Ethernet Controller index page

An embedded multi-purpose Ethernet controller for remote data transfer

Warning : This design and the code source included is free for NON-COMMERCIAL USES, read here for GNU license details. Also basic knowledge about electronic is required to understand this document.

Nowadays, data transfer from measuring devices and a computer is essential. Many systems could be used for that purpose, but very few complies with high rate transfer data, compliant to many platforms and distances more than 5 meters.

Type	Data rate Mbit/sec	Max distance (m) (1)	Platform	Number of devices attached to host computer
Parallel port EPP/ECP	0.5-1	10	PC	2
SCSI	200	5	PC/Workstations	daisy chain
USB	10 to 200	5	PC	chain, 6 hubs
Ethernet	10/100/1000	500	PC/Workstations	Infinite through hubs
Serial	0.115	30	PC/Workstations	4
Firewire	200	5	PC	2

Notes:
(1) : Theoretical values

It appears clearly that the Ethernet transfer is the best choice for transferring data remotely (more than 10 meters), is supported by many Operating systems and platforms. Moreover, this system can be used in large offices networks, many devices can be attached to hubs. In that context, we have developed an embedded Ethernet device to transfer at high rates and remotely data from a measuring device (temperature measurement, light measurement, weather station, CCD cameras, Telescope drives, dome drives) to an host computer (PC, workstation).

For that purpose, we choose an Ethernet controller from Cirrus Logic (CS8900) and SX52 Scenix 8 bits microcontroller. This design was inspired by another one, that can be found here.
Each measuring device includes an embedded Ethernet controller, which uses the TCP/UDP/ARP protocol to transfer data. It means that those devices has its own IP address.

Going into the design