Echelon FTXL - Manual (Page 23)

FTXL User’s Guide 11
The FTXL LonTalk protocol stack and API require about 540 KB of program
memory on the Nios II host processor, not including the application program or
the operating system. In addition, you must provide sufficient additional non-
volatile memory for device configuration data and any non-volatile data that you
include in your application.
You can implement configuration properties as configuration network variables
or in configuration files. To access configuration files, you can implement the
L
ON W ORKS file transfer protocol (FTP) or use the direct memory files (DMF)
feature. See Using Direct Memory Files on page 96 for more information about
when to use FTP or the DMF feature.
Development Tools for FTXL
To develop an application for a device that uses an FTXL Transceiver, you need a
development system for the Nios II processor. In addition, you need the FTXL
Developer’s Kit, which includes:
• The FTXL LonTalk API
• The LonTalk
Interface Developer utility for defining the interface for
your FTXL device and generating the application framework
• Example FTXL applications
• A reference design for a Nios II processor and associated hardware for
the FPGA device
You also need a network management tool to install and test your FTXL device.
You can use the LonMaker Integration Tool, or any other tool that can install and
monitor L ON W ORKS devices. See the LonMaker User's Guide for more
information on the LonMaker tool.
You do not need the NodeBuilder Development Tool to use the FTXL Developer's
Kit; however, the NodeBuilder Code Wizard that is included with the
NodeBuilder tool, version 3 or later, can help you develop your Neuron C model
file. The model file is used to define the device’s interoperable interface.
FTXL Architecture
An FTXL device consists of the following components:
• The FTXL 3190 Free Topology Smart Transceiver running the FTXL
firmware
• A Nios II embedded processor running the following software:
• An FTXL host application that uses the FTXL LonTalk API
• The FTXL LonTalk protocol stack
• The FTXL hardware abstraction layer (HAL)
• The FTXL non-volatile data (NVD) driver
• The FTXL operating system abstraction layer (OSAL)
• An embedded operating system
• The Altera SOPC Builder hardware abstraction layer (HAL)