Chapter 1. About the

EthernetBlaster

Communications Cable

Introduction

The EthernetBlaster communications cable connects to a standard Ethernet network port with an RJ-45 connector. This cable communicates with client systems using the TCP/IP protocol and supports both static and dynamic IP addressing. The EthernetBlaster communications cable can be plugged into an existing 10/100 Base-T Ethernet network to communicate with clients remotely or interfaced directly via a standard 10/100 Base-T Ethernet port using a crossover cable. Because design changes are downloaded directly to the device, prototyping is easy and you can accomplish multiple design iterations in quick succession. Harnessing the power of an Ethernet network, multiple users can remotely access Altera® devices, bringing a new level of productivity to prototyping and debugging.

Supported Devices

You can use the EthernetBlaster communications cable to download configuration data to the following Altera devices:

■Stratix® series FPGAs

■Cyclone™ series FPGAs

■MAX® series CPLDs

■APEX™ series FPGAs

■ACEX® 1K FPGAs

■Mercury™ FPGAs

■FLEX® series FPGAs

■Excalibur™ FPGAs

You can perform in-system programming of the following devices:

■Advanced configuration devices, including EPC2, EPC4, EPC8, EPC16, and EPC1441 devices.

■Serial configuration devices, including EPCS1, EPCS4, EPCS16, and EPCS64 devices.

In addition, the EthernetBlaster communications cable supports target systems using 5.0-V TTL, 3.3-V LVTTL/LVCMOS, and single-ended I/O standards from 3.3 V down to 1.5 V.

Altera Corporation

1–1

December 2004