M52235EVB PHY:link always down

[rd]

I'm using M52235EVB with CW6.3SE.
I downloaded the 'ColdFire Lite TCP/IP Stack by InterNiche' but I can't get ethernet connection work.

Using the example project 'ColdFire_Lite.mcp' (with DEBUG_PRINT activated) I always receive on the UART0 console:
***
ePHY enabled - Waiting...............
@@@@ LINK IS DOWN @@@@

100bT Half Dup

External Reset
MCF5223 Rev. 0
Core Initialization Complete!
Chip ID: 4C
***
...(then the upper layers of TCP/IP start correctly and I get the prompt)

When the board is connected to a Switch the relative port LED remains off
When the board is connected to my PC (crossed UTP cable) LAN appears down.
Board PHY LED: all OFF except SPD (always ON)

Any suggestion?

Thank you

Roberto

[mjbcswitzerland]

Hi Roberto

It may be a problem with autonegotiation. Although there is no errata for the M5223X available I believe that it has inherited a EPHY bug from the NE64 - see the NE64 Errata MSE9S12NE64_1L19S.

You can also download the following code to your eval/demo board to be sure that it is not simply a software issue - the software lets you browse, telnet and ftp your board and is set to autonegotiation as default - you can change the settings using a telnet menu is you wish and load your own web pages via FTP:

http://www.mjbc.ch/software/uTasker/M5223X/uTaskerV1.2beta005_m5223X.s19

It is a demo project for the uTasker operating system with integrated TCP/IP stack. See http://forums.freescale.com/freescale/board/message?board.id=CFCOMM&message.id=274 if you would like more details or play with an on-line demo. It is free also for non-commercial work.

The EPHY bug is a bit of a nuissance since not all switches, hubs or PCs will be able to autonegotiate and the only work around is to set the speed without autonegotiating. It is unfortunately an argument for avoiding the M5223X in favour of a device with external PHY but then again it is something which you can live with in many circumstances.

Regards

Mark Butcher
www.mjbc.ch

[rd]

Hi Mark,
you're right!

The problem was in autonegotiation with my pc lan board and my switch.
As you supposed, MCF5223x has inherited a bug from the NE64: just yesterday (6/6/2006) Freescale added an errata for the MCF5223x.

Forcing the link to 100Mb Full Duplex, the board is working ok!
Thank you.

Best regards,
Roberto

[McGregor]

Hi Roberto,

I don't know if this thread is still active. Anyway, I am working with M52235EVB and I have the same problem that you mention above when I test the sample project, can you tell how did you do to fix it? Than you very much.

Best regards,

Grego

[mjbcswitzerland]

Grego

It is necessary to program the M5223X to a fixed speed (either 10M or 100M) rather that programming it to use auto-negotiation. The speed set should match the switch or hub it is connected to.
If connected to a switch which does 10/100M then either 10M or 100M can be set - 100M is of course the normal chioce nowadays.

Regards

Mark

[McGregor]

Hi Mark,

I have been looking for a macro or something like that for changing what you suggested us but I have found nothing. Where can I change the speed of the link? Is it defined somewhere in the project or must I configure this using a menu of CW?

Thank you very much,

Grego

[rd]

Hi Grego,

If you're trying Interniche stack, I suggest you to download the following code posted by Eric Gregori:

http://forums.freescale.com/attachments/freescale/CFCOMM/744/1/ColdFire_Web_Server_FTF06.zip

Look at "mcf5223_sysinit.c" and you can see that on the function "mcf5223_ePHY_init()" there is a

software work-around for the bug in hardware autonegotiation of MCF5223x.

The code simply try to force a 100Mb connection and then wait for link.

If the link couldn't be established, it try to force a 10Mb connection.

Roberto

[McGregor]

Thank you very much Roberto!

We were able to see the web page in the browser thanks to your help. But we have a problem with the zip downloaded from the link you gave us: all the folder in the folder "ColdFire_Web_Server_with_Labs_FTF06" are empty, do you have the same problem? On the other hand, I found a site that can be interesting for all of you who are getting started with NicheLite web server example:

http://www.freescale.com/files/abstract/overview/TSP9133_CF_DNLD_WP.htm?tid=tcev

Here you can find a pdf called COLDFIRE_SEMINAR_PRESENTATION that seems to guide you through this process.

Finally, I would like to ask you a question, Roberto. You have been working with NicheLite stack and the web server example for some time, haven't you? Can you tell me if it is necessary to have a wide idea of the hardware specifications of the board to work with it?. Because I have found many files defining macros related to hardware registers ... in the project and I don't know if I will have to configure them when I start to program my own applications.

Thank you very much again!

Best regards,

Grego

[mjbcswitzerland]

Grego

I am sorry but I don't know which software you are using. I know only full details about teh uTasker OS and TCP/IP stack. Here it is a configuration which can be changed and saved using a web browser.

If you are using another software you will have to get to know this - is it documented?

If you are using uTasker check the Coldfire tutorial where it is fully explained:
http://www.utasker.com/docs/documentation.html

Regards

Mark

www.uTasker.com