What PCI specs will I need?

What PCI specs will I need?

[Conn Clark]

Hello all,

	Our company is being forced to buy modules in mini-PCI because nobody
will sell us the discrete componets we desire. So we are going to have
to build an embedded computer to use them. I know we will need the basic
specification, but I was wondering if we need to get the BIOS
specification as well or does Linux handle it?

Many thanks in advance,

	Conn
--

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Conn Clark
Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com


** Sent via the linuxppc-embedded mail list. See http://lists.linuxppc.org/

Re: What PCI specs will I need?

[Conn Clark]

Ralph,

	We are looking at three posible canidates for the CPU. They are the
IBM-405GP the Motorola MPC8250 and the Motorola MGT-5200 (if motorola
decides to make it ). I haven't ever needed to design a PCI computer
before so I don't know what the BIOS's duties are. I know I need to know
capacitnces, impeadances, etc..... so the standard spec is a must to get
I also know I need the mini-PCI spec. I just need to know if I need to
get the BIOS spec as well or does linux or PPCboot take care of all of that.


Ralph Blach wrote:
> Conn,
>
> Have you looked at the IBM 405GP with an embedded pci controller?
> It can either be a host or client on a PCI bus.
>
> Chip
>
>
>
> Conn Clark wrote:
>
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>>     Our company is being forced to buy modules in mini-PCI because nobody
>> will sell us the discrete componets we desire. So we are going to have
>> to build an embedded computer to use them. I know we will need the basic
>> specification, but I was wondering if we need to get the BIOS
>> specification as well or does Linux handle it?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance,

<snip>

>>
>>
>>
>>

Conn

--

*****************************************************************
   If you live at home long enough, your parents will move out.
  (Warning they may try to sell their house out from under you.)
*****************************************************************

Conn Clark
Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com


** Sent via the linuxppc-embedded mail list. See http://lists.linuxppc.org/

Re: What PCI specs will I need?

[Conn Clark]

Hello Emanuel,



emanuel stiebler wrote:
> Conn Clark wrote:
>
>>
>> Hello all,
>
>
> Please explain a little further what you're trying to do ...
>

We are building an 802.11 access point. We need to design a system with
at least two mini-PCI type III slots. Our company specializes in
industrial communications which for reliability sake requires a higher
transmit power to swamp out any noise, microwave ovens, or idiots using
bluetooth, it also gives us added range too. Most 802.11 systems put out
about 100mWatts maximum  (if you get a good one). Our current generation
of products puts out 1W (the maximum allowed by law in the US and
Canada). In our next generation product we are looking to do both
802.11a and 802.11b/g simultaniously, hence the need for two slots.


>> Our company is being forced to buy modules in mini-PCI because nobody
>> will sell us the discrete componets we desire.
>
>
> What are the part you can't buy ?
>

Unfortunatly, we don't do high enough volume for the makers of the
802.11a and 802.11g part manufacturers (ALL of THEM) for them to sell us
the chips directly and they are not going through distributers with the
desired parts. They won't even give us data sheets (Damn lawyers!). The
only way for us to obtain the parts is on modules made buy someone else
on mini-PCI cards. (If you want to see one just go buy a regular
802.11a/b/b+/g PCI card and take the sheild off)



> What is mini-PCI ? Compact-PCI or CPCI, or CardBUS, or ?

Mini-PCI is a PCI spec for lap tops. Unlike cardbus it is very much like
PCI as far as signals and such. Basicaly its just has a smaller
connector and overall dimmensions and can't supply as much power or
provide 12V.

>
>> So we are going to have
>> to build an embedded computer to use them. I know we will need the basic
>> specification, but I was wondering if we need to get the BIOS
>> specification as well or does Linux handle it?
>
>
> There is no BIOS on PowerPCs, you can have a boot program
> like u-boot, which is doing a part of this job before linux gets booted

U-Boot is the BIOS but I'm not to clear on the responsibilities of what
its supposed to do. Thats what I need to know. Does the PPC Linux Kernel
take care of this or does U-boot have to. (Note: If U-Boot has to I may
have to write it)

>
>> Many thanks in advance,
>>
>>     Conn
>
>
> cheers,
> emanuel
>
>
>> --

<snip>

>>
>

Many thanks.


Conn
--

*****************************************************************
   If you live at home long enough, your parents will move out.
  (Warning they may try to sell their house out from under you.)
*****************************************************************

Conn Clark
Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com


** Sent via the linuxppc-embedded mail list. See http://lists.linuxppc.org/

Re: What PCI specs will I need?

[Conn Clark]

Ralph Blach wrote:
> Conn,
>
> The first thing to ask is what you want your bios to do? If you are
> making an adapter card,
> it will be much different than if you are. Linux for mot and IBM  have a
> pretty complete pci scan.
>
We will be building a small system that was two (mabey three) mini-PCI
slots.


> IBM supplies an open bios that also scans the PCI and does some setup.
>
> 1)will you have fixed devices on your device.  This makes pci setup much
> simpler.
> 2)pci is not that hard if you have a fixed number of devices.  A
> generalized pci scan
>   is very difficult.
>

Our system will only contain devices we choose to stick in it, so mabey
a complete scan isn't needed.


> Heres a books you can get from amazon.com
>
> PCI System Architecture (4th Edition) -- by Tom Shanley, et al; Paperback
> PCI & PCI-X Hardware and Software (Architecture and Design) -- by Ed
> Solari; Hardcover

Do either of these books contain all of the electrical characteristic
details ( such as impeadance, capacitiance, bus loading, etc) ?

> By the I work for IBM and have extensive experience with the 405. I have
> not worked with
> the Mot parts but to fair, I have very good things about it.
>

The IBM 405GP is not out of the running yet. If they had one with PCI,
an SPI, an I2c, two serial ports, and two 10/100Mbps ethernet ports it
would have won hands down for our aplication.


> You can get hardware questions answered about the 405 by contacting
> ppcsupp@us.ibm.com
>

Thats handy.




> MontaVista does the linux for both.
>
> Chip
>
>
>
> Conn Clark wrote:

<snip>

>> Conn
>>
>
>
>
>

Thanks for the input

	Conn

--

*****************************************************************
   If you live at home long enough, your parents will move out.
  (Warning they may try to sell their house out from under you.)
*****************************************************************

Conn Clark
Engineering Stooge				clark@esteem.com
Electronic Systems Technology Inc.		www.esteem.com


** Sent via the linuxppc-embedded mail list. See http://lists.linuxppc.org/