Flash memory PCI Add in card

Flash memory PCI Add in card

[Shankari]

Hello,
 
I am looking for some guidance :  
 
I wanted to know if there are any boards that
interfaces flash through PCI? I found this 
http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/applnots/27312101.PDF
 
on the intel site, but this is not available in
market.
 
My end objective is to simulate a flash file system.
For this, I want to know if there are easy ways to
interface the flash (via the PCI)
 
I did find PCI I/O controller cards (600 $) that may
have memory storage capabilities. These are typically
600 $ + and are controller cards rather thn dedicated
memory cards.
 
Also, are there any open source PCI drivers that I
might look into for a better idea.
 
 
Thanks in advance for your time,
Shankari


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Re: Flash memory PCI Add in card

[David Woodhouse]

On Fri, 2005-07-22 at 10:15 -0700, Shankari wrote:
> I wanted to know if there are any boards that
> interfaces flash through PCI? 

It's not a particularly difficult thing to make. You just need to stick
a bunch of NOR flash in a BAR. 

M-Systems have a PCI eval board which is based on a simple PCI device
ASIC, but I don't think it supports NOR flash -- it's designed for their
DiskOnChip devices.

Some of the ARM eval boards can plug into a PCI slot too and have their
flash accessed directly from the host.

> Also, are there any open source PCI drivers that I
> might look into for a better idea.

linux/drivers/mtd/maps/pci.c

-- 
dwmw2

Re: Flash memory PCI Add in card

[Charles Manning]

On Saturday 23 July 2005 05:15, Shankari wrote:

>
> My end objective is to simulate a flash file system.
> For this, I want to know if there are easy ways to
> interface the flash (via the PCI)

Sometimes I really miss the old days of ISA cards :-(.

Building an adequate environment for simulation/development is something I 
have struggled with too for the development of YAFFS.

Why not just use nandsim. Just create a 128MB or whatever lump of "NAND" in 
RAM. Adding an extra SIM of RAM to your system will be a lot cheaper and 
easier.

Someone on mtd list also built a simple board that attaches NAND to the IDE 
disk interface. Seems a lot simpler than messing about with PCI.

Another alternative is to use a parallel card interface. This will be a bit 
slower though.

If you really want to do a PCI card, then you might find something like a 
Xilinx or similar PCI evaluation board makes the job simpler.

-- Charles