NetCOPE
The goal of the project is to realize a general platform for rapid development of network applications on the family of
COMBO cards. The proposed platform includes network interface blocks (1G/10G Ethernet), high-speed programmable
bus-master connection to the software layer via PCI-X or PCI Express bus and a generic interface to a potential
co-processor for accelerating network application. The generic data transfer protocol between the network and co-processor
interfaces allows for an easy integration into the target application.
The platform further offers a set of IP cores usable as basic building blocks for a wide range of network applications, including
cores for packet analysis, classification, packet modification, precise
timestamps, pattern matching, statistics etc.
Current state
- 03/2008 - expected date of fully functional package of NetCOPE on Combo6x+SFPRO cards with programmable DMA controller
- 10/2007 - first prototype successfully tested in hardware
- 01/2007 - most of components available, project moved to simulation phase
- 06/2006 - work on NetCOPE project started
Features
- High performance scalable platform for network applications in FPGA
- IEEE 802.3 compliant input and output network interface blocks
- Wire speed processing (4x1G Ethernet)
- High speed programmable bus master controller
- Full PCI-X and PCI Express throughput
- Set of IP cores with generic interfaces for simple data manipulation
Developed IP cores
- Network Interface Block
- Busmaster Engine and High Throughput Internal Bus System
- GENA - generic processor core dedicated for packet processing
- Precise timestamps generation
- Packet parsing
- Packet classification
- Pattern matching
- Packet editing
- Packet storage
Potential Applications
- NIC with hardware filtration
- Active/passive network monitoring
- Intrusion detection system
- IPv4/IPv6 router
- Packet generator
- Cryptography
- Video encryption/decryption
More information and links
