How to get the HEX file of A10 U-boot SPL which is used for HPS boot from FPGA?

Question

Hi,

My platform: 10AS016E4/Quartus prime pro 23.3. we are working on a solution that boot the HPS from FPGA so that we can upgrade the SPL by upgrading the FPGA image if needed.

I have 2 questions when i tried to get the HEX format file of SPL image.

1. which file is the raw file that we need to transfer to HEX format from? i attached the SPL folder as below, pls tell me.

2. how to transfer the raw file to HEX?

per steps on link A10 17.1 FPGA Boot | Documentation | RocketBoards.org, we need to run the command as below:

arm-altera-eabi-objcopy -I binary -O ihex --adjust-vma -0x00000000 u-boot_w_dtb.bin hpsBootTarget.hex

but the bash shell told me "command not found". i doubt if some script need to be run firstly, then i run the nios2_command_shell.sh and try again, it still echo the same error. So, how to run the transfer command correctly on Quartus Prime Pro 23.3?

thanks and best regards,

rainwang · Answer

i doubt maybe the commandarm-altera-eabi-objcopy can run on old version SOCEDS, so i tried on another linux PC with SOCEDS 20.1 installed, but still failed.firstly i open a SoC EDS embedded_command_shell.sh, then but the command still can't be found.can you help to tell me the details, thanks in advance.

mabdrahi · Answer

Hi Rainwang,Any reason are you using https://www.rocketboards.org/foswiki/Documentation/UBootA10FPGABootinstead of https://www.rocketboards.org/foswiki/Documentation/BuildingBootloaderCycloneVAndArria10?Thank you,Aliff

rainwang · Answer

hi, Aliff,

In fact I generated the SPL and uboot image per https://www.rocketboards.org/foswiki/Documentation/BuildingBootloaderCycloneVAndArria10, I just need to set my HPS boot from FPGA, but I can't find detailed steps or guideline of HPS boot from FPGA base on the newest tool chain. so i have to refer to the https://www.rocketboards.org/foswiki/Documentation/UBootA10FPGABoot, which is still base on old tool chain include the SOC EDS.

my question is, base on the newest tool chain(Quartus 23.3), how to generate the SPL image so that i can initialize my on chip ram in the HPS.

thank you

Rain

mabdrahi · Answer

Hi Rainwang,I'm unable to provide solution specific software versions as we already do not support the booting from FPGA(Supported booting flow only for QSPI and SDcard). You might want to refer to the latest Quartus user manual or associated documentation(https://www.rocketboards.org/foswiki/Documentation/BuildingBootloaderCycloneVAndArria10#Cyclone_V_SoC_45_Boot_from_QSPI) for precise steps on how to boot from supported booting device on your specific FPGA and HPS configuration. Community forums or the manufacturer's support might provide updated guidance for Quartus 23.3.Thank you,Aliff

rainwang · Answer

hi, Aliff,

yes, from your link, i can see you only provide the boot options from SD/QSPI/NAND devices, not included “boot from FPGA” option.

but from the newest Intel® Arria® 10 Hard Processor System Technical Reference Manual, I can see below information as red highlighted:

it seems boot from FPGA is still a supported option for A10.

my question is, you mentioned "you already do not support the booting from FPGA", is it means both the newest version hardware and software do not provide this option to customer any longer? or just the intel support team do not provide the guideline for "booting from FPGA" any more, the customer can only develop solution by themselves if they want to use "booting from FPGA" option?

thank you.

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How to get the HEX file of A10 U-boot SPL which is used for HPS boot from FPGA?

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