"Marc Randolph" <mrand@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:1110603050.126155.280760@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>
>    I'm not sure if you are asking because I put a ballpark price in my
> response, or if you're just wondering my experience with the parts.
>
> I happen to be using a quad-port Broadcom part, although not in
> 1000Base-T mode (I use 1000Base-X mode).  Support isn't the fastest,
> and you have to put up with their never-ending paranoia, but the parts
> work well.

Thanks Marc. I was interested in your experience...


/Mikhail

MM wrote:
> "Marc Randolph" <mrand@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> news:1110509935.634028.77710@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >
> > xGMII (RGMII is what we
> > use) is another, possibly easier way (or at least, slower speed
that
> > doesn't require MGT's).  Physical layer chips for 1000Base-T cost
> > something over ~$10/port.  1000Base-T SFP's cost something
approaching
> > 10x that (depending on volume).
>
> If you don't mind telling, which PHY chip are you using?

Howdy Mikhail,

   I'm not sure if you are asking because I put a ballpark price in my
response, or if you're just wondering my experience with the parts.

I happen to be using a quad-port Broadcom part, although not in
1000Base-T mode (I use 1000Base-X mode).  Support isn't the fastest,
and you have to put up with their never-ending paranoia, but the parts
work well.

As for pricing, I don't remember the details.  Seems like it was mid or
high-teen's until you get to real high volume, which is when it falls
closer to $10/port.

I would expect parts from Vitesse or Marvell to be in the same price
range, and with the same features.  Agere has some parts as well, as
might Intel, NEC, and others.  For fiber only, there are even more
choices.

Have fun,

   Marc

"Marc Randolph" <mrand@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:1110509935.634028.77710@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> xGMII (RGMII is what we
> use) is another, possibly easier way (or at least, slower speed that
> doesn't require MGT's).  Physical layer chips for 1000Base-T cost
> something over ~$10/port.  1000Base-T SFP's cost something approaching
> 10x that (depending on volume).

Marc,

If you don't mind telling, which PHY chip are you using?


Thanks,
/Mikhail

Ed McGettigan wrote:
> Vladimir,
>
> I apologize, but this answer record is misleading.  There
> are two different physical types of Gigabit Ethernet, the
> Base-T versions and the Base-X versions.  What you are
> describing is that you want to implement a 1000-Base-T
> which is a RJ45 connector and CAT5/5e/6 cable and you can not
> do this directly from a RocketIO MGT.
>
> The RocketIO MGTs are electrically and physically compliant
> to the Base-X versions (SX/LX), but not the Base-T version.
> If you want to drive Base-T and you want to drive it with
> a RocketIO MGT, then you need to use it configured as a SGMII
> interface either to a discrete 1000-Base-T Phy (less expensive),
> or to a SFP cage with a 1000-Base-T module (more expensive)
> instead of the normal SFP optical module.
> [...]


Howdy Vladimir,

   Just to be perfectly clear, the 1000Base-X that Answer Record 13928
is referring to is *fiber* based Ethernet.

SGMII is one way to interface to GbE phy's.  xGMII (RGMII is what we
use) is another, possibly easier way (or at least, slower speed that
doesn't require MGT's).  Physical layer chips for 1000Base-T cost
something over ~$10/port.  1000Base-T SFP's cost something approaching
10x that (depending on volume).

Good luck,

   Marc

Vladimir,

I apologize, but this answer record is misleading.  There
are two different physical types of Gigabit Ethernet, the
Base-T versions and the Base-X versions.  What you are
describing is that you want to implement a 1000-Base-T
which is a RJ45 connector and CAT5/5e/6 cable and you can not
do this directly from a RocketIO MGT.

The RocketIO MGTs are electrically and physically compliant
to the Base-X versions (SX/LX), but not the Base-T version.
If you want to drive Base-T and you want to drive it with
a RocketIO MGT, then you need to use it configured as a SGMII
interface either to a discrete 1000-Base-T Phy (less expensive),
or to a SFP cage with a 1000-Base-T module (more expensive)
instead of the normal SFP optical module.

I will get this answer record updated to clarify the supported
modes.

Ed



v_mirgorodsky@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hello ALL,
> 
> I am designing device, based on Virtex-4 FX20 chip. This device is
> going to produce lots of data and I would like to send it to processing
> computer using Gigabit Ethernet interface. I am lucky to have two
> Ethernet MAC's built-in in the FPGA. Also we would like to use
> RocketIO transceivers to connect our Ethernet MAC's to physical
> media. Here is my problem begins. I need to connect magnetic to
> RocketIO differential outputs. I have searched Xilinx web-site, but
> found nothing about this issue. There are two user guides, one about
> Tri-mode Ethernet MAC and another about RocketIO MGT. Both guides full
> of useful information, but none of them highlights this issue. They
> just cross-reference each other on this matter :)
> 
> So, does any one has any experience in putting Ethernet MAC (hardware
> or IP Core) and RocketIO transceiver to  work together in Gigabit
> Ethernet configuration (without using external PHY)? Xilinx web-site
> has an Answer Record 13928, stating full compliance Virtex-2 Pro
> RocketIO MGT to all Gigabit Ethernet standards, so I assume Virtex-4
> MGT is compliant to all Gigabit Ethernet standards as well.
> 
> With best regards,
> Vladimir S. Mirgorodsky
> 

Hello ALL,

I am designing device, based on Virtex-4 FX20 chip. This device is
going to produce lots of data and I would like to send it to processing
computer using Gigabit Ethernet interface. I am lucky to have two
Ethernet MAC's built-in in the FPGA. Also we would like to use
RocketIO transceivers to connect our Ethernet MAC's to physical
media. Here is my problem begins. I need to connect magnetic to
RocketIO differential outputs. I have searched Xilinx web-site, but
found nothing about this issue. There are two user guides, one about
Tri-mode Ethernet MAC and another about RocketIO MGT. Both guides full
of useful information, but none of them highlights this issue. They
just cross-reference each other on this matter :)

So, does any one has any experience in putting Ethernet MAC (hardware
or IP Core) and RocketIO transceiver to  work together in Gigabit
Ethernet configuration (without using external PHY)? Xilinx web-site
has an Answer Record 13928, stating full compliance Virtex-2 Pro
RocketIO MGT to all Gigabit Ethernet standards, so I assume Virtex-4
MGT is compliant to all Gigabit Ethernet standards as well.

With best regards,
Vladimir S. Mirgorodsky