Installing the hardware
The SoC, CaR and Chip Boards
This document outlines the complete set of components required to assemble a Caribou system and describes how to obtain them. These components fall into two categories: Mandatory Components, which are essential for system operation, and Optional Components, which provide additional capabilities such as extending the setup or facilitating debugging.
Mandatory Components
- Supported System-on-Chip board
- Control and Readout board
- 12V power supply (capable of delivering at least 2A)
- Power cable with Molex connector (for the CaR board)
- 1Gb Ethernet cable (for network access to the SoC)
Optional Components
- FMC extension cable (for an extended SoC–CaR separation)
- Mini-USB-A cable for UART access on the SoC board
- Mini-USB-A/B cable for JTAG access on the SoC board
Ordering the System-on-Chip Board
Caribou currently supports three different System-on-Chip platforms. The original ZC706 evaluation board from AMD, although now discontinued, remains fully compatible with the system. In addition, Caribou supports the ZCU102 evaluation board from AMD as well as the ST1 carrier paired with the XU1 System-on-Module (SoM) from Enclustra. These options offer a range of performance levels and form factors, allowing users to choose the platform that best fits their detector readout and processing requirements.
| Board | Vendor | Available | Cost / Unit | Ordering Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZC706 Evaluation Board | AMD Inc | NO | ~3000€ | ZC706 |
| ZCU102 Evalution Board | AMD Inc | YES | ~3000€ | ZCU102 |
| Mercury+ ST1 Carrier and XU1 SoM | Enclustra GmbH | YES | ~3000€ | ST1; XU1; Heat Sink |
Ordering the Control-and-Readout Board
CaR boards are procured through coordinated purchase orders managed by the Caribou project team. These collective orders are typically initiated when user demand becomes sufficiently high. Once interested groups submit their requests, a consolidated quote is obtained from the manufacturer, after which the full order is placed. Production and delivery to CERN generally take 6 to 8 weeks. Upon arrival, the boards undergo quality control before being shipped to the individual requestors. When requesting boards, users should send an email to caribou-developers@cern.ch specify the following information:
- Number of boards
- Contact name
- Contact email
- Shipment address
- Phone number
This information is then added to the list of participants in the common purchase order, and requestors are kept informed of the status at each stage of the process.
Assembling the hardware setup
Once the System-on-Chip board, CaR board, power supply, and power cables are available, users should proceed with the following steps:
- Connect the CaR board to the FMC High-Pin-Count (HPC) connector on the SoC board (use a FMC extension cable if needed).
- Attach the Molex power cable to the CaR board and connect it to the 12 V power supply.
- Connect the SoC board’s own power cable.
- Connect the Ethernet cable from the SoC board to a network outlet or switch.
