MON960 Support for IQ80960RM/RN 5

This chapter discusses a number of additions that have been made to MON960 to support the IQ80960RM/RN in an optional non-I2O capacity. For complete documentation on the operation of MON960, see the MON960 Debug Monitor User’s Guide . The IQ80960RM/RN evaluation platform ships with IxWorks* from Wind River Systems installed in flash firmware. To use CTOOLS and MON960 instead of IxWorks, you need to download MON960 into the onboard Flash. See Chapter 2 for more information on updating the onboard Flash. See Chapter 1 for descriptions of both IxWorks and CTOOLS.

5.1Secondary PCI Bus Expansion Connectors

The IQ80960RM/RN platform contains four secondary PCI bus expansion connectors to give users access to the secondary PCI bus of the i960® RM/RN I/O processor. Extensions to MON960 perform secondary PCI bus initialization including the establishment of a secondary PCI bus address map. Routines compatible with the PCI Local Bus Specification Revision 2.1 allow the software on the IQ80960RM/RN platform to search for devices on the secondary PCI bus and read and write the configuration space of those devices.

5.2MON960 Components

The remaining sections of this chapter assume that MON960 is installed in the onboard Flash, replacing IxWorks. The IQ80960RM/RN optional MON960 debug monitor consists of four main components:

•

Initialization firmware

•

MON960 extensions

•

MON960 kernel

•

Diagnostics/example code

These four components together are referred to as MON960.

5.2.1MON960 Initialization

At initialization, MON960 puts the IQ80960RM/RN platform into a known, functional state that allows the host processor to perform PCI initialization. Once in this state, the MON960 kernel and the MON960 extensions can load and execute correctly. Initialization is performed after a RESET condition. MON960 initialization encompasses all major portions of the i960 RM/RN I/O processor and IQ80960RM/RN platform including 80960JT core initialization, Memory Controller initialization, SDRAM initialization, Primary PCI Address Translation Unit (ATU) initialization, and PCI-to-PCI Bridge Unit initialization.

The IQ80960RM/RN platform is designed to use the Configuration Mode of the i960 RM/RN I/O processor. Configuration Mode allows the 80960JT core to initialize and control the initialization process before the PCI host configures the i960 RM/RN I/O processor. By utilizing Configuration Mode, the user

IQ80960RM/RN Evaluation Board Manual

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Intel manual MON960 Support for IQ80960RM/RN, MON960 Components, 1 MON960 Initialization
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RN, IQ80960RM specifications

The Intel IQ80960RM and RN are part of the Intel i960 family of microprocessors, which were specifically designed for embedded applications in real-time computing environments. Introduced in the early 1990s, these processors were aimed at providing high-performance processing capabilities in industrial, telecommunications, and military systems.

One of the key features of the IQ80960RM and RN is their ability to support a 32-bit architecture, delivering a significant performance advantage over 16-bit and earlier processors. This architecture enables the execution of complex algorithms and the management of large amounts of data, making these microprocessors suitable for demanding applications.

The i960 family is built around a superscalar architecture, allowing multiple instructions to be completed in a single clock cycle. This is achieved through advanced instruction pipelining, which significantly boosts throughput and overall computational speed. The IQ80960RM and RN also included features like branch prediction and out-of-order execution, enhancing efficiency and reducing latency in real-time applications.

Memory management capabilities are another strong point of the IQ80960RM and RN. They support both virtual and physical memory addressing, enabling sophisticated memory management strategies. Their integrated memory management unit (MMU) allows for easier and more effective memory allocation, critical for real-time operating systems that require precise timing and resource management.

Furthermore, these processors are designed with an extensive instruction set architecture (ISA), which supports a wide range of operations, including digital signal processing (DSP) tasks. This versatility allows them to be utilized in various applications, from automotive systems to robotics, where reliable performance is paramount.

The thermal performance and power efficiency of the IQ80960RM and RN has also been a notable characteristic. With operational capabilities across various temperature ranges, these chips are well-suited for harsh environments often found in industrial settings.

In terms of connectivity, the IQ80960 series supports multiple I/O interfaces and communication protocols, ensuring that they can integrate seamlessly with other components and systems. This flexibility enhances their usability in networked applications, particularly in embedded systems.

Overall, the Intel IQ80960RM and RN processors represent a significant step forward in embedded processor technology, characterized by their robust performance, advanced features, and ability to meet the stringent demands of real-time applications across various industries.
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