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Cheap embedded ethernet/tcp-ip solutions

R

roxlu

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi all,

I want to create a project which is connected to the internet and which
can handle simple mesages like 'on,[col],[row]' or 'off,[col],[row]. I
don't want to have a computer connected to this
project, I just want to connect the project to a hub/switch and it has
to be ready to go (somewhat).

I've seen some projects which use embedded linux with ethernet cards...
As I'm looking for a very simple and as cheap as possible solution,
this is not the best solution.

As I'm a total newbie in this field, can you give me some suggestions?

Thanx in advance,
Roxlu
 
T

Tim Auton

Jan 1, 1970
0
roxlu said:
Hi all,

I want to create a project which is connected to the internet and which
can handle simple mesages like 'on,[col],[row]' or 'off,[col],[row]. I
don't want to have a computer connected to this
project, I just want to connect the project to a hub/switch and it has
to be ready to go (somewhat).

I've seen some projects which use embedded linux with ethernet cards...
As I'm looking for a very simple and as cheap as possible solution,
this is not the best solution.

I actually think an embedded Linux box might be the cheapest, simplest
option. Economies of scale mean things like NAS boxes and wireless
routers which you can buy at your local computer shop and a million
other places are often cheaper than more specialised products made of
cheaper components.

A Linksys NSLU2 for example costs $80-$100 US. Compare that to the $159
for this AVR with Ethernet starter kit from here:

http://microcontrollershop.com/default.php?cPath=110_58

The NSLU2 has >10x the processing power, 10x the networking speed, 1000x
as much RAM, 64x as much storage (even without adding a hard drive), USB
ports and comes in a nice case with a power supply. For half the price
of the AVR system. That makes it >12.8 million times better value :)

http://www.nslu2-linux.org/


Tim
 
N

Nico Coesel

Jan 1, 1970
0
roxlu said:
Hi all,

I want to create a project which is connected to the internet and which
can handle simple mesages like 'on,[col],[row]' or 'off,[col],[row]. I
don't want to have a computer connected to this
project, I just want to connect the project to a hub/switch and it has
to be ready to go (somewhat).

I've seen some projects which use embedded linux with ethernet cards...
As I'm looking for a very simple and as cheap as possible solution,
this is not the best solution.

As I'm a total newbie in this field, can you give me some suggestions?

The most difficult part is to get an ethernet transformer. If it is a
one-off circuit, you can consider taking a transformer from an ISA
ethernet card. A Cirrus Logic CS8900 ethernet controller (which
basically has an ISA interface) can be interfaced very easely to an 8
bit microcontroller. Software for a small tcp/ip stack (less than 1kb
of RAM required) is also available for free from several websites.
 
M

mkaras

Jan 1, 1970
0
roxlu said:
Hi all,

I want to create a project which is connected to the internet and which
can handle simple mesages like 'on,[col],[row]' or 'off,[col],[row]. I
don't want to have a computer connected to this
project, I just want to connect the project to a hub/switch and it has
to be ready to go (somewhat).

I've seen some projects which use embedded linux with ethernet cards...
As I'm looking for a very simple and as cheap as possible solution,
this is not the best solution.

As I'm a total newbie in this field, can you give me some suggestions?

Thanx in advance,
Roxlu

You do NOT need an embedded Linux solution to make a simple solution.
Check out the X-Port products here:

http://www.lantronix.com/device-networking/embedded-device-servers/

- mkaras
 
R

roxlu

Jan 1, 1970
0
Nico said:
roxlu said:
Hi all,

I want to create a project which is connected to the internet and which
can handle simple mesages like 'on,[col],[row]' or 'off,[col],[row]. I
don't want to have a computer connected to this
project, I just want to connect the project to a hub/switch and it has
to be ready to go (somewhat).

I've seen some projects which use embedded linux with ethernet cards...
As I'm looking for a very simple and as cheap as possible solution,
this is not the best solution.

As I'm a total newbie in this field, can you give me some suggestions?

The most difficult part is to get an ethernet transformer. If it is a
one-off circuit, you can consider taking a transformer from an ISA
ethernet card. A Cirrus Logic CS8900 ethernet controller (which
basically has an ISA interface) can be interfaced very easely to an 8
bit microcontroller. Software for a small tcp/ip stack (less than 1kb
of RAM required) is also available for free from several websites.

Hi Nico,

Thanks for your reply! As I'm very new to this field, I'm wondering
what that
tcp/ip stack is.. is that an implementation of TCP/IP on which must be
programmed
on the microcontroller?

If so which ucontrollers are a wise choose for this? (I only need the
internet connection, some output pins)

Thanks in advance
 
J

jasen

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi all,

I want to create a project which is connected to the internet and which
can handle simple mesages like 'on,[col],[row]' or 'off,[col],[row]. I
don't want to have a computer connected to this
project, I just want to connect the project to a hub/switch and it has
to be ready to go (somewhat).

I've seen some projects which use embedded linux with ethernet cards...
As I'm looking for a very simple and as cheap as possible solution,
this is not the best solution.

you'll need some network hardware there's no way a 40Mhz microcontroller alone
can keep up with even 10Mb/s ethernet signals.
As I'm a total newbie in this field, can you give me some suggestions?

google for "microcontroller"+"ip stack"

Bye.
Jasen
 
N

Nico Coesel

Jan 1, 1970
0
roxlu said:
Nico said:
roxlu said:
Hi all,

I want to create a project which is connected to the internet and which
can handle simple mesages like 'on,[col],[row]' or 'off,[col],[row]. I
don't want to have a computer connected to this
project, I just want to connect the project to a hub/switch and it has
to be ready to go (somewhat).

I've seen some projects which use embedded linux with ethernet cards...
As I'm looking for a very simple and as cheap as possible solution,
this is not the best solution.

As I'm a total newbie in this field, can you give me some suggestions?

The most difficult part is to get an ethernet transformer. If it is a
one-off circuit, you can consider taking a transformer from an ISA
ethernet card. A Cirrus Logic CS8900 ethernet controller (which
basically has an ISA interface) can be interfaced very easely to an 8
bit microcontroller. Software for a small tcp/ip stack (less than 1kb
of RAM required) is also available for free from several websites.

Hi Nico,

Thanks for your reply! As I'm very new to this field, I'm wondering
what that
tcp/ip stack is.. is that an implementation of TCP/IP on which must be
programmed
on the microcontroller?

Yes, the 'tcp/ip stack' is the protocol implementation.
If so which ucontrollers are a wise choose for this? (I only need the
internet connection, some output pins)

Renesas H8 or Texas Instruments MSP430 may be suitable. Be carefull to
select devices with at least 2KB of RAM memory. An MSP149

Look here:
http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?products_id=741
 
R

roxlu

Jan 1, 1970
0
jasen said:
Hi all,

I want to create a project which is connected to the internet and which
can handle simple mesages like 'on,[col],[row]' or 'off,[col],[row]. I
don't want to have a computer connected to this
project, I just want to connect the project to a hub/switch and it has
to be ready to go (somewhat).

I've seen some projects which use embedded linux with ethernet cards...
As I'm looking for a very simple and as cheap as possible solution,
this is not the best solution.

you'll need some network hardware there's no way a 40Mhz microcontroller alone
can keep up with even 10Mb/s ethernet signals.
As I'm a total newbie in this field, can you give me some suggestions?

google for "microcontroller"+"ip stack"

Bye.
Jasen

Hi All!

Thanks for all your replies! I've been looking at several solutions,
though all are
quite expensive (> 50$). I'm new to this field, but is a price around
or higher than 50$
the cheapest solution?

Gr. Roxlu
 
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