KSZ884x-PMQL Evaluation Board User’s Guide
Micrel, Inc.
May, 2006
Rev.
1.1
5/27
1 Introduction
The
KSZ8841-PMQL-Eval
and
KSZ8842-PMQL-Eval
evaluation Boards are intended to provide
a convenient way to evaluate or demonstrate the functionality and performance of these new
Ethernet products from Micrel. There are two different chips with PCI bus interfaces:
•
KSZ8841-PMQL is a single copper port Ethernet MAC controller.
•
KSZ8842-PMQL is a two port Ethernet Switch with in-built low latency repeater mode.
The KSZ8842-PMQL is the industry’s first fully managed 2-port switch with a 32 bit, 33MHz PCI
v2.2 bus interface. This will allow the KSZ8842-PMQL to interface to any processor or CPU with a
PCI compliant interface. Utilizing a unique mixed signal design that extends signaling distance
while reducing power consumption, the KSZ8842-PMQL represents Micrel’s fourth generation
integrated Layer-2 switch that is compliant with the IEEE 802.3u standard. The KSZ8841-PMQL
is pin-to-pin compatible with the KSZ8842-PMQL, thereby allowing designers to use either of the
parts interchangeably on the same board.
The devices offer extensive feature sets to effectively address emerging and embedded Fast
Ethernet applications and are outlined in the datasheets. The LinkMD
TM
cable diagnostics feature
is an industry first which allows the devices to determine the length of the cable, as well as
detecting common cabling plant problems such as open and short circuits. Diagnosis and
elimination of cabling faults can lead to reduced user frustration and fewer equipment returns.
The KSZ8842-PMQL can also be configured as a switch or as a low-latency (<310 ns) repeater in
latency-critical, embedded or industrial Ethernet applications. For industrial automation
applications, the KSZ8842-PMQL can run in half-duplex mode regardless of the application.
Micrel provides software drivers based on the PCI bus solution with which to evaluate the devices
functionality and features. The software includes Linux, Vxworks and WinCE drivers and was
evaluated on the following platforms:
•
SH7751R platform with SH4 processor from Renesas
•
The KS8695PX platform with ARM processor from Micrel
•
A PC with PCI slots.
The evaluation boards provide a convenient means to evaluate the device’s rich feature set. The
RJ45 Ethernet ports are provided allowing evaluation with either PC or industry standard test
equipment such as Spirent SmartBits.
2 Features
•
KSZ8841-PMQL-Eval board supports a single copper port Ethernet MAC controller and
PCI bus interface to PCI slot.
•
KSZ8842-PMQL-Eval board supports dual copper ports Ethernet Switch and PCI bus
interface to a PCI slot.
•
Using the KSZ8841-PMQL evaluation board, WOL (Wake-on-LAN) functionality can be
demonstrated.
•
Two ports managed switch or MAC controller.
