Date   : Tue, 26 Jul 2005 18:24:07 +0100
From   : Phil Blundell <philb@...>
Subject: Re: Econet-Ethernet bridge

On Tue, 2005-07-26 at 18:49 +0200, Eelco Huininga wrote:
> True, but I do believe that 8-bit ethernet controllers will be available
> for years to come, because the demand for these embedded controllers will
> still be there.
> An option might be to use an 'open-core' design written in VHDL:
> http://www.opencores.org/projects.cgi/web/ethmac/overview

That would be an option, but it doesn't really buy much.  An FPGA would
probably be more expensive than the Ethernet chip you're trying to
replace, and is unlikely to remain available for any longer.  Plus, the
FPGA would only handle the MAC functionality, so you'd need a separate
PHY.  (The CS8900 and RTL8019 chips have both the MAC and the PHY
onboard.)

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 at 17:55:06 +0100, Rob wrote:
> How about, design the PCB with a row of holes to accommodate an ISA
> socket, and route the relevant signals past this?  If the ethernet
> chip becomes unavailable, leave it off and install ISA socket instead?

It'd make the PCB larger and more complex, without bringing any real
benefit.  If and when the chip becomes obsolete, you can redesign the
board just as easily at that point.  I don't think there's any point in
trying to cope with that sort of thing right now.

p.