Construction Of A Development Platform Based On IXP425 Network Processor

With the development of computer network, traditional general CPU and ASIC can not meet new development needs due to their disadvantages. Under this circumstances, Network Processor (NP) was proposed. Intel IXP425, with advantages of flexibility and high-performance, is a highly integrated, versatile single-chip network processor, that is facing SMEs, SOHOs and families.This paper proposed and constructed an embedded development platform based on IXP425. The degisn includes schematic design, PCB layout and low-level software transplantation.The hardware is designed with SPB 15.2 board-level EDA software, which has a series tools such as Capture CIS, Allegro of Cadence Corp. Besides realizing basic functions, we ensure the stability, reliability and scalability, for the follow-up development. We use U-BOOT, Snapgear and Intel Access Library as low-level software to provide plentiful essential resources.The main work of this paper could therefore be summarized as follows:An EITS425 development platform based on IXP425 network processor,including core board and expansion board. The core board is a minimal system, including IXP425, SDRAM, FLASH, UART serial port and other I/O prots. The expansion board realize functional expansion including WAN/LAN interface based on NPE A/B, wireless LAN module, 10/100M Ethernet interface based on PCI bus and other interfaces for further expansion.Completing PCB design for both boards, according to principle of high-speed multi-layer digital circuit design. In the design process, we focused on the Signal Integrity (SI) and crosstalk issues.Customization and transplantation the basic software, including U-BOOT as Bootloader and Snapgear Linux as Operation System. Using this software, devplopers have a complete platform. They can develop application software directly on the EITS425 platform and achieve required functions, such as firewall, VPN router, wireless AP.System debugging both hardware and software, running some simple examples and improving the EITS425 development platform. We solved some problems and recoverd some shortcomings. A lot of experience have been gained during this process for following development.The design results in this paper will not only be a development platform based on IXP425 for embedded developers, but can also be used for networking teaching and laboratory, with high research value.