NIOS II and Cyclone III Remote Update

Here is the CIII bootloader source files attached and the .hex generation procedure.

Steps:

- open Nios II command shell and go to bootloader project directory

- change EPCS_SRC_ADDR in boot_loader.h with desired boot address for Nios application

- build the custom bootloader, which generates a epcs_controller_boot_rom_A.hex file (simply type 'make')

- replace the existing epcs_controller_boot_rom.hex file in Quartus project with the newly generated one (thus removing _A)

- select Quartus Processing menu, then Update Memory Initialization file

- select Quartus Processing menu, then Start -> Start Assembler

- the generated sof file will boot from the specified address

Remark: I copied and pasted from notes written a long ago for one of my designs, so I'm not 100% sure everything is right for you .

This also answer to your first question: yes, the hex bootloader code is encapsulated into sof file

Good luck!