The SPC5xx/MPC5xxx topic

[Giovanni]

Hi,

You may have noticed that a lot of code related to the PPC port is being committed, I decided to offer a better support for this architecture now that the ST/Freescale SPC5xx/MPC5xxx micro controllers are becoming more easily available.

The xPC5xx family is really nice ranging from the "small" xPC560P to dual core beasts running a 300MHz with 4MB Flash. They are meant for automotive applications but the device are usable in other fields. The interesting thing is that the newer devices are packed with safety-related HW features.

They will also give me a chance to work on the "multi-core ChibiOS" variant I always wanted to do.

Giovanni

[mobyfab]

Reminds me of a project: http://code.google.com/p/open5xxxecu/
Which started out of this: http://blogs.freescale.com/2011/06/07/calling-all-petrolheads-configurable-aftermarket-ecus-for-sale/
And a very nice presentation of their project: https://www.freescale.com/files/training_pdf/FTF/2012/americas/WBNR_FTF12_AUT_F0018.pdf
They probably could use ChibiOS (they use cocoOS)

After a quick look on Octopart, seems like the ST SPC5xx are easier to find than Freescale's MPC5xxx. (Freescale uses SPC5xxx as it's real parts name)

Nice work Giovanni!

[mabl]

Interesting, I missed that one. Is it supported by standard gcc and openocd?

[Giovanni]

Very good questions

GCC already supports PPC in Book-E mode, I am using CodeSourcery already, next version should also support the VLE instruction set too. OpenOCD: not yet, but I wish to add the PPC support there too.

The e200z cores (from ST and FSL) are very efficient, generally faster than equivalent ARMs from my benchmarking.

[mobyfab]

Some good info here: http://www.emcu.it/STM56-PowerPC.html

[mabl]

Maybe also check back with the guy from here to get an update on oocd:
http://lists.berlios.de/pipermail/openo ... 20300.html
http://lists.berlios.de/pipermail/openo ... 20301.html

What is the "normal" gdbserver for MPC5xxx? Or is there none?

[Giovanni]

There is none, only expensive proprietary debuggers.

I wish to enable the development in OpenOCD, is there anything that is required but missing?

Giovanni

[mabl]

Hi Giovanni,

probably the best would be to get in touch with this guy and they head over to the IRC channel. Probably, also check out the irc channel - a bit silent but you get good feedback most of the time.

Once there are good and cheap boards, give one to Spencer Oliver and Peter Stuge (and me ). Will this board be from Olimex?

[Giovanni]

It is an ST board but I would love to see Olimex doing something like this, probably we should ask Tsvetan about this . I will ask to my boss if it is possible to disclose details anyway.

Giovanni

[mobyfab]

You should definitely ask Olimex if they can/want to make one.

Found this for debug: http://www.pemicro.com/osbdm/osbdm_description.cfm
They say it's for FSL so not sure it would work with the SPC from ST.