Prodrive MCCB-3

Hi,

a while ago I got a MCCB-3 board made by Prodrive (Netherlands). It is
a 6U VME-Board with two PMC Slots and a Altera FPGA that is apparently
connected to the on-board PCI-66 via a couple of dual-port RAMs and a
PCI-FIFO chip.

I think this setup sounds pretty exciting but I have no idea about the
pinout of the FPGA or the intended way to configure it. Does anyone
know of this board and can provide me with some documentation? The
manufacturer so far ignored my requests (as usual)...

This is just a little hobby of mine, I got Linux to work on a PowerPMC
module plugged into the carrier, but I can't use any of it's
additional features without some documentation.

Thanks,
Sebastian

On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:18:24 -0700, sdbrueckner wrote:

> Hi,
>
> a while ago I got a MCCB-3 board made by Prodrive (Netherlands). It is a
> 6U VME-Board with two PMC Slots and a Altera FPGA that is apparently
> connected to the on-board PCI-66 via a couple of dual-port RAMs and a
> PCI-FIFO chip.
>
> I think this setup sounds pretty exciting but I have no idea about the
> pinout of the FPGA or the intended way to configure it. Does anyone know
> of this board

It is a custom built board that is meant to operate in a VME rack where
the P2 connector is intended for a very legacy bus interface ...
AFAIK there is a Universe II VME-PCI bridge chip on the board, that
connects the PCI interface to the VME P1 connector. This can be used to
let the board act as a VME slave. The Universe specs are available from
Tundra, so you may be able to play with that.

> and can provide me with some documentation?

My employer directed Prodrive to develop this dedicated board. It is very
well possible that Prodrive is not free to distribute essential
documentation of the board, let alone documentation that describes the
environment that interacts with the legacy bus and its interface.

> The
> manufacturer so far ignored my requests (as usual)...

They may have good reasons (see above) ...
AFAIK Prodrive ships these boards only to my employer, how did you get
yours? A left-over from a scrapped machine or test-rig?

> This is just a little hobby of mine, I got Linux to work on a PowerPMC
> module plugged into the carrier, but I can't use any of it's additional
> features without some documentation.

When you boot Linux (or some other software) e.g. using an ethernet
interface on the PMC module, you must be able to scan the PCI bus for
devices and find the Universe PCI-VME bridge device.

Rob, not speaking for ASML

On 28 Aug., 07:42, rob windgassen wrote:
[VME PMC carrier]
> > and can provide me with some documentation?
>
> My employer directed Prodrive to develop this dedicated board. It is very
> well possible that Prodrive is not free to distribute essential
> documentation of the board, let alone documentation that describes the
> environment that interacts with the legacy bus and its interface.

I see. Too bad

> AFAIK Prodrive ships these boards only to my employer, how did you get
> yours? A left-over from a scrapped machine or test-rig?

I got it from a guy on eBay. I bought it because it came with a
PowerPC G4 PMC module, the board was just an extra but turned out to
be interesting as well...

> > This is just a little hobby of mine, I got Linux to work on a PowerPMC
> > module plugged into the carrier, but I can't use any of it's additional
> > features without some documentation.
>
> When you boot Linux (or some other software) e.g. using an ethernet
> interface on the PMC module, you must be able to scan the PCI bus for
> devices and find the Universe PCI-VME bridge device.

Yes, while I did not test it in conjuction with other VME devices, the
PCI devices do show up (Tundra, a serial comm. controller and the FIFO
chip). That part of the board works without any additional setup.

The most interesting part is the FPGA however, and that I can not get
to work without some more information

Thanks for the info,
Sebastian