User guide

Nios II IDE Help System

NicheStack TCP/IP Stack - Nios II Edition

The NicheStack® TCP/IP Stack - Nios II Edition is an implementation of the transmission

control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) suite. Altera provides the NicheStack TCP/IP Stack

as a software component plug-in for the Nios II IDE, which you add to your Nios II system

library. Your program code can use the sockets API to send data over Ethernet hardware.

In order to use the NicheStack TCP/IP Stack, you must base your Nios II system library

project on the MicroC/OS-II RTOS. If your system library project is not based on the

MicroC/OS-II RTOS, the Nios II IDE does not allow you to add the NicheStack software

component.

You configure the NicheStack TCP/IP Stack using the Software Components dialog box. The

NicheStack TCP/IP Stack has the following settings pages.

Global Options—Allows you to specify the following configurable global settings:

o TCP—When on, the component enables the TCP protocol code. Settings on the

TCP Options page are only available when TCP is on.

o Use DHCP to automatically assign IP address—When on, the component

uses DHCP to acquire an IP address. When off, you must assign a static IP

address.

o Enable statistics—When on, the component collects network statistics.

o MAC interface—Specifies which interface to use when sending packets to an

IP address without a known route.

IP Options—Allows you to specify the following configurable IP settings:

o Forward IP packets—This setting is only relevant when there is more than

one network interface. When on, the IP stack for each interface forwards

packets not addressed to it out of the correct interface.

o Reassemble IP packet fragments—When on, the NicheStack TCP/IP stack

reassembles IP packet fragments into full IP packets. When off, the IP stack

discards IP packet fragments.

TCP Options—Allows you to specify the following configurable TCP settings:

o Use TCP zero copy—When on, the component uses the TCP zero copy API.

You must modify the network application to take advantage of this API. Using

the standard socket APIs does not use the zero copy API.

The following are the configurable TCP settings. These setting are only available when

TCP on the Global Options page is on.

Use TCP zero copy—When on, the component uses the TCP zero copy API. You

must modify the network application to take advantage of this API. Using the

standard socket APIs does not use the zero copy API.

Note: You can evaluate the NicheStack TCP/IP Stack - Nios II Edition at no charge using

a Nios development board. However, you must purchase a license to ship a commercial

product using the NicheStack TCP/IP Stack - Nios II Edition.