1. Washington University, Applied Research Lab
NCHARGE: Remote Management of the Field Programmable Port Extender (FPX)
Todd Sproull
Washington University, Applied Research Lab
August 15, 2001
Supported by: NSF ANI
and Xilinx Inc.

2. Controlling the FPX Methods of Communication Software Plug-ins
Fip Memory
Methods of Communication
- NCHARGE
- Telnet
- Web Interface / CGI
- Basic_send
- User Applications
Software Plug-ins
- Concepts
- Functionality
Emulation
Nid_listener
Rad_listener
Remote
Manager
Applications
Basic
Telnet
Read
WEB
Send
Fip
Access
CGI
Basic
Send
Software
Controller
NCHARGE
NCHARGE
0.0
7.1
VCI 76 (NID), VCI 100 (RAD)
VCI 115 (NID), VCI 123 (RAD)
OC-3 Link
(up to 32 VCIs)
Washington University
Gigabit Switch
NID
NID
RAD
RAD

3. Pictorial view of FPX software interfaced with hardware
NCHARGE
{0-7}.{0/1}

4. Multiple TCP Sockets for
NCHARGE
Issues control cells to FPX
Provides reliable connections over ATM
Allows for multiple users to connect remotely
Multiple TCP Sockets for
Remote Applications
NCHARGE
{0-7}.{0/1}
Control cells
Sent to and from
FPX (RAD & NID)

5. Controlling Flows on the NID
Consists of 4 ports used for cell traffic
0 - SW (Switch)
1 - LC (Line Card)
2 - RAD_SW
3 - RAD_LC
Cells routed based on VCI Lookup Table
Cell routes are modified by issuing Write VCI Table Control cells
VCI Table Control cells consist of number indicating the destination of a cell
VCI Lookup Table is generated based on VCI Updates, default routes, and the table data definitions
RAD
RAD
RAD
RAD
Switch
LineCard
Switch
LineCard VC VC VC VC VC VC VC VC
ccp
ccp EC EC EC EC
Switch
LineCard
Switch
LineCard
Default Flow Action
VCI = 0x34
(Bypass)
(Control Cell)

6. Table data definitions
VCI Updates and Status
VCI Update Commands
Write VCI entries
Format: T VPI VCI SW LC RAD_SW RAD_LC
Example: T 0 7E
Read VCI entries
Format: A VPI VCI
Example: A 0 7E
Response: A VPI=0 VCI=7E SW=3 LC=2 RAD_SW=1 RAD_LC=0
Table data definitions
RAD_LC 2-bit LUT
RAD_SW 2-bit LUT
LC 2-bit LUT
SW 2-bit LUT
RAD_LC 3
RAD_SW 2 LC 1 SW

7. Web VCI Updates and Status

8. VCI Updates and Status Status Control registers
Lets users check status of FPX
Useful for debugging hardware if problems arise
Displays the following information
RAD Configuration Status (RAD_Done)
Single bit that indicates completion of configuration and beginning of startup sequence
RAD Initialization Status (RAD_Init)
Single bit that indicates when the RAD is ready to accept data
Type Link
Line card identifier ( OC3, Dual G-link…)
VCI Compare Register
Display current VCI to send control updates on
RAD Programming Byte Count
Indicates number of bytes RAD has loaded in memory

9. VCI Status Control Example
Checking VCI Status
Example: S
Response: VPI 0x0
VCI 0x22
Opcode 0x42
VCI Compare Register 0x22
RAD_DONE 0x1
RAD_INIT 0x1
Type LINK 0x3
RAD Programming Byte Count 0x000

10. Web VCI Status Control Example

11. Configuration Memory Updates
Memory updates provide:
- A reliable protocol to transfer VHDL designs
- Ability to program RAD with multiple modules
- A one step transfer and program option
- Debugging information by displaying the contents of a specified location in memory

12. Configuration Memory Example
Transfer vhdl design from PC to NID
Format: L filename offset
Example: L test_file 100
Program RAD with NID vhdl design
Format: F offset byte_count
Example: F
FPX_CONTROL
Load Configuration
Full RAD Configuration
NID
RAD

13. Web Configuration Memory Example

14. RAD Memory Updates Supports 32/36/64 bit memory reads and writes
- Multiple memory updates may be issued in one control cell
- Memory updates are issued by module id

15. RAD Memory Updates Example
Reading and writing 32/36/64 bit words
Format: w32 mod_id address num_updates data
Example: w abcdef01
Format: r32 mod_id address num_reads
Example: r
Response: Data from address 20 is
Data from address 21 is abcdef01
Reading and Writing strings
Format: ws mod_id address ‘text’
Example: ws 0 0 Bob_Smith
Format: rs mod_id address
Example: rs 0 0
Response: Bob_Smith

16. Web RAD Memory Updates Example

17. Other Features of NCHARGE
NCHARGE also provides:
Ability to log all transactions to and from NID and RAD
Support to add customized software interfaces to hardware plug-in modules
- Probe function to display modules present on FPX
- An on-screen help menu in case you are lost

18. Modules on the NCHARGE Webpage

19. Other Features of the NCHARGE Webpage

20. More Features of the NCHARGE Webpage

21. Emulation of the FPX Consists of two applications: - Nid_listener
Maintains VC tables
Handles file transfers
- Rad_listener
Simulates RAD SRAM/SDRAM
Responds to all memory read/write operations

22. Communicating with the FPX
Methods of communication
-Console Mode
-Telnet
-Web Access
-Basic_send
-Library calls
-User Applications (FIPL)

23. Allows end hosts control of FPX
Telnet Access
Allows end hosts control of FPX
- Supports multiple connections
- Provides full functionality of console mode

24. Web Telnet Access

25. Web Access to NCHARGE Web Access Provides: - Radio Button Interface
- Allows user to submit commands using CGI scripts
- Provides for Switch Reset -

26. Using Basic_send Simple interface to send control cells to FPX
- Opens a TCP Socket
- Transfers character string command line arguments
- Displays output from NCHARGE

27. FIPL Interface to FPX Flow of information from FIPL to FPX
-Remote Host issues Add route from Web
-Web Server processes command and sends to writefip over TCP socket
-Write_FIP sends stdout command to FIPL
-FIPL issues an add route command
-Read_FIP takes stdin and packages the strings into 1 large string
-Read_FIP opens a TCP socket and sends data to fpx_control
-Fpx_control reads in string and packets commands into multiple control
cells for FPX

28. Setting up the FPX as a Router
Use the FPX as a router
-Start the FIPL Memory Manager software for a particular port/stack
-Download a few (<100) routes from MAE-WEST
-Note the name of the file that you downloaded
-Submit that list of routes to the FPX on the Fast IP Lookup Page
-Now the FIPL software is configured to handle these routes!!
-You should be able to add additional routes
-You can also delete and modify routes from the webpage

29. Software Plug-ins for Hardware Modules
Software that allows RAD applications the ability to format unique control cells
Enables developers to easily change the format of a control cell independent of NCHARGE

30. Contents of a Software Plug-in Module
# Module title and version number
Fast IP Lookup Example Module 1.0
</module>
<input_opcodes>
# Input Opcode, Menu_command, Command_argument
0x14, 1,R, Root_Node_Pointer,
0x16, 1,I, IP_Flow_1,
</input_opcodes>
<output_opcodes>
# Output opcode, Text, Command_argument
0x15, 1,Root node pointer Updated to ,Root_Node_Pointer,
0x17, 1,Name changed to ,IP_Flow_1,
</output_opcodes>
<fields>
# Command_argument, argument_type,
# start_word,start_bit,stop_word,stop_bit
Root_Node_Pointer,x,1,31,1,13,
IP_Flow_1,x,2,31,2,16,
</fields>
<help>
# Help Menu
R root pointer address update: R address (hex)
I Update IP Flow 1: I address (hex)
</help>
Tags identify relevant fields
Developer specifies data types and lengths
Provides total control over information sent to RAD application
Example is “Fast IP Lookup” module

31. Cell Format of FIPL Module

32. Using Software Plug-ins
Issue Probe command to see what modules have been loaded
“p”
Load required module
“n fipl.fpx”
Issue commands for that module
“m1.r 1234”
“m1.I 4321”
Commands follow the format:
m#.command argument (if necessary)

33. FIPL Module via Web page

34. Using Library Call Simple interface to send control cells to FPX
- fpx_message(char *command,int port, int stack, char *response)

35. Programming Exercise
Construct a loop that issues sends several strings to a particular memory location
Use sleep() between fpx_message calls so you can read the strings from the FPX webpage
Be sure to include libNcharge.h
When compiling include the libNcharge.cpp file as well
g++ your_file.c libNcharge.cpp
Include a \n character at the end of the string
Format for write string is:
ws module_number address text_string
Module number for this example is always 0