Viewpoint: full introduction to mainstream chips of broadband Routers

At present, broadband routers are widely used and have high market demands. Here we mainly introduce two mainstream chips in broadband routers, including introduction to ARM companies and products. With the gradual popularization of broadband networks, broadband routers have become more and more widely used.

A Broadband Router provides a perfect solution for network sharing. As an Access Router, A Broadband Router initially aims to achieve network sharing. Broadband routers ensure the speed requirements of users while ensuring low prices, which we often say is fast. So when you buy a Broadband Router, you are very concerned about its performance. The performance and grade of a Broadband Router are determined by the processor, memory, and cache.

There are two types of processors according to their usage: one is a general-purpose processor, including the processor used for the server and the processor used for the PC. The commercialization products of these processors include Pentium, Alpha, Power, PA-Proteus, and UltraSparc. The other type is embedded processors, which are mainly used for routers, mobile phones, printers, household appliances, and other products. Currently, the Broadband Router processors are x86, ARM7, arm9-, RDC, and MIPS.

The vro processor is the core device of a vro, like a computer motherboard or vswitch. The quality of the processor directly affects the performance of the router. As the core part of a Broadband Router, the quality of the processor often determines the throughput of the Broadband Router, which is the most important parameter. Generally, if the processor clock speed is less than m, this type of Broadband Router is suitable for common household and SOHO users. M to M medium, more than M is a relatively high frequency. Suitable for Internet cafes, small and medium-sized enterprises, and branches of large enterprises. In addition to the operating frequency, the bandwidth router's processor architecture should also be noted. Is it 80186, or MIPS? Generally, the ARM7 and RDC architectures have been eliminated. The performance of the processors using these two architectures is poor, and mainstream manufacturers are no longer using them.

Two mainstream chips

The core processors of arm9-and MIPS are currently mainstream. The Cache capacity is 8 K or less, which is usually 16 K, and 32 K or more is large. The arm9-architecture has a common 920 T/922 T/940T and a reinforced 926E/946E/966E. MIPS is divided into 2 K, 3 K, 4 K, and 5 K. The performance and structure of different models vary greatly.

ARM and Product Introduction

ARM is a well-known enterprise in the microprocessor industry. It has designed a large number of high-performance, low-cost, and low-energy-consuming Proteus processors, related technologies and software. The technology features high performance, low cost, and low energy consumption. It is applicable to multiple fields, such as embedded control, consumption/education multimedia, DSP, and mobile applications.

ARM authorizes its technology to many famous semiconductor, software, and OEM vendors in the world. Each Vendor receives a unique set of ARM-related technologies and services. Using this partnership, ARM soon became the creator of many global RISC standards.

Currently, a total of 30 semiconductor companies have signed hardware technology license agreements with ARM, including large companies such as Intel, IBM, LG semiconductor, NEC, SONY, Phillips and National Semiconductor. As for software systems partners, there are a series of well-known companies, including Microsoft, shengyang, and MRI. The IP-core microprocessor using ARM technology is widely used in various electronic products: Automotive, consumer electronics, imaging, industrial control, massive storage, network, security, wireless, and other markets. ARM technology is almost everywhere, ARM's 16/32-bit embedded processor technology is the most widely used microprocessor structure in the world. The ARM architecture is the first Proteus microprocessor designed for the low-budget market. ZA

ARM provides a series of kernel, system expansion, microprocessor, and system chip solutions. Since all products adopt a general software system, the same software can run in all products (theoretically ). A typical CPU kernel product is as follows.

Kernel Products

ARM7: small, fast, low-energy, and integrated-type Proteus kernel for mobile communication.

ARM7TDMI (Thumb): This product is the most user-authorized by the company. It combines the arm7instruction set with the Thumb extension to reduce memory capacity and system costs. At the same time, it also uses embedded ICE debugging technology to simplify system design, and uses a DSP to enhance expansion to improve performance. This product is typically used for digital cell phones and hard drives.

ARM9TDMI: uses a 5-phase pipeline of the arm9kernel, and is equipped with the Thumb extension, debugging, and Harvard bus. When the production process is the same, the performance of ARM7TDMI can be up to twice. It is often used for connecting networks and pin boxes.

Microprocessor

ARM710 series, including ARM710, ARM710T, ARM720T, and ARM740T: low-cost, low-energy, encapsulated conventional system microprocessor, with high-speed Cache, memory management, write buffer, and JTAG. It is widely used in handheld computing, data communication, and consumer multimedia.

ARM940T and 920T series: low-cost, low-energy, high-performance system microprocessor with Cache, memory management, and write buffer. It is applicable to advanced engine management, security systems, pin boxes, portable computers, and high-end printers. StrongARM: a microprocessor technology that features high performance and meets the needs of conventional applications. It was jointly developed with DEC and subsequently authorized to Intel. SA110 processor, SA1100 PDA system chip, and SA1500 multimedia processor chip all adopt this technology.

At present, most of the CPUs of the most popular broadband routers are based on the ARM kernel and developed by various chip manufacturers. Among them, the most widely used ARM7, its maximum network throughput can reach 20 MMbit/s, while the network throughput of the arm9-cpu is between 30 m and ~ Between 65 Mbit/s, so for enterprise-level applications, we should consider a bandwidth router that can support higher bandwidth and more users based on the CPU Of The arm9-core. Because the processing speed of the ARM7 is usually dozens of megabytes, it is no longer able to meet the needs of more and more enterprise hosts to share the Internet and expand the network in the future, however, arm9-'s speed is 100 MHz-233 MHz.