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netX Datasheet
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Introduction

The netX is a highly integrated network controller with a new system architecture optimized on communication and maximum data transfer.

Overview of netX 500 and interfaces

Each communication channel consists of three freely configurable ALUs, which, with their command set and their infrastructure can carry out the most varied field bus and Real-Time Ethernet systems. Together with the integrated 32Bit / 200 MHz ARM CPU, netX is:

The universal communication platform
The migration strategy from field bus to Real-Time Ethernet
The single-processor solution with integrated communication controllers
The open technology for own applications

The netX is part of a system solution which also includes software, tools and design services. The customer determines the delivery and scope of performance depending on the strategy, know-how or resources.

Various network controllers

The netX is supplied for various classes of performance and with various peripheral functions, designed on the individual fields of application.

netX 5	Communication interface with two channels for external CPU
netX 50	Communication interface with two channels IO link Gateway and IOs Protocol stack and smaller applications
netX 100	Communication interface with three channels Complex IOs / motion controller / Ident systems / controls Several protocol stacks and/or comprehensive applications
netX 500	Communication interface with four channels Terminals Several protocol stacks and/or comprehensive applications

Application features of the individual netX controllers

	netX 5	netX 50	netX 100	netX 500
CPU		ARM 966E / 200 MHz	ARM 926EJ-S / 200MHz MMU / Cache	ARM 926EJ-S / 200 MHz MMU / Cache
SRAM / ROM	64K	112K / 64K	152K / 32K	152K / 32K
Dual-Port Memory	X	X	X	X
communication channels	2	2	3	4
Real-Time-Ethernet	Switch / Hub IEEE 1588	Switch / Hub IEEE 1588	Switch / Hub IEEE 1588	Switch / Hub IEEE 1588
fieldbus	x	x	x	x
USB		x	x	x
UARTs		3+2	3+3	3+4
SPI	x	x	x	x
I2C		x	x	x
Real-Time-Clock				x
LCD-Controller				x
IO-Link Controller		x
AD-converter			x	x
PWM			x	x
Encoder			x	x
EAs	16	40+54	47+53	47+53

performance of the netX Controller

Only few external components

The netX as an optimized network controller requires only a quartz, external memory and the physical network interface. In the case of Ethernet, the PHYs (analogue Ethernet drivers) are integrated, so that there are only small costs for a few passive components.
Complete design documentation are available in the netX download area.

Block circuit diagram communication interface for Real-Time Ethernet

Software architecture

The netX is basically conceived as an open solution. There are various, fixedly defined interfaces on to which own applications can be placed or the netX can be used as a communication module with fixedly defined Dual-Port Memory and a loadable Firmware.

Configurator	Master protocols must be made available for the whole of the network configuration. This can be carried out via the SYCON.net network configurator based on the standardized FDT/DTM technology. Alternatively, interfaces to other tools are defined.
driver	Dual-Port memory drivers for various operating systems are available for the netX with loadable standard Firmware. Own drivers can be created based on a Toolkit.
Operating system	All protocols run on the Hilscher own rcX Real-Time-Kernel. This is provided license-free. Board Support Packages for various other operating systems are available.
Protocol stack	Protocol stacks are supplied as loadable standard Firmware, linkable object modules or in source code for the rcX Real-Time Kernel. The source code needs to be ported for use in other operating systems.
Hardware Abstraction Layer	Data exchange with the communication ALUs is carried out through an abstraction layer. This is provided with C source code and defines a mutual interface for all netX controllers.
Micro Code	The configuration of the communication channels on the individual networks is achieved by a micro code that is made available as a binary file. This is transferred to the communication ALUs from the protocol stack in the initialisation phase. The micro code cannot be changed or created by the customer.

Principal netX software structure

Protokoll		Status	Anmerkung
AS-Interface	Master	In development	ß-Release in 04/2009
CANopen	Slave	Release	certified
	Master	Release
CC-Link	Slave V1.1	Release
DeviceNet	Slave	Release
	Master	Release
EtherCAT	Slave	Release	certified
	Master	Release
Ethernet/IP	Adapter	Release
	Scanner	Release
IO-Link	Master	ß-Release
IDA	Server	Release
Powerlink	Controlled Node	Release
PROIFIBUS	Slave	Release	certified
	Master	Release	certified
	MPI	Release
PROFINET	Device	Release	certified
	Controller	Release
SERCOS	Slave	Release
	Master	ß-Release	ß-Release in 05/2009

Overview of the deliverable protocol stacks

Tools and Evaluation Boards

As also with many other controllers, the ARM 926 and ARM 966 CPUs are used in the netX. Thus, all the ARM development tools on the market can be used over the standardised JTAG and ETM (Embedded Trace Macrocel)Interface.
The Hitex Company offers the HiTOP development environment with integrated GNU compiler and the helpful Tantino JTAG debugger. The access to the rcX objects was implemented in close cooperation with HiTOP
A quick and economical entry into the netX technology is achieved with the netSTICK and the NXHX starter and software development board. Both contain a USB debug interface and are provided with the HiTOP development environment. This permits evaluation of the protocol interfaces and the rcX Real-Time kernel as well as development of own application software which can be tested on these boards.
Further development and evaluation boards for special applications are available.

Quick and economical entry into the netX technology with the netSTICK and the NXHX starter and software development board.

Design Services

Hilscher offers the whole Design Flow from the concept phase to the tested and certified board as a service. We can offer the whole production with our modern SMD line and the mostly standardised production and test procedures at interesting conditions.
Further services such as customer-specific variants of the netX or configuration and diagnostic DTMs designed according to your wishes are offered via our companies Hilscher SoC Technology / Berlin or Hilscher Development and Testcenter / Varna.

Development, test and production up to customer-specific ASIC variants from one source.