Ethernet is often used in BitSim's customer projects and internally for debug purposes. For this need BitSim has developed a 10/100/1000Mbit Ethernet MAC IP block for both copper and fiber, BMAC. The IP block is either applied as a complete MAC or as an Ethernet Core interfacing a PHY (MII/GMII) without FIFOs and CPU interface.
BitSim has used Ethernet for many different platforms, for applications such as for data collection, interfacing and control of external hardware. Most often the IP has been connected to an internal or an external processor (Power PC, ARM, Nios, MicroBlaze) exercising the protocol stack in software, but also as a stand alone solution with the protocol stack implemented in hardware.
For further details about BitSim's BMAC see under "Related Links". One example of an 1 GB/s MAC usage is the implementation of BMAC in the Virtex-4 on BitSim's Ultra High Speed Board UHAB, se under "Related Links".
