Freescale has launched a program aimed at letting embedded developers optimize its NPUs (network processing units) for specific interfaces and protocols. The Open QUICC Engine developer program includes training, documentation, and tools for writing custom, portable microcode for the QUICC Engine network accelerators found in newer PowerQUICC chips.

Freescale says its Open QUICC Engine program will give third-party development service providers the needed training and tools to optimize its NPUs for applications that include industrial control, consumer/SOHO networking, broadband access, enterprise networking, wireless and wireline infrastructure, and VoIP (voice-over-IP) systems.

The QUICC Engine was introduced in the MPC8360E PowerQUICC II Pro processor family. It aims to offload network protocol processing from the primary PowerPC and DSP cores found in PowerQUICC NPUs. Its microcode supports:

• Layer 1 physical interfaces
• Layer 2 termination, forwarding, and interworking
• Layer 3 interworking and forwarding
• Layer 4 identification and forwarding
• IP/Ethernet and ATM traffic management
• Quality of service

The Open QUICC Engine program includes training, documentation, and CodeWarrior tools that can be used to manipulate and optimize QUICC Engine communication interfaces to add new functionality, Freescale says. Microcode developed through the program will be portable to any QUICC Engine-equipped processor, providing an upgrade path, and will support major operating systems such as Linux, Integrity, and VxWorks, the company says.

QUICC Engine programming flow diagram
(Source: Freescale)
Initial Open QUICC Engine program members include Arabella Software, DoGav Systems, IndusRAD, and Wipro Technologies. Arabella has long offered custom microcode and Linux implementations for Freescale NPUs.

Lynelle McKay, GM of Freescale's digital systems division, stated, “The Open QUICC Engine program enables third-party developers and customers to implement new communications processing functions in microcode, without having to add ASIC or FPGA devices to their applications.”

Ravi Rao, VP of marketing at IndusRAD, said, “The developer program gives us the training, tools, and support we need to innovate within the technically challenging framework of customizing QUICC engine microcode.”

P. Subrahmanyam, senior VP of broadband at Wipro, added, “The program will enable Wipro to develop application-specific microcode for Freescale customers.”

Availability

The Open QUICC Engine program is available now to developers through a license agreement with Freescale, the company says. Additionally, Freescale invites customers to “contact the Open QUICC Engine program team to discuss opportunities for early adopter engagement.”

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