The Intel IXP400 software provides an API to download microcode images to the NPE. The microcode, which runs on the NPE, is known as an NPE image. The capabilities of all NPE images are documented in the software programmer's guide (Intel 2004c). Each image is defined by an identifier of the form IX_NPEDL_NPEIMAGE_NPEx_yyyyy. Where x is the NPE identifier A, B, or C, and yyyyy is the feature that the image provides. Ideally, all functions would be provided in one image per NPE, but due to resource constraints within the NPEs, it is more common to provide several images with differing capabilities per NPE. You should choose the image that matches your application needs. The image identifiers are defined in the src/include/IxNpeMicrocode.h header file. The following demonstrates how simple it is to load the NPE with a microcode image.

12     #include 34     if (IX_SUCCESS != ixNpeDlNpeInitAndStart(5                          IX_NPEDL_NPEIMAGE_NPEA_HSS0));6     {7         printf ("Error initialising and starting NPE A!\n");8         return (IX_FAIL);9     }