Overview

Advances in automated factories and smart vehicles require advanced networking capabilities, real-time processing and more advanced motor-control topologies. TI Networking solution packaged with the SDK provide a rapidly growing need for Sitara MCU to out space traditional MCUs and deliver processor-like capabilities. Networking is a broad terms used to cover Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), EtherCAT Profinet and other ethernet-like communication protocols used in industrial, automotive and other general use cases.

Figure: Industrial And Automotive Networking Applications

This document covers driver software architecture, Application Programming Interfaces (API), protocol stack usage, LwIP (Light Weight IP stack), examples and demos that are packaged in the SDK. The out-of-box Ethernet (CPSW) Examples enables fast on-board and accelerates the development cycle. This document also provides API guide for low level Ethernet, Industrial communication protocols drivers along with Layer-2 (low level) examples to enable advanced users to integrate the custom stack.

Networking is supported using following two hardware Peripherals:

Common Port SWitch (CPSW) : CPSW subsystem provides IEEE 802.3 standard Ethernet gigabit speed packet communication for the device and can also be configured as an Ethernet switch. CPSW supports RGMII and RMII Interfaces.
Programmable Real-Time Unit and Industrial Communication Subsystem - Gigabit (PRU-ICSSG) : PRU-ICSSG is firmware programmable and can take on various personalities like Industrial Communication Protocol Switch (for protocols like EtherCAT, Profinet, EtherNet/IP), Ethernet Switch, Ethernet MAC, Industrial Drives, etc. PRU-ICSSG supports RGMII and MII modes.

To know more about the hardware peripherals, please refer to datasheet and Technical Reference Manual (TRM) on the product page: