Learn PCI Express and Ethernet protocols to support modern IO in embedded and server systems.
PCI Express has become the dominant intrasystem IO interconnect from the largest servers to mobile phones and embedded devices. In this course for developers and support engineers in hardware, firmware, software, and field-application, students will gain a stronger understanding of the protocol.
We will start with an introduction to IO concepts which will give us an understanding of why IO protocols behave the way they do. We will then dive into PCI Express including the 6.0 version. PCI Express enables interfacing with Ethernet and other protocols to achieve intersystem communication. We will end with an overview of Ethernet and how PCI Express and Ethernet work together to enable communication.
Through lectures, homework assignments, and a final exam, students will gain a broad idea of how IO works in a modern computer system and be better prepared to work with device drivers and troubleshoot IO problems. Note: The course does not cover chip or board design aspects of IO.
An introductory course or practical experience with operating systems internals, an introduction to computer architecture and organization, and systems programming experience.
