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PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit and MPLAB X

I picked up Microchip’s PIC32 ethernet starter kit in order to check out their 32-bit processors as well as to get started on embedded web servers. The free TCP/IP stack from Microchip was my motivation, since it can be used on any of their chips, including the 8-bit versions. I also was interested in the C32 compiler, since it is free. I used MPLAB X for the test, along with the downloadable Microchip application libraries. I have been using MPLAB X for PIC18 development, and I really like it. It’s a nice IDE.

This review will cover getting the SKDE up and running with the TCPIP Demo App from the application libraries in MPLAB X.

Download and install:

Java

MPLAB X

Microchip Application Libraries

When you run the CD that comes with the ethernet starter kit, you will have an option to install from CD. This will also install MPLAB 8. I couldn’t find a way around doing this, as the driver for the board is buried somewhere in that install. It won’t install the starter kit otherwise.

When the install is completed, start the driver switcher application from the Microchip program directory. Select PIC32 SK, and the radio button to configure for MPLAB X. Apply the setting and wait for it to complete. Then launch MPLAB X. Select Open Project from the file menu. Navigate to the Microchip Solutions directory, then TCPIP, finally select Demo App and MPLAB X. When you open the project it will start loading. It takes a while since the code stack is large. When it loads set the project configuration to the ethernet starter kit (C32-PIC32_ETH_SK). Finally you should be able to build and load the project to the target.

Once complete, plug the ethernet port into a router, where it will get an IP address. Logging on to the router will let you see attached devices and find the assigned IP. You should be able to put the IP in your browser now and see the Microchip demo page.

There are video tutorials on Microchip’s website that detail the dynamic webpage capabilities of the device. The demo application supports a lot of processors and protocols, so my next task will be to dig in and figure out the smallest code necessary to just run HTTP on the PIC32.

Tags: Electronics, PIC