100G UDP/IP Hardware Protocol Stack

Implements a UDP/IP hardware protocol stack that enables high-speed communication over a LAN or a point-to-point connection. Designed for standalone operation, the core is ideal for offloading the host processor from the demanding task of UDP/IP encapsulation and enables media streaming with speeds up to 100Gbps even in processor-less SoC designs.

Trouble-free network operation is ensured through run-time programmability of all the required network parameters (local, destination and gateway IP addresses; UDP ports; and MAC address). The core implements the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), which is critical for multiple access networks, and the Echo Request and Reply Messages (“ping”) of the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) widely used to test network connectivity. It can use a static IP address or automatically request and acquire an IP address from a Dynamic Host Configuration Server (DHCP) server. Furthermore, the core supports 801.1Q tagging and is suitable for operation in a Virtual LAN.

The core is easy to integrate into systems with or without a host processor. Packet data can be read/written to the core via dedicated streaming-capable interfaces, or optionally via registers mapped on an SoC bus. Up to 32 streaming interfaces are used for transmit data, and up to 32 for receive data. Each such pair of receive and transmit interfaces (a “channel”) is configured independently, with the source UDP port, destination IP address and UDP port, multicast receive address and transmit mode (unicast or multicast). The AMBA® AXI4-stream or the Avalon®-ST streaming protocols and the AMBA AHB and AXI, Avalon-MM, or Wishbone SoC bus protocols are supported.

The UDPIP-100G core receives and transmits UDP packet data, and forwards other traffic from the Ethernet MAC to the application and vice versa. It also receives and transmits ARP requests and responses, and responds to ICMP echo reply messages. The core generates and validates the UDP and IP checksums of outgoing and incoming packets, respectively. It can be programmed to discard or forward corrupted packets to the user application.

The core consists of the following modules:

The Ethernet Frame Decoder receives Ethernet frames from an external Ethernet MAC, detects the frame type and sends frames to the ARP or the IP packet decoder.

The Ethernet Frame Transmitter provides the external Ethernet MAC interface. The Transmitter also multiplexes ARP and IP transmit packets from the core subsystems.

The VLAN Receiver receives Ethernet frames from an ex-ternal Ethernet MAC, and when enabled detects and compares VLAN tag and filters frames to the correct VLAN tag. The VLAN Transmitter receives Ethernet frames from the Ethernet Frame Transmitter and adds the VLAN Tag to the frames when enabled.

The Protocol Decoder and Checker receives IP packets and handles them according to the packet type. The module decodes ICMP/IGMP/UDP/IP Packet types and saves the packets to the related receive packet buffer. The module also checks packets for errors.

The Received Packet Buffers implement separate data storage for each protocol and UDP channels. The buffers are implemented if the related protocol or UDP channel is enabled. The buffer sizes are configurable at synthesis time.

The Transmit Packet Buffer stores UDP application data as well as the ICMP and IGMP packet data. The size of the buffer is configurable at synthesis time.

The Transmit Packet Generator assembles ICMP, IGMP, UDP packets based on data received from the Transmit Packet Buffer.

The ARP Module sends and receives ARP packets and han-dles the packets according to command in the packet.

The DHCP Module automatically requests and acquires an IP address from a DCHP server.

Finally, the Control and Status Registers control the core's functionality and reports its status.