Any Media over Any Network Part 2 – Leveraging Strengths in Ethernet

amd_adaptivecomputing · ‎02-01-2023

Editor’s Note: This content is contributed by Rob Green, Senior Manager - Pro AV, Broadcast, and Consumer.

In the first of our “any media over any network” series, we highlighted that support for bridging between traditional AV connectivity standards and Ethernet-based IP networks is a key function required in many multimedia systems. Next, we’ll take a closer look at the options designers have when adopting Ethernet for AV transport using AMD Adaptive SoCs.

Zynq™ 7000 SoCs

For space-constrained, cost optimized applications on a tight power budget, the AMD Zynq 7000 devices offer an attractive solution for media transport over Ethernet at up to 1Gbit/s. All Zynq 7000 devices contain two hard-wired 10/100/1G Ethernet ports in their Processing System (PS), and additional 1G/2.5G Ethernet ports can be added via the use of IP cores implemented in the Programmable Logic (PL) section of the device. In fact, Zynq-7030 and larger devices equipped with GTX transceivers can even implement 10G Ethernet ports in the PL. Additional network processing and acceleration functions beyond just the MAC can also be realized in the PL.

Figure 1: Zynq 7000 Adaptive SoC Block Diagram

Zynq UltraScale+™ MPSoCs

The AMD Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoCs expand upon the capabilities of the Zynq 7000 family by offering four hard-wired 10/100/1G Ethernet ports in the PS and higher performance Arm® Application Processor Units. As with Zynq 7000 SoC, additional Ethernet ports can be added via IP cores in the PL, including USXGMII (more commonly known as NBaseT which supports 1G/2.5G/5G/10G Ethernet over twisted pair) and extending up to 25G Ethernet in XCZU11EG and larger devices with GTY transceivers. Even 100G Ethernet is a possibility thanks to the hard-wired CMAC block that equips some of the largest devices in this family!

Figure 2: Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC Block Diagram

Versal™ Adaptive SoCs

When multiple ports of 10G or 25G Ethernet are a requirement, the AMD Versal Prime ACAPs are an effective solution thanks to the integration of one or more hard-wired Multirate Ethernet MAC (MRMAC) blocks. Each MRMAC is highly configurable and can implement up to four 10G or 25G Ethernet ports, two 50G Ethernet ports, or a single 40G or 100G Ethernet port. If rates beyond 100G are needed, then Versal Premium ACAPs can step in, as devices in this family include not only several MRMACs, but also one or more hard-wired DCMAC blocks, each of which can each implement up to six 100G Ethernet ports, three 200G Ethernet ports or one 400G Ethernet Port.

Figure 3: Versal Premium Adaptive SoC Block Diagram

Whatever your requirement for the transport of AV over Ethernet, whether it be via the control of a standard Linux IP stack running on processors or a hardware-centric implementation of SMPTE ST 2110, AMD Adaptive SoCs have you covered. To quickly get started, take a look at our Targeted Reference Designs that include the streaming of video over 1G and 10G Ethernet on ZC706, ZCU106, and VMK180 evaluation boards, or contact your local AMD or distributor sales team for more information.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at IPMX, Dante, and NDI, emerging Ethernet-based standards for AV transport that are well suited for implementation on AMD Adaptive SoCs and can be integrated alongside a whole host of audio, video, and machine learning IP in a single device tailored to your exact requirements.

Any Media over Any Network Part 2 – Leveraging Strengths in Ethernet

Zynq™ 7000 SoCs

References