AVR-Chat

> From: Geert De Pecker
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Just a general question about the use of ethernet with the AVR: there
> have been quite a number of hardware possibilities mentioned, but how
> hard is it concerning software? Does one need a lot of programming to
> do before being able to get tcp communication going?

Hi Geert,

I think David's comment:

<Otherwise the answer is, "It can be done, but isn't trivial.">

I am a retired software developer on mid-sized systems in the area of financial
data networks and I am familiar with the basics of TCP/IP but I have (as yet)
limited experience on microcontrollers.  I have made one attempt at getting
Internet connectivity for my project but I have discovered that the hardware
environment of my first attempt was too limiting (code and data space) and my
(current) knowledge of AVRs, GCC, etc. was preventing me from making headway. 

Note: I attribute most of my lack of headway to my current skill level with AVRs
and GCC, etc.  The hardware limiting I mentioned is mostly in the area of being
able to handle larger buffers, message sizes, etc.

This, along with the fact that I don't have loads of time to devote to study of
the protocol stack, is why I have decided to go with the EtherNut Board 2 (has
an RS-485 port which is a plus) which comes preloaded with working IP, TCP, UDP,
etc. (as well as a small multithreaded OS).  It includes open source for the
loaded software and a user forum that supports it.  This way I only have to
modify the code to suit my current needs and I can become more familiar with the
protocol stack details later.

Just one person's (microcontroller beginner's) experience ...

I hope to receive the hardware late this week and have something useful in a
week after that (I wish I had time to play with it full time, but alas ...)

I thank all list members who provided advice in my search including the
recommendation of UiP (which I think is good also) which I may use at a later
date on the smaller hardware I have at a later date.

Cheers,

Chuck Hackett
"Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment"
7.5" gauge Union Pacific Northern (4-8-4) 844
http://www.whitetrout.net/Chuck