Bitcoin Forum

Project: DiY ArduLonMiner

This HW will be based on Arduino DUE control unit with plugged Avalon rig board & ethernet shield. This miner is regular device whitch support direct connection to bitcoin pool !

http://i39.tinypic.com/o06viw.png

http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/ArduinoDue_Front.jpg


Features:

-Fully opensourced HW and SW
-Direct USB connection
-Direct Bitcoin POOL connection (via ethernet shiled)
-Easy software update via Arduino Studio
-32Bit Arm Cortex M3 CPU Atmel SAM3
-3,3v operating voltage for direct chip to chip communication without Logic Level conversion
-84Mhz operation frequency

-Hashing power max. 9Gh/s - 3 Avalon modules

-Arduino shiled:
http://i39.tinypic.com/dgjqdj.png

Web configuration:
http://i44.tinypic.com/2vwzp6u.png

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZJHI0_Yi5A


Please note, this is my free-time project so if someone wants to support this project may send me some coins. Thanks.

Donation Address BTC:1Ft43RmmPN52A48GM6gnNYPKwztiHcKV3

Greetings.

Why don't you try it with the Raspberry Pi?

Good luck with your project.

Why do you post this in the german subforum?

Hi, thanks for interrest.

Because for communication with avalon chip is necessary to guarantee low latency and    
precisely timing and it is not possible to achieve with classic OS. Only RTOS is useful but its very complicated for many users.

Arduino platform is easy to install, upgradable and code work native without OS.

I love arduino, but I'm not very experienced with it.
But anyway, I'm interested in this project and wish you much success.

registering interest...
Personally I love the pi, be interesting to see what this can do

Nice, are you building it like a bitcoin mining shield that anyone could buy and hook up to their arduino?

Definitely interested.

good idea!

Used and programmed a DUE before. Will be watching.

Hi, yes this is main idea.


Hi, arudino DUE has only 5V and 3,3V power bus, Avalon logic can be powered from 3,3V arduino regulator. shield will contain 1,2 V power supply for Avalon IP Cores (DC-DC converter 12V to 1,2V so only one 12V arduino power plug will be used).

UPDATE:
Yesterday night I programmed routines for communication with Avalon.

I still have to resolve these parts:
- Hash precalculations for Avalon
- Building data block for Avalon
- Communication with cgminer

Have you considered using a Beaglebone Black?

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=218193.msg2294329#msg2294329

So, I had some time today.

UPDATE

- avalon communication (FINISHED but not tested yet).
- Hash precalculations for Avalon (FINISHED)
- Building data block for Avalon (clock configuration - FINISHED, nonce configuration FINISHED, data for avalon - IN PROGRESS)
- Communication with cgminer - WAIT FOR IMPLEMENTATION

interested in the progress of this

Awesome someone finally is doing this. When are you planning on making the source available? I would love to take a look.

I'd love to get my hands on a "mining shield" and Arduino sketch to experiment with.

yes, getting very interesting

great news, I'm wondering if you're able to set up everything correctly without having the avalon chip on hand.

*dreaming about ordering this avalon shield before the chips arrive, beeing able to stick them on the board then by myself*

I dont have any avalon chip in this time for real testing but I will test Avalon communication by Spectrum analyzer. Code for miner is programmed by real AVALON A3256 asic chip datasheet.     

Sounds good. Did you notice the other developers asking for chip samples in the group buy threads?  :)

interested

How is a Spectrum analyzer going to help ?

I'd guess he meant to write logic analyzer...?

Nice work man. Added to watch list.

Ah sorry I thought oscilloscope.

There are two steps needed to test the communication without real avalon chip.

1. analyze outgoing bitstream by logic analyzer
2. simulate communication using two arduino due boards (one as avalon simulator)

Interesting project, watching

UPDATE

Hi, so base coding is finished. I am ready to testing and debugging. At the moment I have only one arduino due board so I must buy another one. If anyone would like to donate second arduino due board for testing, my bitcoin address is on the frst page. Thanks.


http://i43.tinypic.com/2rwqjq1.png

were in the world are you ?

I do have some sample avalon chips coming in batch 1, I maybe able to spare the odd one :D

Subbing!

Hi, I am slightly modify the specifications of this project. Max. hashing power will be 9Gh/s. It will contain three avalon modules - each 10 chips per board.

Avalon module will be powered from onboard 108 W DC/DC converter.

http://i43.tinypic.com/izryav.png
Hi, I am from Slovakia, central Europe. I would be happy with avalon sample :D. I'll send you PM. Thank you :)

UPDATE:

My Eagle library for Avalon Asic Chip

http://i41.tinypic.com/2u6fxx4.png

Wow, great job.

Do you need any help with this project?
It looks like you are moving ahead very quickly.

1 of my samples from batch 1 (early july est) is now promised to this project.

Ill get it to op quick as I can.

Sorry cant be any help as i am not holding any chips but looks interesting project. I Wish your success btw good luck :)

Thank you very much :)

I got some questions about bugs on the power board, previous figure of power shield is not final pcb but only some circuit layout.
Complete board is visibled on the last picture. (There is still some 'small errors' about the crystal oscillator).

http://i39.tinypic.com/dgjqdj.png

PS for interrested people
On the picture with serial console are two mistakes that were fixed but there is old picture.

UPDATE:

Hi, I started working on avalon module. I would like to finish it this week.
Some picture from my work:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2c0lly.png

Watching!

This is getting good..

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/George-Costanza-Eating-Popcorn.gif

great news  8)

Hi,

any plans to extend to >100 Gh/s in the future?
With a dedicated power distribution board driving more then a 30 Avalon chips, for example!?
The Cortex M3 CPU should be able to handle more, am I right?

Thanks

      one4many

Nice move dude - :hi5:

UPDATE:

Great news. PCB for avalon module is partly finished. (there are still needs some cosmetic changes :) )

http://i44.tinypic.com/qzkumf.png

Very encouraging. Watching. Your work pace is admirable. I have high hopes that your time to market will enable many to deploy these ASICs at the given hash rate while it can still earn, given the rate of rise of difficulty we are now seeing.

Are you releasing the diagrams at some point or just gonna be selling the boards ?

I have a rather friendly assembly plant here in the uk now, or are you aiming for these to be hand toasted and/or home etched ?

Hi,
sources will be released as soon as possible firstly for sponsors :)
At the beginning hand tousted PCB but I am asking for assembly plant.

Where are you based
I'm in europe
We ahve PCB and assembly organized for K16 , also we have machining and sheet metal shop in hand

cmon marto keep up lol

nice to see all the k16 assembly guys looking for other options :D

Hi, I am from Slovakia.

Today I make video whitch is presenting communication between PC and miner. Board generate random nonce for testing interface only because I am still waiting for avalon asic. Between two jobs is 10 miliSec delay and board send debugging data to another usb so only cca 7Gh/s rate is reached.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq5wDlMY8u4

Hi, explorer232, greetings from Czech Republic!!!

As we talked here (http://bitcash.cz/forum/showthread.php?s=af3cc0b970da96385ffcfcf9c2f63dc7&threadid=1020&perpage=20&pagenumber=1) before, I'm definitely interested.
I made a little simple investigation (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AlhXwaV6D2FZdEQ5ZXVCdkswUUc3TkUtUTVNbDFaZEE#gid=1) about return of invested capital and avalon looks good for now. (Real parameters will be different, but for imagine and comparison it's enough.)

I have to say I don't know details of your design, but there is possibility of overclocking, as described in datasheet of avalon chip. (And discussed in other avalon-clone threads like this (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=239713.msg2540231#msg2540231)).
Did you think about possibility of supply voltage/clk frequency tweaking?

And second note, please think about 28(-35)GHs variant, I mean 10 avalon  modules shield. You always can use 3 modules only, but benefits of modularity are known ;-)

If I can provide you any help, feel free to ask.

Ramirez

Your project should been encouraged! Do you need Arduino DUE boards?
I do not know the price of Arduino DUE board?
I am from China.
If I can do something, pm me.
Thanks

Hi :) , in my design is definitely posssible change voltage for cores by replacing one resistor on the power board.
I dont know the internal structure of Avalon, so I dont know whether external clock is used only for cores or also for internal logic.
Tweaked oscillator frequency could cause data corruption.


Hi, unfortunately at the moment this project is financing only by me. Evilscoop promised me 1 avalon, so I'm waiting for it. This week I will have electronics parts and pcb for the first prototipe.

Looks very interesting and will be following your thread. Keep up the work!

excelent job ... :)

:)

Do u need more Arduino DUE?

Very impressive.  I created a similar project with small differences (well some people might see them as large).  I created modular boards that could support various chips at variable power levels... it was mostly a way for me to learn the inner workings of Avalon, BFL and Bitfury ASIC's chips without actually having the chips in my possession (I do have a prototype board already professionally etched/printed and awaiting Bitfury chips; no idea how I will get my hands of them when they are released  :P).  I started off years ago with Microchip's MCUs and was able to visit my roots with high-end but low cost 32-bit MCUs running FreeRTOS (I started off with a loaned Xilinx Zynq-7000 devkit since I'm very familiar with ARM and Xilinx FPGAs, however an unknown person at work placed an old CRT monitor on top of the board and completely ruined everything, however I have other plans for the Zynq so I hope to somehow get my hands on another devkit).

Keep up the great work!  ;D

query

Are you building in a way to overclock ?

Avalon have stated their chips can be ramped up a bit from default :D

Hi, yes cores are powered from 108W adjustable DC-DC converter. In normal state ~ 2W power is used for one avalon * 30 = ~ 60W
Each module has own heatsink from the opposite side.

This is preview of final prototype PCB for avalon board:)

4 layer pcb

http://i43.tinypic.com/2j1wmk1.png
http://i39.tinypic.com/2qcqfrp.png

3D model is generated from uses script in eagle,so silkscreen (description layer) is a slightly different on the real PCB.

Today arrived to me 1 AVALON chip from evilscoop :)  Thank you for it :) Because at the moment I dont have prototype pcb, avalon arrived very fast, make a bit hack :D. I designed simple test board for chip and this is the result. When arrive to me electronics components I can to test the miner. This project consumes all my free time and quite a lot funds so if you think I have been helpful donations are welcome.


http://i44.tinypic.com/szzdas.jpg

Great news !!!

nice work, watching this project now...

Wonder if you could use a few more feed thru under the Avalon chips to help with heat transfer.

nice breakout board...lets hope you can get it talking to the arduino soon :D

much better, 5x5 holes :D

Did you realease your own library to communicate with CGminer. How do you receive de work unit and how do you send it the to Avalon chip?


Im going to try to do the same with a Leornado card.

I thought you might be interested to know that Bitfury are doing a sample chip program for developers

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=228677.msg2589734#msg2589734 (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=228677.msg2589734#msg2589734)

Getting samples for fury is a bit harder, lots of interest..
But a shield for those would be worth many btc :)

A 10 chip BF shield would be 50 GH/s. The avalon shield would be 3.5GH/s.  I have a feeling I know which one would be most popular.

Indeed, and If I get some samples of these, some will find their way to this project :D

Nice work!
Greetings to Slovakia from Ukraine! ;)

I have two questions:
- Will this shield be backward compatible with Arduino Uno?
- And what is needed to adopt the shield/rig board to bitfury's chip?

Thanks!

Very very very unlikely: the DUE has an ARM-A3 and communicates at 3.3v compared to the 328's 5v!

ARM-A3:
A 32-bit core, that allows operations on 4 bytes wide data within a single CPU clock. (for more information look int type page).
CPU Clock at 84Mhz.
96 KBytes of SRAM.
512 KBytes of Flash memory for code.
a DMA controller, that can relieve the CPU from doing memory intensive tasks.

Whereas an Uno has a 16Mhz 8bit CPU with 16KB of ram.



Loving the work btw, hope you get some bitfury chips! At 0.5w/ghash they look great.

Thanks for the answer!

Bitfury is out of testing chips right now. There's a big boom about this small hulk.
I saw them in my hands, but since I am not a skilled engineer, there were no use for me to take them alone.
But since the project for Arduino is kind of niche market and I like the idea, I will do my best to have the chips, when they will be available.

P.S. You mean, UNO is too weak to serve as a tunnel from ASIC-rig to Host (PC)?

UPDATE:

Arduino read / write config from/to AVALON correctly :)

http://i42.tinypic.com/14b5845.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/rlbdde.jpg

Great!!!! Can't wait for first accepted share ;-)

nice, i'm really liking the look of this little project.

+1

Hi, I have problem with my miner.

1. I send config to Avalon (I checked this part many many times and it seems to be okay)  LSB (first bit, byte, word) [8B - Clock Config] , [12B - data], [4B a1],[4B a0],[4B e2],[4B e1],[4B e0], [32B midstate], [4B a2], [4B nonce - 0x00000000 - 1 Avalon chip]
I use multibit transfer ---- IDLE first bit ...... last bit IDLE  
Avalon is clocked to 256Mhz.

Precalculations: I think its ok. Precalculated values are generated from midstate & data. I could like to send precalculated values for specified btc block [data, midstate]

2. Avalon send me nonce, nonce is correctly decoded by arduino (checked by osciloscope)

3. Received nonce is shifted about 0xC0

BUT golden nonce is not valid.

Config frame:

http://i41.tinypic.com/s58f3d.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/9fu1yc.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/bis1g1.jpg


I dont know if I have a bug somewhere or my avalon is faulty :(

I'll send you today another one

Thank you , I have only one chip at the moment.

This is one received nonce from chip.  
Decoded - F78A00ED
http://i41.tinypic.com/2z4d7a1.jpg

If it is faulty lemme know, I have a few samples left too, though I think marto's will get their quicker now...

¿ Any GitHub repository for Cgminer driver for Arduino?

Hi Explorer232,

I tried to decode part of nonce, showed on picture.
If I'm right, the sequence from left to right on the picture is:

IDLE, SEND0, SEND1, SEND0, SEND0, SEND1, SEND0, SEND0, SEND0   it means 01001000   == 0x48h

But in LSB scheme it means 00010010 == 0x12h

It isn't part of  0xF78A00ED you decoded.Correct me if I'm wrong.
Or 0xF78A00ED is golden nonce = received nonce - 0xC0?

Hi, Blue line represents REPORT_N and yellow REPORT_P

so IDLE, SEND1, SEND0, SEND1, SEND1,SEND0,SEND1,SEND1,SEND1  =  0xED - LSB BYTE

0xF78A00ED is received nonce

As long as I will not have another avalon for testing I'm working on the Ethernet layer for my miner :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPq4lDdwCB0

heh .. my bad point of view  ;)

[UPDATE]
Ethernet part work fine but avalon is not working properly. I am waiting for another one.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZJHI0_Yi5A

This is universal miner with USB connection for minning via PC or with direct connection (via ethernet) to bitcoin pool.

it will be going out monday now....sorry didnt get out today to post it

Ok,thanks.


At the moment I am implementing Web Configurator for Ardulon miner.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2mql0d4.png

Hi, web configurtion work nice now :) . At the moment I am working on status page with mining statistics.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2vwzp6u.png

Web Interface test. Calculating hash speed isnt very precise at the moment :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EH7d4VVAbo

have new chips arrived ?

Hi, thank you very much. It is allready arrived. I have another result with new chip. I'm working hard to finish it.     

I'd appreciate it if you let us know what you did to get a valid golden nonce when you fix it because I've been having a similar problem and I have been trying to get it to work for about two weeks now to no avail.

Very good news :)

My miner produce valid golden nonce now :D
I dont understand why but problem was with my avalon chip.

http://i42.tinypic.com/34rak91.png

congrats my friend!

+1, congrats from me too :)

a very compelling proof of work and your skills.

too bad the timeframe for running avalon chips with positive ROI will be short. are you able to support other chips also, e.g. avalon 2gen, bitfury, and other upcoming ones, or is this very much tied to avalon right now? i'd love to see your work results as an independet / DIY kit at sparkfun and so on, at least :)

Congatulations! I also managed to get mine to report valid nonces last night. I just had to flip the location of the words in my midstate and data arrays. Good luck!

Great news explorer !!!

looking good...

but, a single chip should produce 330mhs not 110, so there maybe some room to change clocking or voltages there...
The single usb eruptors get 330mhs, and their not overclocked....


Tbh I think we're too late with avalons...If I get some fury chips fancy doing it with them ? :D

+1

Congratulations by the way, that's a great achievement. I'm constantly in awe of the technical skills that are being demonstrated by people on this forum. You're all heros ;D.

Seriously though, bitfury chips look like they have some real staying power in terms of power consumption and $/GH/s. There would be interest if your project heads in this direction at some point.

Also percentage of rejected shares looks terribly. But i think it's no problem.
I think it depends on time of measurement. Look, there is cca 7,5 minutes uptime.
I use slush's pool and it's the same  with my fpga's & asics... simply: measurement, based on accepted shares is crappy and results are real after long time .. let's say 5-10 blocks of hashing .)

I think,  explorer got enough skills to get bitfury's chip hashing :)

I have already fixed some bugs so all shares are accepted now. Avalon is clocked to 128 MHz in my testing device because I do not want to melt it :)

Hi, No problem I am planing to implement bit fury chips to this device :)

Nice work! Too bad an Arduino Due is required. I could sponsor you with an Uno or a Mega if it was of any use to you, but I have yet to find a reliable supplier for Due boards. Anything else you need? I have a lot of Arduino boards and peripherals listed here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=106155

I thanks, I'll send you PM

Working device with 1 avalon clocked to 280 MHz.
[Video]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jill5FliSAc

At the moment I am testing Avalon clocked to 300MHz

Nifty music  :D

Wow nice work and subscribed in youtube, sorry for the  commentary in youtube xD
From now i will buy a arduino due i've been practising a bit witha duemilanove and even though im a noob i will give a try

Hi, "explorer232"
I made a PCB 16 chips A3255-Q48 total capacity 22-25GHs. But I see in BFGMiner 6GHs and produces errors <ignored> <duplicate>.
Help me to understand. How can I check the work of each chip on the board?
See my log file
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=323175.msg4543177#msg4543177