Automotive Ethernet Demo on NXP S32K344 | Hardware + Software Installation
Module Overview
This session walks through the complete setup for running Automotive Ethernet demos on the Gettobyte AutoBoardV1 featuring the NXP S32K344 MCU. You’ll learn the exact hardware connections, software stack setup, and verification methods to prepare your board for practical experiments using AUTOSAR MCAL Ethernet Driver, LwIP TCP/IP, mbedTLS, and FreeRTOS.
What We’ll Cover
Hardware Overview & Connections
AutoBoardV1 layout, Ethernet PHY port, and power options.
Connecting to a PC via RJ45 or via 100BASE-T1 media converter for automotive-grade PHY.
Debug interface setup (SWD/JTAG) for flashing and debugging.
Software Installation
Setting up NXP S32 Design Studio or preferred IDE.
Installing SDK & MCAL packages for S32K344.
Importing LwIP, mbedTLS, and FreeRTOS libraries.
Setting up build configurations for Ethernet projects.
Verification
Basic link check using
ping.ARP frame inspection in Wireshark.
Running the first UDP/TCP echo test.
Hardware Features
- NXP S32K344 EVB
- The S32K344 is a powerful automotive-grade microcontroller designed for real-time applications, functional safety, and secure communication. Key features include:
Dual Arm® Cortex®-M7 cores (up to 160 MHz).
Built-in 100BASE-T1 Ethernet MAC for Automotive Ethernet.
Hardware Security Module (HSM) for secure data communication.
Multiple automotive interfaces (CAN, LIN, FlexRay).
ASIL B safety compliance for automotive applications.
2. Media Converter (100BASE-T1 to RJ45 Ethernet)
- Since Automotive Ethernet (100BASE-T1) is not directly compatible with standard Ethernet, a media converter is used to:
Convert differential Automotive Ethernet signals to standard RJ45 Ethernet.
Enable monitoring of network packets via a PC.
Allow analysis of network traffic using debugging tools.
Software Features
1. LwIP for Networking
-> LwIP (Lightweight IP) is an open-source, lightweight TCP/IP stack designed for embedded systems. In this setup, LwIP is responsible for:
Managing TCP/UDP communication over Automotive Ethernet.
Supporting IPv4/IPv6 networking.
Providing a low-memory footprint, making it ideal for automotive applications.
2. MbedTLS for Security
-> MbedTLS is a cryptographic library that enables secure data transmission. This demonstration leverages MbedTLS for:
TLS/SSL encryption to protect data exchange.
Secure cryptographic algorithms (AES, SHA, RSA, ECC, etc.).
Embedded-friendly implementation, ensuring optimized performance for automotive environments.
-> By integrating MbedTLS, encrypted communication is established over Automotive Ethernet, ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and authentication in the vehicle network.
