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Panel
titleFirmware Functions

The real-time protocol stack is fully integrated into a netX firmware for specific use case in order to provide a common set of netX firmware functions accross different protocol variants:

netX90
Firmware VariantsUse Case AUse Case BUse Case C
Use Case summary

netX90 COM CPU firmware for small footprint, low cost and function optimized slave devices

  • no external SPI / SQI Flash required for COM CPU
  • no external SDRAM required for COM CPU

same as Use Case A, but netX90 APP CPU

  • uses external SPI Flash
  • may use external SDRAM

full featured firmware for highest function requirements

  • external SDRAM is required for COM CPU
  • external SPI Flash is required for COM CPU
netX support
  • netX90
  • netX90 with ext FLASH
  • netX90 with ext SDRAM and ext FLASH
  • netX4x00 with ext SDRAM and ext FLASH

FW structure


Host Interface

Dual Port Memory interface with following channels:

  • Channel 0 - Real-Time Ethernet Protocol API
    • exchange cyclic IO data
    • use acyclic protocol services
  • Channel 1 - Network Services
    • Socket API - Enables opening a communication socket using the integrated TCP/IP stack resources, i.e. same MAC address
    • Ethernet (NDIS) API - Enables sending and receiving Ethernet frames using a separate MAC address, i.e. application host with its own TCP/IP stack
    • Web API - Enables forwarding specific URL (HTTP GET/POST) requests to user applications, e.g. to build custom webpage contents
Diagnosis InterfacenetX Diagnostic and Remote Access
Integrated Flash File SystemN/A

N/A

Power-fail safe flash file system on external SPI flash is used
Remanent Data Storage

Power-fail safe storage of up to 16KB of protocol remanent data in netX90 internal flash

Power-fail safe storage of protocol remanent data in dedicated partition in extenal SPI flash. Size and position of remanent storage area shall be configured in FDL.
Device Data

device production data (Serial number, MAC address, production data etc.) shall be stored in FDL in :

netX 90 internal flash

  • netX90 internal flash
  • netX4x00 in external SPI flash

Firmware Transfer



Expand
titleto internal netX90 flash ...
  • via integrated web server
  • via Host Interface (DPM, SPM)

(warning) Note:

due to limited size (max. 380KB) of FW udate are in internal flash, only following files can be transfered:

  • individual firmware files (i.e. comfw.nxi or appfw.nai) if the size of the a file is less that 380KB
  • max. 380KB big FWUPDATE.zip file with predefined structure



Expand
titleto the host application...
  • via integrated webserver and Web API  (DPM Channel 1)
  • host application need to handle storage of the frimware in external SPI flash


to netX flash file system located on external SPI Flash
Firmware UpdateFirmware check and installation supported through calling the Maintenance Firmware (netX 90/4000)
  • from internal netX90 flash
  • from external SPI flash
  • from Flash File System located on external SPI Flash
Configurationby sending packets to the firmware

by sending packets to the firmware

or by using Communication Studio configuration database file from local flash file system

Integrated Basic Webserver

The basic web server has the following features:

  • \netx  - Provides a graphical user interface to other functions (diag, firmware, reset, etc.)      
  • \netx\diag  - Provides information on the netX device (current uptime, MAC address, device   number, serial number, etc.
  • \netx\firmware  - Enables uploading a new firmware update file to netX flash
  • \netx\reset  - Initiates a netX reset cycle, i.e. to install a newly uploaded firmware
  • \  - URL requests are forwarded to the user application via DPM (web interface API)
Webserver extensionN/A

Basic web server is extended with functions that provide access to the content files on a local Flash file system (SQI Flash).

  • \netx\files  - Enables streaming of custom web content according to media types (i.e. txt, js, xhtml, jpeg, json, etc.) located in the Flash file system
Tag List Options

Firmware supports certain modification of the functionality via Tag List, in particular:

  • Webserver port number or deactivation
  • Activation of Ethernet Interface in DPM Channel1
  • Selection of target for remanent data storage (netX local or external host)
HW Sync Signalsupported via netX signal XC_TRIGGER0/1
Protocol Specific LED Indicators

Network specific status indicators with COM0 / COM1 LEDs:

  • RUN
  • ERR
Secure Bootsupported by EtherCAT Slave V5.4.0.0 and later, see Support of Secure Boot with netX90 for more details
Limitations
  • FW functions are limited by available internal RAM / Flash
  • COM firmware size is limited to 500KB
  • FW functions are limited by available internal RAM / Flash
TBD


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