LWIP HTTPD and TouchGFX

EthanMankins · ‎2024-10-16

I am currently using the STM32H7B3I-DK for touchGFX development before moving to something in the STM32H743 family. I am curios about adding a simple webserver capability while running a touchGFX UI. I have implemented an httpd server on an Nucleo-H743ZI starting from this forum. Currently it seems to be using over 300KB of RAM (collectively from RAM_D1 and RAM_D2).
I am not sure if this much RAM is being used because I have not made any optimizations (as I am new to LWIP), or if this seems like a reasonable amount for a simple web server. If this is normal amount, I am thinking it does not seem feasible to try and run touchGFX and a server from the same MCU.

Does anyone have any advice on the feasibility of hosting a server and touchGFX UI from a STM32H743 MCU?

Thank you,
Ethan

SofLit · ‎2024-10-17

Hello @EthanMankins,

@EthanMankins wrote:

I am thinking it does not seem feasible to try and run touchGFX and a server from the same MCU.

There are at least two parameters to take into account:

- Memory size

- Performance

For the memory size, most probably you need to add an external memories for TouchGFX: SDRAM for Frame buffer and External Nor Flash to store images, texts etc .. But this depends on your application.

For performance, I don't see any reason to prevent you running TouchGFX and LWIP in parallel. You can reach 480MHz and enable the Cache. If not sufficient you can move to H7 Dual core: TouchGFX running on CM7 and LWIP on CM4.

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View solution in original post

SofLit · ‎2024-10-17

Hello @EthanMankins,

@EthanMankins wrote:

I am thinking it does not seem feasible to try and run touchGFX and a server from the same MCU.

There are at least two parameters to take into account:

- Memory size

- Performance

For the memory size, most probably you need to add an external memories for TouchGFX: SDRAM for Frame buffer and External Nor Flash to store images, texts etc .. But this depends on your application.

For performance, I don't see any reason to prevent you running TouchGFX and LWIP in parallel. You can reach 480MHz and enable the Cache. If not sufficient you can move to H7 Dual core: TouchGFX running on CM7 and LWIP on CM4.

To give better visibility on the answered topics, please click on "Accept as Solution" on the reply which solved your issue or answered your question.

EthanMankins · ‎2024-10-17

Thank you for your Response.

The minimum memory we can use for our frame buffers is currently 768KB due to screen size and color requirements. Our backend processes take around 50KB. Would you say the remaining ~200KB is a reasonable amount to host a basic web server and run the basic touchGFX interface?

SofLit · ‎2024-10-17

@EthanMankins wrote:

Would you say the remaining ~200KB is a reasonable amount to host a basic web server and run the basic touchGFX interface?

Hard to tell.. It depends on your basic TouchGFX interface and the content of the web page and other HAL stuff .. Need to test.

To give better visibility on the answered topics, please click on "Accept as Solution" on the reply which solved your issue or answered your question.