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Other => Beginners & Help => Topic started by: photoa6155 on June 23, 2012, 09:29:57 PM



Title: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: photoa6155 on June 23, 2012, 09:29:57 PM
I'm had a question on the best way to link multiple fpga boards. Lets just say 20. Equip needed? Any specific specs needed on computer that could run that many? Multiple USB Hubs any recommendations? 2 Corsair power supplies, What am I missing? Whats the best OS to run this setup, I am familiar with linux but no programming expert. Any help would be appreciated. If a senior member could repost to the hardware forum that would be great. Thanks


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: photoa6155 on June 24, 2012, 04:52:45 AM
There must be some guru's out that could help me.


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: Phraust on June 24, 2012, 05:05:38 AM
For ten BFL FPGAs, i'm using a 12 port usb hub (satechi) unpowered, a corsair ax1200 with custom cables (by Cablelz: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=74397.0) on a macmini server (10.7.4).  I've tried running them on something as simple as a dockstar using archlinux, and it worked pretty well.

Honestly, it really depends on what you want to work with.  Just about anything with USB should work, I've seen people running them on routers.


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: photoa6155 on June 24, 2012, 05:49:23 AM
Thanks Phrast, Info is much appreciated. Yeah I saw the guy running them off just routers,  looks great, I think that it out of my scope of knowledge.  I don't want to end up bricking my router and units. How many singles can you runn off the mac mini server?


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: Garr255 on June 24, 2012, 05:56:52 AM
This costs significantly less than any mac, even cheaper than an Apple II :P

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DEBXD0/

I'll be hosting a few BFL Singles off of it.


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: Phraust on June 24, 2012, 06:43:58 AM
Dunno, I guess whatever the usb limit is (127).  I also use the mac mini as my media/storage server, since we all have macs, and there aren't any noticeable problems (uptime is great, I'm also running an external superdrive, and three or four USB drives for storage and backup across the network).  Oh, and iTunes sharing.


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: Michail1 on June 24, 2012, 03:05:44 PM
This costs significantly less than any mac, even cheaper than an Apple II :P

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006DEBXD0/

I'll be hosting a few BFL Singles off of it.

What do you mean by hosting on the TP-Link?

Still need the USB hub and computer, right?
Are you able to have the BFLs to hub.  then to TP-Link.  Computer then connected to network via IP to the BFLs?


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: Phraust on June 24, 2012, 07:30:24 PM
What software are you using for your mac mini to recognize the BFL's?

I'm using the FTDI drivers http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm (http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm) and the latest version of cgminer.


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: gonella on June 24, 2012, 07:37:55 PM
Is it easier to resell these cards?


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: Garr255 on June 24, 2012, 08:08:00 PM
Is it easier to resell these cards?

Easier than ASICs, more difficult than GPUs.


Title: Re: Setting up Multiple FPGA's ??
Post by: photoa6155 on June 25, 2012, 01:43:35 AM
thanks to every one who responded I think i have a decent idea of set-up needed.