Although Ethernet is known as a networking and system-to-system protocol, it has been adapted to other applications, including the backplane. Ethernet is a popular protocol choice in FPGAs because of its flexibility, reliability, and performance.
Why use the Xilinx solutions for Ethernet?
Whether you are designing low cost 10/100 Mbps Ethernet applications with Spartan®-6 FPGAs or 400G Ethernet applications with Virtex® UltraScale™ and UltraScale+™ FPGAs, Xilinx has an Ethernet solution for you.
Implemented in 20-nm technology, the FPGA incorporates 100G Ethernet MAC and PCS integrated blocks that support a CAUI-4, CAUI-10 and switchable CAUI-4/CAUI-10 modes. In 16-nm technology, Xilinx added an integrated 100G IEEE 802.3bj RS-FEC to the 100G Ethernet MAC and PCS for Virtex UltraScale+, Kintex® UltraScale+ and MPSoC FPGAs.
Benefits of integrated 100G Ethernet MACs
- Reduce design and verification effort
- Free approximately 130K LUTs per 100G Ethernet MAC, PCS and RS-FEC in the FPGA fabric
- Reduces power up to 90% over soft implementation
The development kit provides everything you need to get started with Ethernet, including proven IP and protocol-specific characterization reports.