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Getting started with ARM processors - recommendations

Started by fvnktion October 25, 2010
On 2010-10-31, Paul E. Bennett <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> wrote:
> Simon Clubley wrote: > >> Such a device would appear to operate normally until a trigger sequence >> was executed. If this is a viable threat, then it takes the issue of >> hardware based spying to a whole new level. What I don't know is if this >> _is_ a viable threat or not. >> >> The one thing I do take issue with in the article is the article's focus >> on a date and time trigger as unless that functionality is built into the >> processor itself, it would mean that the malicious logic would need to >> know how to access that information from across the system bus. >> >> This doesn't change the fact that such malicious logic could be triggered >> in many other ways such as, for example, by a opcode sequence executed by >> normal unprivileged user mode code. > > So you think it might just be sensationalism then? >
Yes and no. There's clearly a major element of sensationalism, but there's also a real potential issue which has been identified as well. What I don't have a feeling for is where viable reality becomes sensationalism. IMHO, the date/time trigger bit is mostly sensationalism and would be more in place in a tabloid than a science magazine. A potentially hostile state player is not going to have countless devices all suddenly go rogue at some future fixed point in time. This would be a viable terrorist goal, but having terrorists secretly modify chip designs is not something I worry about. :-) OTOH, a potentially hostile state player been able to covertly access systems on demand in order to carry out espionage and disrupt systems in a crisis is a very realistic requirement for them. But then are they just going to modify some software somewhere or is there a real practical advantage to been able to spy at hardware level as well ? One could argue the hardware based approach allows malicious logic to be more easily hidden, but are there less risky ways of achieving your goals ? If there is a real advantage, is that advantage sufficient for the risks and resources involved in taking a hardware based approach ? I honestly do not know. Simon. PS: BTW, just out of interest, which stack based processors do you use ? -- Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world
Simon Clubley wrote:

> On 2010-10-31, Paul E. Bennett <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> wrote:
>> So you think it might just be sensationalism then? >> > > Yes and no. > > There's clearly a major element of sensationalism, but there's also a > real potential issue which has been identified as well. What I don't have > a feeling for is where viable reality becomes sensationalism.
[%X]
> One could argue the hardware based approach allows malicious logic to be > more easily hidden, but are there less risky ways of achieving your goals > ?
Software based attacks seem to be doing just fine for the moment.
> If there is a real advantage, is that advantage sufficient for the risks > and resources involved in taking a hardware based approach ? > > I honestly do not know.
I am not sure anyone does.
> Simon. > > PS: BTW, just out of interest, which stack based processors do you use ? >
Have used Novix NC4016, Harros RTX2000 and 2010. More recently I have been looking at the Intellasys SeaForth chips but am probably going with the Green Arrays GA144 for the next projects. -- ******************************************************************** Paul E. Bennett...............<email://Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> Forth based HIDECS Consultancy Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972 Tel: +44 (0)1235-510979 Going Forth Safely ..... EBA. www.electric-boat-association.org.uk.. ********************************************************************
On 29/10/2010 10:07, David Brown wrote:
> On 29/10/2010 02:36, hamilton wrote: >> On 10/28/2010 3:18 PM, Ulf Samuelsson wrote: >>> The AVR32 is more in the Cortex-M4 class, than the M3. >> >> How does the AVR32 compare to the MIPS processors ?? >> > > It compares with difficulty. > > MIPS is a family of licensable cores covering a huge spread. The > microMIPS cores will be probably be smaller and lower power than an > AVR32 (though it will depend on the implementation), while the biggest > cores are orders of magnitude faster. "MIPS" is more like "ARM" in this > respect. > > The most power-efficient MIPS core is probably the M14Kc at 90nm, and if > you accept the raw figures from MIPS website it has a core power of 0.08 > mW/mHz, runs at 200 MHz and does 1.5 DMIPS/MHz. >
I've just read that Microchip have now licensed the M14K core as well - expect to see faster and lower power PIC32 chips in the near future. It would be nice if other manufacturers follow their lead - an alternative to ARM would be a good thing for almost everyone, especially ARM users (but perhaps not for ARM stockholders...).
rickman skrev:
> On Oct 30, 8:58 am, David Brown > <david.br...@removethisbit.hesbynett.no> wrote: >> On 29/10/10 22:59, rickman wrote: >> >> >> >>> On Oct 29, 4:07 am, David Brown<da...@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> >>> wrote: >>>> On 29/10/2010 02:36, hamilton wrote: >>>>> On 10/28/2010 3:18 PM, Ulf Samuelsson wrote: >>>>>> The AVR32 is more in the Cortex-M4 class, than the M3. >>>>> How does the AVR32 compare to the MIPS processors ?? >>>> It compares with difficulty. >>>> MIPS is a family of licensable cores covering a huge spread. The >>>> microMIPS cores will be probably be smaller and lower power than an >>>> AVR32 (though it will depend on the implementation), while the biggest >>>> cores are orders of magnitude faster. "MIPS" is more like "ARM" in this >>>> respect. >>> I guess you can't knock the MIPS parts for being a poor step child >>> like the AVR32. It may not be available from more than one maker as a >> I don't know quite what you mean about the AVR32 being a "poor step >> child" - it's an independent modern 32-bit processor architecture with >> all the advantages and disadvantages that brings. > > Yes, poor step child as in not getting all the same stuff that the > others get... like a huge following, open source tools (not sure about > that one),
There is a complete S/W environment available free of charge from Atmel. The source code of most stuff can be downloaded from www.atmel.com. > but the main thing is that it is 100% sole sourced. If
> Atmel doesn't make the flavor you need, go pound sand. With ARM you > can go to another vendor to find just the mix that suits your app > best.
OK, where do I order samples with 512 kB Flash and floating point unit? Kinetis wont be available for a year. Truth is that it is so easy to change CPU architecture nowadays, that you can live with multiple architectures. If you don't find an ABR32 which will do the job, you can go to an ARM, but why select a poor chip when you can get a good chip? That is what consultants do all the time.
> >> But MIPS has been around for decades - it's older than ARM, and >> certainly much more established than the modern popular ARM cores. MIPS >> also have more experience at the higher end - they had 64-bit cores long >> before the amd64 architecture (or even Intel's disastrous IA-64), and >> SMP is standard stuff for MIPS. But they haven't had so much at the low >> end until recently - the microMIPS extensions are quite new. And they >> have always targeted a few big customers rather than being used by the >> "little people". > > I got no problem with MIPS. But if there is only one supplier of a > MIPS MCU, it has the same limitation that AVR32 has. > > >>> standard part, it does have a huge base of users, etc. So it is not >>> likely to go away... at least not as a core. Has Microchip been >>> selling these chips in high enough volume to assure that they will >>> continue to make them for years to come? That would be my biggest >>> concern at this point. >> MIPS is a core that will never go away - it is far too established for >> that. People who want a CPU core for their chips that will be used for >> the next 20 years pick either MIPS or PPC cores. > > Isn't that what I said, it is not likely to go away... as a core. As > an MCU it may or may not make the cut. Why do you think ARM is not > good for the next 20 years? They are running away with the MCU market > at this point. > > > Rick
-- Best Regards Ulf Samuelsson These are my own personal opinions, which may or may not be shared by my employer Atmel Nordic AB
rickman skrev:
> On Oct 30, 8:58 am, David Brown > <david.br...@removethisbit.hesbynett.no> wrote: >> On 29/10/10 22:59, rickman wrote: >> >> >> >>> On Oct 29, 4:07 am, David Brown<da...@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> >>> wrote: >>>> On 29/10/2010 02:36, hamilton wrote: >>>>> On 10/28/2010 3:18 PM, Ulf Samuelsson wrote: >>>>>> The AVR32 is more in the Cortex-M4 class, than the M3. >>>>> How does the AVR32 compare to the MIPS processors ?? >>>> It compares with difficulty. >>>> MIPS is a family of licensable cores covering a huge spread. The >>>> microMIPS cores will be probably be smaller and lower power than an >>>> AVR32 (though it will depend on the implementation), while the biggest >>>> cores are orders of magnitude faster. "MIPS" is more like "ARM" in this >>>> respect. >>> I guess you can't knock the MIPS parts for being a poor step child >>> like the AVR32. It may not be available from more than one maker as a >> I don't know quite what you mean about the AVR32 being a "poor step >> child" - it's an independent modern 32-bit processor architecture with >> all the advantages and disadvantages that brings. > > Yes, poor step child as in not getting all the same stuff that the > others get... like a huge following, open source tools (not sure about > that one),
There is a complete S/W environment available free of charge from Atmel. The source code of most stuff can be downloaded from www.atmel.com. > but the main thing is that it is 100% sole sourced. If
> Atmel doesn't make the flavor you need, go pound sand. With ARM you > can go to another vendor to find just the mix that suits your app > best.
OK, where do I order samples with 512 kB Flash and floating point unit? Kinetis wont be available for a year. Truth is that it is so easy to change CPU architecture nowadays, that you can live with multiple architectures. If you don't find an ABR32 which will do the job, you can go to an ARM, but why select a poor chip when you can get a good chip? That is what consultants do all the time.
> >> But MIPS has been around for decades - it's older than ARM, and >> certainly much more established than the modern popular ARM cores. MIPS >> also have more experience at the higher end - they had 64-bit cores long >> before the amd64 architecture (or even Intel's disastrous IA-64), and >> SMP is standard stuff for MIPS. But they haven't had so much at the low >> end until recently - the microMIPS extensions are quite new. And they >> have always targeted a few big customers rather than being used by the >> "little people". > > I got no problem with MIPS. But if there is only one supplier of a > MIPS MCU, it has the same limitation that AVR32 has. > > >>> standard part, it does have a huge base of users, etc. So it is not >>> likely to go away... at least not as a core. Has Microchip been >>> selling these chips in high enough volume to assure that they will >>> continue to make them for years to come? That would be my biggest >>> concern at this point. >> MIPS is a core that will never go away - it is far too established for >> that. People who want a CPU core for their chips that will be used for >> the next 20 years pick either MIPS or PPC cores. > > Isn't that what I said, it is not likely to go away... as a core. As > an MCU it may or may not make the cut. Why do you think ARM is not > good for the next 20 years? They are running away with the MCU market > at this point. > > > Rick
-- Best Regards Ulf Samuelsson These are my own personal opinions, which may or may not be shared by my employer Atmel Nordic AB
On 2010-11-01, Paul E. Bennett <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> wrote:
> Simon Clubley wrote: > >> >> PS: BTW, just out of interest, which stack based processors do you use ? >> > > Have used Novix NC4016, Harros RTX2000 and 2010. More recently I have been > looking at the Intellasys SeaForth chips but am probably going with the > Green Arrays GA144 for the next projects. >
Thanks for the pointers. It's always interesting to read up about new (to me) processor architectures. Simon. -- Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world
On Nov 2, 7:41=A0am, Ulf Samuelsson <u...@a-t-m-e-l.com> wrote:
> rickman skrev: > > On Oct 30, 8:58 am, David Brown > > <david.br...@removethisbit.hesbynett.no> wrote: > >> On 29/10/10 22:59, rickman wrote: > > >>> On Oct 29, 4:07 am, David Brown<da...@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> > >>> wrote: > >>>> On 29/10/2010 02:36, hamilton wrote: > >>>>> On 10/28/2010 3:18 PM, Ulf Samuelsson wrote: > >>>>>> The AVR32 is more in the Cortex-M4 class, than the M3. > >>>>> How does the AVR32 compare to the MIPS processors ?? > >>>> It compares with difficulty. > >>>> MIPS is a family of licensable cores covering a huge spread. =A0The > >>>> microMIPS cores will be probably be smaller and lower power than an > >>>> AVR32 (though it will depend on the implementation), while the bigge=
st
> >>>> cores are orders of magnitude faster. =A0"MIPS" is more like "ARM" i=
n this
> >>>> respect. > >>> I guess you can't knock the MIPS parts for being a poor step child > >>> like the AVR32. =A0It may not be available from more than one maker a=
s a
> >> I don't know quite what you mean about the AVR32 being a "poor step > >> child" - it's an independent modern 32-bit processor architecture with > >> all the advantages and disadvantages that brings. > > > Yes, poor step child as in not getting all the same stuff that the > > others get... like a huge following, open source tools (not sure about > > that one), > > There is a complete S/W environment available free of charge from Atmel. > The source code of most stuff can be downloaded fromwww.atmel.com. > > =A0> but the main thing is that it is 100% sole sourced. =A0If > > > Atmel doesn't make the flavor you need, go pound sand. =A0With ARM you > > can go to another vendor to find just the mix that suits your app > > best. > > OK, where do I order samples with 512 kB Flash and floating point unit? > Kinetis wont be available for a year.
Here is a perfect example of the problems with sole sourced parts. To work with an AVR32 I have to use the Atmel site. There the floating point is listed as something that "will be" offered. So is the site wrong or are you wrong? With the ARM community if I don't like one vendor because they have a poor web site and poor selection guides. In fact, the only selection guide I can find indicates the AVR32 has no peripherals other than Ethernet, USB and... well, that's it! It also shows no parts with FPU... http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/param_table.asp?family_id=3D607&OrderBy= =3Dpart_no&Direction=3DASC This is exactly the sort of stuff I mean when I talk about the advantages of having multiple vendors for your chosen CPU.
> Truth is that it is so easy to change CPU architecture nowadays, > that you can live with multiple architectures. > If you don't find an ABR32 which will do the job, you > can go to an ARM, but why select a poor chip when you can get a good chip=
?
> That is what consultants do all the time.
Yes, this is what I would expect to hear from the AVR32 vendor. But why select a dead end chip when I can select any of literally hundreds of variations in an ARM and simply not need to change tools and startup code? But you can ignore what your customers want... BTW, when are your CM4 parts due out? Oh, that's right, you haven't gotten your CM0 parts out yet... Rick
rickman skrev:
> On Nov 2, 7:41 am, Ulf Samuelsson <u...@a-t-m-e-l.com> wrote: >> rickman skrev: >>> On Oct 30, 8:58 am, David Brown >>> <david.br...@removethisbit.hesbynett.no> wrote: >>>> On 29/10/10 22:59, rickman wrote: >>>>> On Oct 29, 4:07 am, David Brown<da...@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>>> On 29/10/2010 02:36, hamilton wrote: >>>>>>> On 10/28/2010 3:18 PM, Ulf Samuelsson wrote: >>>>>>>> The AVR32 is more in the Cortex-M4 class, than the M3. >>>>>>> How does the AVR32 compare to the MIPS processors ?? >>>>>> It compares with difficulty. >>>>>> MIPS is a family of licensable cores covering a huge spread. The >>>>>> microMIPS cores will be probably be smaller and lower power than an >>>>>> AVR32 (though it will depend on the implementation), while the biggest >>>>>> cores are orders of magnitude faster. "MIPS" is more like "ARM" in this >>>>>> respect. >>>>> I guess you can't knock the MIPS parts for being a poor step child >>>>> like the AVR32. It may not be available from more than one maker as a >>>> I don't know quite what you mean about the AVR32 being a "poor step >>>> child" - it's an independent modern 32-bit processor architecture with >>>> all the advantages and disadvantages that brings. >>> Yes, poor step child as in not getting all the same stuff that the >>> others get... like a huge following, open source tools (not sure about >>> that one), >> There is a complete S/W environment available free of charge from Atmel. >> The source code of most stuff can be downloaded fromwww.atmel.com. >> >> > but the main thing is that it is 100% sole sourced. If >> >>> Atmel doesn't make the flavor you need, go pound sand. With ARM you >>> can go to another vendor to find just the mix that suits your app >>> best. >> OK, where do I order samples with 512 kB Flash and floating point unit? >> Kinetis wont be available for a year. > > Here is a perfect example of the problems with sole sourced parts. To > work with an AVR32 I have to use the Atmel site. There the floating > point is listed as something that "will be" offered. So is the site > wrong or are you wrong? With the ARM community if I don't like one > vendor because they have a poor web site and poor selection guides. > In fact, the only selection guide I can find indicates the AVR32 has > no peripherals other than Ethernet, USB and... well, that's it! It > also shows no parts with FPU... >
You can download the AT32UC3C Series Preliminary Datasheet from: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc32117.pdf Brief Overview at: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/corporate/view_detail.asp?FileName=Atmel_Introduces_First_32-bit_AVR_Microcontroller_UC3.html The part is released to production. There are rev C samples and development kits in stock. The production revision is Rev D. The difference between rev C and rev D is increased functionality. Rev D includes Ethernet and additional USART and I2C.
> http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/param_table.asp?family_id=607&OrderBy=part_no&Direction=ASC > > This is exactly the sort of stuff I mean when I talk about the > advantages of having multiple vendors for your chosen CPU. > > >> Truth is that it is so easy to change CPU architecture nowadays, >> that you can live with multiple architectures. >> If you don't find an ABR32 which will do the job, you >> can go to an ARM, but why select a poor chip when you can get a good chip? >> That is what consultants do all the time. > > Yes, this is what I would expect to hear from the AVR32 vendor. But > why select a dead end chip when I can select any of literally hundreds > of variations in an ARM and simply not need to change tools and > startup code? But you can ignore what your customers want... > > BTW, when are your CM4 parts due out? Oh, that's right, you haven't > gotten your CM0 parts out yet... > > Rick
-- Best Regards Ulf Samuelsson These are my own personal opinions, which may or may not be shared by my employer Atmel Nordic AB
On Nov 10, 3:09=A0pm, Ulf Samuelsson <u...@a-t-m-e-l.com> wrote:
> rickman skrev: > > > > > On Nov 2, 7:41 am, Ulf Samuelsson <u...@a-t-m-e-l.com> wrote: > >> rickman skrev: > >>> On Oct 30, 8:58 am, David Brown > >>> <david.br...@removethisbit.hesbynett.no> wrote: > >>>> On 29/10/10 22:59, rickman wrote: > >>>>> On Oct 29, 4:07 am, David Brown<da...@westcontrol.removethisbit.com= > > >>>>> wrote: > >>>>>> On 29/10/2010 02:36, hamilton wrote: > >>>>>>> On 10/28/2010 3:18 PM, Ulf Samuelsson wrote: > >>>>>>>> The AVR32 is more in the Cortex-M4 class, than the M3. > >>>>>>> How does the AVR32 compare to the MIPS processors ?? > >>>>>> It compares with difficulty. > >>>>>> MIPS is a family of licensable cores covering a huge spread. =A0Th=
e
> >>>>>> microMIPS cores will be probably be smaller and lower power than a=
n
> >>>>>> AVR32 (though it will depend on the implementation), while the big=
gest
> >>>>>> cores are orders of magnitude faster. =A0"MIPS" is more like "ARM"=
in this
> >>>>>> respect. > >>>>> I guess you can't knock the MIPS parts for being a poor step child > >>>>> like the AVR32. =A0It may not be available from more than one maker=
as a
> >>>> I don't know quite what you mean about the AVR32 being a "poor step > >>>> child" - it's an independent modern 32-bit processor architecture wi=
th
> >>>> all the advantages and disadvantages that brings. > >>> Yes, poor step child as in not getting all the same stuff that the > >>> others get... like a huge following, open source tools (not sure abou=
t
> >>> that one), > >> There is a complete S/W environment available free of charge from Atme=
l.
> >> The source code of most stuff can be downloaded fromwww.atmel.com. > > >> =A0> but the main thing is that it is 100% sole sourced. =A0If > > >>> Atmel doesn't make the flavor you need, go pound sand. =A0With ARM yo=
u
> >>> can go to another vendor to find just the mix that suits your app > >>> best. > >> OK, where do I order samples with 512 kB Flash and floating point unit=
?
> >> Kinetis wont be available for a year. > > > Here is a perfect example of the problems with sole sourced parts. =A0T=
o
> > work with an AVR32 I have to use the Atmel site. =A0There the floating > > point is listed as something that "will be" offered. =A0So is the site > > wrong or are you wrong? =A0With the ARM community if I don't like one > > vendor because they have a poor web site and poor selection guides. > > In fact, the only selection guide I can find indicates the AVR32 has > > no peripherals other than Ethernet, USB and... well, that's it! =A0It > > also shows no parts with FPU... > > You can download the AT32UC3C Series Preliminary Datasheet from: > > http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc32117.pdf > > Brief Overview at:http://www.atmel.com/dyn/corporate/view_detail.asp?File=
Name=3DAtmel_Int...
> > The part is released to production. > There are rev C samples and development kits in stock. > > The production revision is Rev D. > The difference between rev C and rev D is increased functionality. > Rev D includes Ethernet and additional USART and I2C. > > > > >http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/param_table.asp?family_id=3D607&Order.=
..
> > > This is exactly the sort of stuff I mean when I talk about the > > advantages of having multiple vendors for your chosen CPU. > > >> Truth is that it is so easy to change CPU architecture nowadays, > >> that you can live with multiple architectures. > >> If you don't find an ABR32 which will do the job, you > >> can go to an ARM, but why select a poor chip when you can get a good c=
hip?
> >> That is what consultants do all the time. > > > Yes, this is what I would expect to hear from the AVR32 vendor. =A0But > > why select a dead end chip when I can select any of literally hundreds > > of variations in an ARM and simply not need to change tools and > > startup code? =A0But you can ignore what your customers want... > > > BTW, when are your CM4 parts due out? =A0Oh, that's right, you haven't > > gotten your CM0 parts out yet... > > > Rick > > -- > Best Regards > Ulf Samuelsson > These are my own personal opinions, which may > or may not be shared by my employer Atmel Nordic AB
I repeat the question... is the web site wrong or does Atmel consider this part not yet available? Rick
On Nov 1, 5:48=A0pm, "Paul E. Bennett" <Paul_E.Benn...@topmail.co.uk>
wrote:
> Simon Clubley wrote: > > On 2010-10-31, Paul E. Bennett <Paul_E.Benn...@topmail.co.uk> wrote: > >> So you think it might just be sensationalism then? > > > Yes and no. > > > There's clearly a major element of sensationalism, but there's also a > > real potential issue which has been identified as well. What I don't ha=
ve
> > a feeling for is where viable reality becomes sensationalism. > > [%X] > > > One could argue the hardware based approach allows malicious logic to b=
e
> > more easily hidden, but are there less risky ways of achieving your goa=
ls
> > ? > > Software based attacks seem to be doing just fine for the moment. > > > If there is a real advantage, is that advantage sufficient for the risk=
s
> > and resources involved in taking a hardware based approach ? > > > I honestly do not know. > > I am not sure anyone does. > > > Simon. > > > PS: BTW, just out of interest, which stack based processors do you use =
?
> > Have used Novix NC4016, Harros RTX2000 and 2010. More recently I have bee=
n
> looking at the Intellasys SeaForth chips but am probably going with the > Green ArraysGA144for the next projects.
What sorts of projects do you expect to be using the GA144? Rick