ESP32 + W5500 (SPI Ethernet) TCP Client Example

ESP32 + W5500 (SPI Ethernet) TCP Client Example — Full Guide

A complete ESP32 + W5500 TCP client example using SPI Ethernet, static IP, and ESP-IDF 5.5.x. Reliable wired networking for industrial IoT.

COMPONENTS Hardware components

WIZnet - W5500

x 1

Espressif - ESP32

x 1

WIZnet - WIZ550io

x 1

Software Apps and online services

microsoft - Visual Studio 2015

x 1

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

1️⃣ Overview

ESP32 includes built-in Wi-Fi, but for industrial, high-noise, or secure environments,
wired Ethernet (W5500) is more stable and predictable.

This guide explains how to use ESP32 + WIZ550io(W5500) with ESP-IDF 5.5.x,
covering:

Example project creation command
Hardware wiring
Full menuconfig settings
Ethernet initialization
Build & flash
Testing (TCP/iperf)

Everything is aligned with your exact GPIO configuration.

2️⃣ Install ESP-IDF

After installing ESP-IDF Tools:

Check version:

idf.py --version

Expected:

ESP-IDF v5.5.1

3️⃣ Create an Example Project (TCP Client)

ESP-IDF provides ready-to-use examples for the W5500 component.

✔ Create TCP Client Example

idf.py create-project-from-example "espressif/w5500=1.0.0:common_examples/tcp_client"

Or create the iperf example:

idf.py create-project-from-example "espressif/w5500=1.0.0:common_examples/iperf"

Move into project directory:

cd tcp_client

4️⃣ Hardware Wiring (Your exact GPIO pins)

W5500 Pin	ESP32 GPIO	Notes
SCLK	GPIO14	SPI Clock
MOSI	GPIO13	SPI MOSI
MISO	GPIO12	SPI MISO
CS	GPIO15	Chip Select
INT	GPIO4	Optional interrupt
RESET	Not connected (set to -1)
3.3V	3.3V	Power
GND	GND	Ground

5️⃣ Configure ESP-IDF (menuconfig)

Run the config menu:

idf.py menuconfig

✔ 5.1 Enable Ethernet

Component config  --->
    Ethernet  --->
        [*] Enable Ethernet

✔ 5.2 Disable Internal EMAC

(W5500 SPI Ethernet cannot be combined with internal EMAC)

Component config → Ethernet →
    [ ] Internal EMAC

✔ 5.3 Enable SPI Ethernet (W5500)

Component config → Ethernet →
    [*] SPI Ethernet

✔ 5.4 Configure SPI Ethernet Module #1 (W5500)

Component config → Ethernet →
    SPI Ethernet Driver --->
        (1) Number of SPI Ethernet modules
        SPI Ethernet module #1 (W5500 Module) --->
            (1)  SPI Host Number (SPI2_HOST)
            (14) SPI SCLK GPIO number
            (13) SPI MOSI GPIO number
            (12) SPI MISO GPIO number
            (16) SPI clock speed (MHz)
            (15) SPI CS0 GPIO number
            (4)  Interrupt GPIO number
            (-1) PHY Reset GPIO number
            (1)  PHY Address
            [*] Auto-configure MAC address

6️⃣ Code Example

7️⃣ Build & Flash

idf.py set-target esp32
idf.py build
idf.py flash

8️⃣ Full Workflow Summary

Install ESP-IDF (install/export)
Create W5500 example project

idf.py create-project-from-example "espressif/w5500=1.0.0:common_examples/tcp_client"

Wire ESP32 ↔ W5500
Configure in menuconfig

idf.py menuconfig

Enable SPI Ethernet, disable internal EMAC
Build & flash
Test TCP/iperf

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