ch04.html 5.8 KB

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657
  1. <html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"><title>Chapter 4.  Firmware</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.76.1"><meta name="keywords" content="Intellon, Atheros, Qualcomm, HomePlug, powerline, communications, INT6000, INT6300, INT6400, AR7400, AR7420"><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="Qualcomm Atheros Open Powerline Toolkit"><link rel="up" href="index.html" title="Qualcomm Atheros Open Powerline Toolkit"><link rel="prev" href="ch03s15.html" title="Frame Encoding"><link rel="next" href="ch04s02.html" title="Firmware Components"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Chapter 4. 
  2. Firmware
  3. </th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="ch03s15.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center"> </th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch04s02.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="chapter" title="Chapter 4.  Firmware"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title"><a name="firmware"></a>Chapter 4. 
  4. Firmware
  5. </h2></div></div></div><div class="toc"><p><b>Table of Contents</b></p><dl><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04.html#firmware-intro">
  6. Introduction
  7. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s02.html">Firmware Components</a></span></dt><dd><dl><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s02.html#firmware-bootloader">
  8. Bootloader
  9. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s02.html#firmware-softloader">
  10. Softloader
  11. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s02.html#firmware-memory-configuration">
  12. Memory Configuration Parameters
  13. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s02.html#firmware-runtime">
  14. Runtime Firmware (MAC Software)
  15. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s02.html#firmware-configuration">
  16. Parameter Information Block (PIB)
  17. </a></span></dt></dl></dd><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s03.html">
  18. Architecture Overview
  19. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s04.html">
  20. Firmware Boot Process
  21. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s05.html">
  22. Boot from Host Configuration
  23. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s06.html">
  24. Things to Remember
  25. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s07.html">
  26. Every Little Bit Hurts
  27. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s08.html">
  28. Liar! Liar! Pants on Fire!
  29. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s09.html">
  30. But wait! There's more ...
  31. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s10.html">
  32. Upgrade Device (INT6000/INT6300/INT6400)
  33. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s11.html">
  34. Update Local Host (INT6000/INT6300/INT6400)
  35. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s12.html">
  36. Boot from Host (INT6000)
  37. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s13.html">
  38. Boot from Host (INT6300)
  39. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s14.html">
  40. Boot from Host (INT6400)
  41. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s15.html">
  42. Boot from Host (AR7400)
  43. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s16.html">
  44. Boot from Host (AR7420)
  45. </a></span></dt><dt><span class="section"><a href="ch04s17.html">
  46. Flash Memory (AR6410/AR7420)
  47. </a></span></dt></dl></div><div class="section" title="Introduction"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both"><a name="firmware-intro"></a>
  48. Introduction
  49. </h2></div></div></div><p>
  50. An Atheros chipset consists of an integral <acronym class="acronym">CPU</acronym>, <acronym class="acronym">ROM</acronym> and proprietary circuitry. The <acronym class="acronym">CPU</acronym> requires a minimum amount of external <acronym class="acronym">SDRAM</acronym> to execute runtime software and store runtime configuration parameters. The <span class="productname">INT6000</span>™ chipset also requires a minimum amount of external flash memory in order to start. The <span class="productname">INT6300</span>™ can use external flash memory in the same way as the <span class="productname">INT6000</span>™ or it can use a local host processor as surrogate flash memory.
  51. </p><p>
  52. On startup, the SDRAM memory controller must be configured before runtime firmware and parameters are loaded. On the <span class="productname">INT6000</span>™, runtime firmware and configuration parameters must be loaded from external flash memory. On the <span class="productname">INT6300</span>™, it may be loaded from external flash memory or from a external host processor. Runtime firmware determines device capability. Runtime configuration parameters determine device network identity and personality.
  53. </p><p>
  54. The following sections identify and describe firmware related components and discuss some of the routine actions required to manage them. Consult the Atheros <em class="citetitle">HomePlug AV Hardware Technical Reference Manual</em> and <em class="citetitle">HomePlug AV Firmware Technical Reference Manual</em> for more information.
  55. </p></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="ch03s15.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"> </td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="ch04s02.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">
  56. Frame Encoding
  57.  </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> Firmware Components</td></tr></table></div></body></html>