A500+ Internet

[ferix]

Maybe It could interest you.

I'm working in a Slip to Ethernet bridge. I have the prototype almost finished.
The idea behind It is to connect my 'shortly' expanded A500+ (no accelerator card, and only 1,5 Mb of chip ram... by now) to my network, and to the Internet by extension...
Basically, It takes the incoming IP datagrams from the ethernet, makes some simple processing (discard bad packets, check the target IP, etc...), and resends them to the serial port in Slip format.
In the other direction (Serial to Ethernet), It takes the datagrams from the serial port, and send them to the net, taking care of things such the ARP and all those other 'nasty' things
At first, It will only support Slip protocol. I guess PPP protocol will be added in the future.

I'll post some photos as soon as I can.

[ferix]

I've uploaded some pictures from my project.
It's unfinished yet. I'll post more photos as long as I get my camera back...

The front panel. It has a LCD and a small keyboard for configuration purposes:


The rear panel, you can see the serial port, the reset switch, and the ethernet socket:


A general view of the gadget:


Another view:

[ferix]

wow Just out of curiosity. In this project would AmiTCP still be needed? Considering that data is passed through the serial port?

Nope... You still need a TCP/IP stack, at least for conecting to the Internet.
This device only gets the TCP/IP packets from one media and resends them to the other media (well, there's a bit of processing involved).

I suppose that you asked that because AmiTCP uses a lot of memory, and would be fine to take It apart...
So I've been thinking It's possible to port the Adam Dunkels' uIP. It's the smallest functional TCP/IP stack, and It runs on very small systems, like a 8 bit processor with only 2Kbytes of ram, an even sharing the ram with real time OS (Contiki). It's been used on the C64
You 'only' need to adapt It to the Amiga OS API...

The project page: http://www.sics.se/~adam/uip/index.php/Main_Page

[ferix]

Hi again, I guess you are more on the hardware aspect however. Is this project only for Amiga's or it can surve other purpuses as well?

Well, my primal goal is to connect my A500+ (only 1,5Mb chip) to my ethernet network, but the device is designed to be multiplatform.
You can connect every computer you want, only a serial port and slip protocol is required (and tcp/ip over it, of course).
I don't know what could be the "top speed" of the serial link, but I think you can achieve 115000 bauds at least, better than a 56K modem.
I was thinking on include a plip port for higher speeds, but It would be less compatible, but It's still possible.

I also have another version with a wifi card, but It's a lot more complex, and It's not worth doing It.

[ferix]

When do you think you'll have a working version? You should keep the community informed when it is ready Depending on how much it costs I may considering buying one (if you ever decide to sell such units).

Well, I guess the hardware part should be finished on next weekend, but I don't know when the software will be running....
I'm not thinking on selling It. I prefer to make the software and hardware public available.
My hardware is being built with samples and spare parts. I only bought some passive components, such resistors, leds, connectors, and the prototype board... but I think the most expensive part is the LCD, and It's not essential. An especial configuration mode can be included for making the setup of the device through the serial port.
I guess you can build one for 35 euros or 30$, without the LCD, of course.

[ferix]

The Amiga serial port cannot achieve more than 56kb on 030 or better accelerator. Pure 68000 runs OK at 19200 or a bit over this using software serial replacement like baudbandit or new8n1.

I know It, but as I said, It's multiplatform. You can use It at 115000 bps if your hardware can reach that speed.

Anyway, this project is very interesting and I really love to see the schematics or the prototype running.

 My congratulations to you!

You'll see them soon

[ferix]

Do you have a page for the project? I think we can stop hijacking this poor thread.

No, I don't (yet). But you're right, we must stop hijacking this thread.
I'll open a new thread with the status of the project, as soon as I finished the hardware. It's about 95% concluded now...