Forum Discussion

YYing5's avatar
YYing5
Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
6 years ago

How to generate .hex file for flash in multi-processor system

Hi All, I am trying to build up a system with two NiosII processors, but I am having to figure out how to do the boot job for the two processors. Both of the two processors need to boot from on-chip...
AnandRaj_S_Intel's avatar
AnandRaj_S_Intel
Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
6 years ago

Hi,

My understanding, Is that your using MAX 10 device, 2-Nios II processor, dual boot and on-chip flash IP.

Processor-1 reset vector to Altera On-chip Flash and exception vector On-chip RAM (Nios II processor application copied from UFM to RAM using boot copier )

Processor-2 reset vector to Altera On-chip Flash and exception vector On-chip Flash(Nios II processor application execute-in place from Altera On-chip Flash (UFM)) is that correct? if yes

UFM data (.HEX file) can be included in either Page_0 or Page_1 only.The Altera On-chip flash does not support two .HEX files for Dual Compressed images configuration mode.

Let me know if my understanding is wrong or if you need any further assistance.

Best Regards,

Anand

  • YYing5's avatar
    YYing5
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
    6 years ago

    Hi Anand,

    Thank you for the reply.

    Your understanding is basically right. I am using MAX 10 device, and building a qsys with 2-Nios II processor and boot from on-chip flash. But I don't think I am using Dual Compressed Images configuration mode. I think Dual Boot is for the case when you want to fpga to switch between two designs. For my case I just have one design with two processors running at the same time.

    In this document<Creating Multiprocessor Nios II Systems> https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/programmable/us/en/pdfs/literature/tt/tt_nios2_multiprocessor_tutorial.pdf, it mentions that "The Nios II Flash Programmer is able to program bootable code for multiple processors into a single flash device.". But It does not mention how can I do it, how can I put multiple program codes into one flash device. That's the part that I want to know.

    In other word, after build the two software programs for each of the two processors, I got two .elf files(and also two .hex files after make mem_init_generate), how can I merge the files together into one file and then program the flash.

    In qsys, I can only specify one .hex file for flash initialization.