1. What is Xilinx Online?
   
2. How does Xilinx Online fit within IRL ?
   
3. Why would my company want to develop a Xilinx Online application?
   
4. What about security and Xilinx Online application?
   

1. What is Xilinx Online?

Xilinx Online is a program to enable, identify, and promote any Xilinx programmable logic application that is connected to a network that can be fixed, modified, or upgraded after it has been deployed into the field.

2. How does Xilinx Online fit within IRL ?

IRL, or Internet Reconfigurable Logic, is a system methodology for creating Xilinx Online applications.

3. Why would my company want to develop a Xilinx Online application?

Xilinx Online applications have several benefits: They reduce cost of ownership of a product by allowing to electronically, over a network, change hardware in the field, rather than doing it manually. These applications can be brought to market earlier than fixed chip solution because they can be delivered with a smaller set of functionality that can be upgraded later. By the same token they can stay in the field longer, because of the upgradability. Xilinx Online applications can take advantage of new business models available on the Internet which are usage based. Some hardware locations are so remote that they require electronic delivery of upgrades, such as satellite applications. Some applications require high speed reconfigurations to do their job, such as image processing or multiple use devices.

4. What about security and Xilinx Online application?

Security is a broad issue that covers many areas. It can be generalized into 3 parts: Making sure that bitstream is secure during transport over the network. There are many encryption and secure sever methodologies for solving this over public networks. It is commonly used today for both software and commercial data security. Making sure that FPGA logic is not stolen or cloned. FPGAs actually have an advantage in this area since they can be delivered with just enough functionality to get on the network to get the rest of the functionality. Making sure that unauthorized bitstreams do not get on to the device. Secure network access and/or board level encryption are the best solutions for this area.