cyclone iii nios boot from epcs: i use nios_flash_programmer to burn fpga+nios to epcs64 ,but do not boot from epcs,i use memtes to Test EPCS Serial Flash first time : ---------------------------------- Memory Test Main Menu ---------------------------------- a: Test RAM b: Test Flash c: Test EPCS Serial Flash q: Exit ---------------------------------- Select Choice (a-c): [Followed by <enter>] Enter the name of the EPCS flash device to be opened, or just press <enter> to open "/dev/epcs_controller" > -ERROR: Could not open /d Press enter to continue... then stop run again : ---------------------------------- Memory Test Main Menu ---------------------------------- a: Test RAM b: Test Flash c: Test EPCS Serial Flash q: Exit ---------------------------------- Select Choice (a-c): [Followed by <enter>]c Enter the name of the EPCS flash device to be opened, or just press <enter> to open "/dev/epcs_controller" > -Successfully opened /dev/epcs_controller -Region 0 contains 128 blocks. -Checking Region 0 for erased blocks. -Block 11, at address 0xB0000 identified. -Would you like to test this block? (y/n) My qustion is : 1:my hardware is ok ? 2:why do not boot from epcs? Thanks.

if you want that the fpga image is loaded from epcs after power on the you must set the msel pins according to the datasheet of your fpga. is your fpga image loaded from epcs but nios does not boot from epcs ? did you store your application after the fpga image inside epcs device ? converting the fpga image to be stored into epcs bash -c "sof2flash --verbose --compress --epcs --input=fpga.sof --output=fpga.flash" converting your application bash -c "elf2flash --verbose --epcs --after=fpga.flash --input=app.elf --output=app.flash" programming the fpga image nios2-flash-programmer.exe --cable='USB-Blaster' --epcs fpga.flash programming the application image nios2-flash-programmer.exe --cable='USB-Blaster' --epcs app.flash --go don't forgett to add the option --base=0x.... the startadr. of your epcs ip inside sopcs builder you need to set the cpu reset vector to the epcs ip modul if msel pins are set to boot from epcs then everything should work

Thank you MSchmitt. My fpga is ep3c25q240c8 My msel pins is 010 My epcs64 power is 3.3v fpga image is loaded from epcs after power on quartus 9.0 no sp This my Nios II IDE Flash Programmer # !/bin/sh# # This file was automatically generated by the Nios II IDE Flash Programmer.# # It will be overwritten when the flash programmer options change.# cd D:/FPGA/sopc_cy3/software/memtest_usb/Debug# Creating .flash file for the FPGA configuration "$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/sof2flash" --epcs --input="D:/FPGA/sopc_cy3/chip_top.sof" - -output="chip_top.flash" Info: ******************************************************************* Info: Running Quartus II Convert_programming_file Info: Command: quartus_cpf --no_banner --convert --device=EPCS128 --option=chip_ top.opt D:/FPGA/sopc_cy3/chip_top.sof chip_top.pof Info: Quartus II Convert_programming_file was successful. 0 errors, 0 warnings Info: Peak virtual memory: 73 megabytes Info: Processing ended: Wed Sep 02 16:08:47 2009 Info: Elapsed time: 00:00:04 Info: Total CPU time (on all processors): 00:00:04 Info: ******************************************************************* Info: Running Quartus II Convert_programming_file Info: Command: quartus_cpf --no_banner --convert chip_top.pof chip_top.rpd Info: Quartus II Convert_programming_file was successful. 0 errors, 0 warnings Info: Peak virtual memory: 70 megabytes Info: Processing ended: Wed Sep 02 16:08:51 2009 Info: Elapsed time: 00:00:04 Info: Total CPU time (on all processors): 00:00:04# Programming flash with the FPGA configuration "$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/nios2-flash-programmer" --epcs --base=0x0008a000 --sidp=0x0 0088030 --id=6395680 --timestamp=1251442455 --instance=0 "chip_top.flash" Using cable "USB-Blaster [USB-0]", device 1, instance 0x00 Resetting and pausing target processor: OK Reading System ID at address 0x00088030: verified : Checksumming existing contents 00000000 : Verifying existing contents 00010000 : Verifying existing contents 00020000 : Verifying existing contents 00030000 : Verifying existing contents 00000000 : Reading existing contents 00010000 : Reading existing contents 00020000 : Reading existing contents 00030000 : Reading existing contents Checksummed/read 12kB in 0.2s 00000000 ( 0%): Erasing 00010000 (25%): Erasing 00020000 (50%): Erasing 00030000 (75%): Erasing Erased 256kB in 2.3s (111.3kB/s) 00000000 ( 0%): Programming 00010000 (25%): Programming 00020000 (50%): Programming 00030000 (75%): Programming Programmed 245KB +11KB in 5.6s (45.7KB/s) Did not attempt to verify device contents Leaving target processor paused# Creating .flash file for the project "$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/elf2flash" --epcs --after="chip_top.flash" --input="memtest _usb.elf" --output="epcs_controller.flash"# Programming flash with the project "$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/nios2-flash-programmer" --epcs --base=0x0008a000 --sidp=0x0 0088030 --id=6395680 --timestamp=1251442455 --instance=0 "epcs_controller.flash" Using cable "USB-Blaster [USB-0]", device 1, instance 0x00 Resetting and pausing target processor: OK Reading System ID at address 0x00088030: verified : Checksumming existing contents 00030000 : Verifying existing contents 00040000 : Verifying existing contents 00050000 : Verifying existing contents 00030000 : Reading existing contents 00040000 : Reading existing contents 00050000 : Reading existing contents Checksummed/read 110kB in 2.6s 00030000 ( 0%): Erasing 00040000 (33%): Erasing 00050000 (66%): Erasing Erased 192kB in 1.8s (106.6kB/s) 00030000 ( 0%): Programming 00040000 (33%): Programming 00050000 (66%): Programming Programmed 83KB +109KB in 4.0s (48.0KB/s) Did not attempt to verify device contents Leaving target processor paused

okay thats it, you use quartus 9.0 without sp2 can't tell you right out of my head what was the exact bug, but there is a bug with this quartus version and epcs stuff. somebody mentioned at niosforum that mysupport said that this bug won't be fixed in sp1 but should be in sp2 and as long as there is no fix, users should unpack some files from quartus 8.1 unfortunately nobody said it is fixed in sp2, but i would install sp2 and give it a try. sorry i do not use quartus 9.0 due to this bug until somebody says it is solved. maybe you ?

solution id: rd06022009_270 last modified: Jul 10, 2009 product category: Embedded Processors product area: Hardware Development product sub-area: Flash Programming problem why does my cyclone iii nios ii system not boot up from an epcs device when i program the epcs with flash programmer ver.9.0? solution Nios® II embedded processor executable code is not correctly programmed on an EPCS device with version 9.0 and 9.0sp1 Nios II Flash Programmer tool chain. Version 9.0 and 9.0sp1 contain a bug in the tool chain. To solve this problem, contact Altera® technical support via mysupport (http://mysupport.altera.com/) to request the Nios II EDS 1.01 patch. This problem will be fixed by Nios II EDS version 9.0sp2 . but i use quartus 7.1 is same .

other possability : The workaround: replace 90\nios2eds\bin\sof2flash.jar with 81\nios2eds\bin\sof2flash.jar

cyclone iii nios boot from epcs | Altera Community

16 Replies

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
17 years ago
this trick worked for me
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
17 years ago
other possability :

The workaround:
replace 90\nios2eds\bin\sof2flash.jar with 81\nios2eds\bin\sof2flash.jar
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
17 years ago
solution id: rd06022009_270
last modified: Jul 10, 2009
product category: Embedded Processors
product area: Hardware Development
product sub-area: Flash Programming
problem
why does my cyclone iii nios ii system not boot up from an epcs device when i program the epcs with flash programmer ver.9.0?

solution
Nios® II embedded processor executable code is not correctly programmed on an EPCS device with version 9.0 and 9.0sp1 Nios II Flash Programmer tool chain.
Version 9.0 and 9.0sp1 contain a bug in the tool chain. To solve this problem, contact Altera® technical support via mysupport (http://mysupport.altera.com/) to request the Nios II EDS 1.01 patch.
This problem will be fixed by Nios II EDS version 9.0sp2 .

but i use quartus 7.1 is same .
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
17 years ago
okay thats it, you use quartus 9.0 without sp2

can't tell you right out of my head what was the exact bug, but there is a bug with this quartus version and epcs stuff.
somebody mentioned at niosforum that mysupport said that this bug won't be fixed in sp1 but should be in sp2 and as long as there is no fix, users should unpack some files from quartus 8.1

unfortunately nobody said it is fixed in sp2, but i would install sp2 and give it a try.
sorry i do not use quartus 9.0 due to this bug until somebody says it is solved.
maybe you ?
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
17 years ago
Thank you MSchmitt.
My fpga is ep3c25q240c8 My msel pins is 010 My epcs64 power is 3.3v
fpga image is loaded from epcs after power on
quartus 9.0 no sp

This my Nios II IDE Flash Programmer
# !/bin/sh# # This file was automatically generated by the Nios II IDE Flash Programmer.# # It will be overwritten when the flash programmer options change.#
cd D:/FPGA/sopc_cy3/software/memtest_usb/Debug# Creating .flash file for the FPGA configuration
"$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/sof2flash" --epcs --input="D:/FPGA/sopc_cy3/chip_top.sof" -
-output="chip_top.flash"
Info: *******************************************************************
Info: Running Quartus II Convert_programming_file
Info: Command: quartus_cpf --no_banner --convert --device=EPCS128 --option=chip_
top.opt D:/FPGA/sopc_cy3/chip_top.sof chip_top.pof
Info: Quartus II Convert_programming_file was successful. 0 errors, 0 warnings
Info: Peak virtual memory: 73 megabytes
Info: Processing ended: Wed Sep 02 16:08:47 2009
Info: Elapsed time: 00:00:04
Info: Total CPU time (on all processors): 00:00:04
Info: *******************************************************************
Info: Running Quartus II Convert_programming_file
Info: Command: quartus_cpf --no_banner --convert chip_top.pof chip_top.rpd
Info: Quartus II Convert_programming_file was successful. 0 errors, 0 warnings
Info: Peak virtual memory: 70 megabytes
Info: Processing ended: Wed Sep 02 16:08:51 2009
Info: Elapsed time: 00:00:04
Info: Total CPU time (on all processors): 00:00:04# Programming flash with the FPGA configuration
"$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/nios2-flash-programmer" --epcs --base=0x0008a000 --sidp=0x0
0088030 --id=6395680 --timestamp=1251442455 --instance=0 "chip_top.flash"
Using cable "USB-Blaster [USB-0]", device 1, instance 0x00
Resetting and pausing target processor: OK
Reading System ID at address 0x00088030: verified
: Checksumming existing contents
00000000 : Verifying existing contents
00010000 : Verifying existing contents
00020000 : Verifying existing contents
00030000 : Verifying existing contents
00000000 : Reading existing contents
00010000 : Reading existing contents
00020000 : Reading existing contents
00030000 : Reading existing contents
Checksummed/read 12kB in 0.2s
00000000 ( 0%): Erasing
00010000 (25%): Erasing
00020000 (50%): Erasing
00030000 (75%): Erasing
Erased 256kB in 2.3s (111.3kB/s)
00000000 ( 0%): Programming
00010000 (25%): Programming
00020000 (50%): Programming
00030000 (75%): Programming
Programmed 245KB +11KB in 5.6s (45.7KB/s)
Did not attempt to verify device contents
Leaving target processor paused# Creating .flash file for the project
"$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/elf2flash" --epcs --after="chip_top.flash" --input="memtest
_usb.elf" --output="epcs_controller.flash"# Programming flash with the project
"$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/nios2-flash-programmer" --epcs --base=0x0008a000 --sidp=0x0
0088030 --id=6395680 --timestamp=1251442455 --instance=0 "epcs_controller.flash"
Using cable "USB-Blaster [USB-0]", device 1, instance 0x00
Resetting and pausing target processor: OK
Reading System ID at address 0x00088030: verified
: Checksumming existing contents
00030000 : Verifying existing contents
00040000 : Verifying existing contents
00050000 : Verifying existing contents
00030000 : Reading existing contents
00040000 : Reading existing contents
00050000 : Reading existing contents
Checksummed/read 110kB in 2.6s
00030000 ( 0%): Erasing
00040000 (33%): Erasing
00050000 (66%): Erasing
Erased 192kB in 1.8s (106.6kB/s)
00030000 ( 0%): Programming
00040000 (33%): Programming
00050000 (66%): Programming
Programmed 83KB +109KB in 4.0s (48.0KB/s)
Did not attempt to verify device contents
Leaving target processor paused
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
17 years ago
if you want that the fpga image is loaded from epcs after power on the you must set the msel pins according to the datasheet of your fpga.

is your fpga image loaded from epcs but nios does not boot from epcs ?
did you store your application after the fpga image inside epcs device ?

converting the fpga image to be stored into epcs
bash -c "sof2flash --verbose --compress --epcs --input=fpga.sof --output=fpga.flash"

converting your application
bash -c "elf2flash --verbose --epcs --after=fpga.flash --input=app.elf --output=app.flash"

programming the fpga image
nios2-flash-programmer.exe --cable='USB-Blaster' --epcs fpga.flash

programming the application image
nios2-flash-programmer.exe --cable='USB-Blaster' --epcs app.flash --go

don't forgett to add the option --base=0x.... the startadr. of your epcs ip
inside sopcs builder you need to set the cpu reset vector to the epcs ip modul

if msel pins are set to boot from epcs then everything should work

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cyclone iii nios boot from epcs

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