MAX II Dev. kit programming

Hello,

I think, you are not reporting the complete error message. Normally, Quartus programmer tells why operation has failed, e. g.

--- Quote Start ---

Error: Can't access JTAG chain

Error: Operation failed

--- Quote End ---

or

--- Quote Start ---

Error: JTAG Server can't access selected programming hardware

Error: Operation failed

--- Quote End ---

The complete message could be helpful to understand the error.

Regards,

Frank

Hi Frank,

Ye, that is what I had expected but in my case it does not report anything.

Following is the report:

Info: Device 1 contains JTAG ID code 0x020A30DD

Info: Device 1 silicon ID is ALTERA04-0

Error: Operation failed

Info: Ended Programmer operation at Wed Feb 06 07:57:32 2008

Please note that I am able to program or erase if I use the original pof files supplied by Altera.

It looks to me that the programmer see some error in the project or file and does not atempt to program at all.

Thanx

Ran

Hello Ran,

I don't remember to have ever seen a similar behaviour. You should contact Altera support unless other forum members would know a solution, it may be a Quartus bug (at least not giving a meaningful error report must be regarded as such).

You say, that even minimal designs couldn't be downloaded. Did you try also with a new project, using default settings except for the device?

Regards,

Frank

Hi Frank,

Yes, I did try few times.

If it is not too much to ask, enclosed is my project. If you could please compile and send the pof file. I will then try to program.

Regards

Ran

Hello Ran,

I compiled your minimal design and also was able to download it to an EPM1270. I wonder, however why your device shows ALTERA04-0 Silicon ID while I have ALTERA04-1. I read about an issue with engineering samples that couldn't be programmed from retail version programming files. Does your device have an ES extension stamp? If this is the case, a special project setting could be necessary, but I don't know where.

Regards,

Frank

I too am having the problem described. The .pof file does not program on my device, which has the ID ALTERA04-0 as well. My device does have the ES extension stamp. Can you link to where you were reading about engineering samples?

Thanks,

Kevin

Replying to myself,

I read in the MAX II device family erratta:

Device Programming Object File Compatibility

The POF generated for EPM1270 ES devices is compatible with EPM1270 ES and EPM1270 production devices. Recompilation and regeneration of POFs is not required when moving from EPM1270 ES to EPM1270 production devices. However, POFs generated for EPM1270 production devices do not support ES devices. Therefore, if you are using an EPM1270 ES device, you must be sure to use a POF generated for the EPM1270 ES device in the Quartus II software.

I notice that the programmer tool does not detect (nor can I select) the "ES" device. Therefore, it appears that the .pof file is being created for the production device and hence I cannot program my "ES" device.

Stuck are we?

-kevin

Hello,

there must be an option to select ES device in Quartus device selection, but I yet didn't see it. If I understand right, Altera has shipped the ES devices with eval kit, thus support should be able to tell you how to create the programming files. Fortunately, I have no need to program ES parts, but I guess, there is an option. At worst case, it could be that the option doesn't exist in all Quartus versions.

Regards,

Frank

P.S.: For Stratix II, where a similar problem is said to exist, Quartus device selection offers separate entries for ES-devices. This option is missing for MAX II.

Hi Frank/guys,

Problem solved ! :)

Yes, the kit is from 2004 and the part has an "ES" extension. As you have said, it's programming file is not compatible with the standard production chips (there is an erata document at Altera site).

The problem is that all new Quartus version do not support the "ES" chip !

I had to install Quartus 4.1 (the disk came with the kit) - there you can select the "ES" version.

After that I could program the kit.

Thanks frank, you were very helpfull.

Ran

There is another solution for programming ES devices that allows you to use the latest version of Quartus (7.2).

Go to the project directory, and open the .qsf file. Make the modification as shown below:

set_global_assignment -name DEVICE EPM1270F256C5

to

set_global_assignment -name DEVICE EPM1270F256C5ES

Then, save the .qsf file and compile the project as usual and finally program the “ES” device with the new generated .pof file.

You may not be using the 1270 device, but the main point is that you need to append "ES" the the device name.

-Kevin