helped to easily bring-up new platforms also
>>> because the stmmac uses the HW cap register to auto-configure many
>>> parts of the MAC core, DMA and modules. This helped many users, AFAIK.
>>>
>>> For validation purpose, this is my experience, the stmmac helped
>>> a lot because people used the same code to validate different HW
>>> and it was easy to switch to a platform to another one in order to
>>> verify / check if the support was ok or if a regression was introduced.
>>> This is important for complex supports like PTP or EEE.
>>>
>>> Hoping this can help.
>>>
>>> Do not hesitate to contact me for further details
>>
>> Thanks for the highly detailed info.
>> My target application is to prototype the Ethernet QoS IP in a FPGA, with a PHY
>> attached and make hardware validation.
>>
>> In your opinion a refactored stmmac with the missing QoS features would be
>> suitable for it?
> 
> I think so; somebody also added code for FPGA.
> 
> In any case, step-by-step we can explore and understand
> how to proceed. I wonder if you could start looking at the internal
> of the stmmac. Then welcome doubts and open question...

Yes I am going to do that thanks... taking my first steps in this IP :)

> 
>>
>> Thanks.
> 
> welcome
> 
> peppe
> 
>>
>>>
>>> peppe
>>
>>
>