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SEbbert's avatar
SEbbert
Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
5 years ago

Design security key programming gone wrong!

Hi everybody, we are working with the Cyclone V GT Development Kit and use the Intel Design Security Features of the Cyclone V Device Family. Recently we had some strange problems occur during prog...
JohnT_Altera's avatar
JohnT_Altera
Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
5 years ago

Hi,


May I know if the board can still be programmed with unencrypted bitstream?


I do not have any information as what might be happen as there is no way for us to know what is the key programmed to the device.


  • SEbbert's avatar
    SEbbert
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
    5 years ago

    Hi John,

    thanks for the quick reply.

    Yes, the FPGA runs unencrypted bitstreams. It just doesn't run with encrypted bitstreams that match the programmed non-volatile design security key.

    My issue step by step:

    - The Cyclone V GT DevKit is setup to use the Active Serial configuration scheme, booting from the EPCQ256 device -> MAX V is programmed with the correct .pof file and MSEL dipswitches are set accordingly.

    - I program a non-volatile design security with an EthernetBlaster II using the same .ekp file as always.

    - I program a .jic file to the EPCQ256 that was encrypted with the key used in the ekp file.

    - The FPGA does not configure successfully and the Load-LED is flickering

    - The FPGA configures successfully if I program an unencrypted .jic file to the EPCQ256

    Is there really no way at all to find out what key was actually programmed? Maybe I can return the Board to you for finding out the actual key and compare it to the one in the ekp file?

    Best regards