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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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12 years ago

Problems with generating a flash file with elf2flash

I seem to be having issues using the Flash programmer to burn my elf and sof file into flash so it can boot from this location. I have a couple of questions. I have read and followed the documentation on how to do this, but with no success.

  1. When I use the elf2flash utility I get a flash file of 32 bytes. That does not seem right. I get no errors from the utility and the elf file is there, loads on the hardware and executes properly using JTAG. I know the elf file is good. I looked at the flash file and it has 2 numbers in it. The elf file is about 1.1MB.

  2. Also when the flash programmer attempts to program the flash files into flash, it fails when it gets to the flash file I generated from my elf file. It says it can’t program or verify empty file. I am using the utility to generate the flash files and program the flash, using the sof and elf files.

  3. Once these issues are resolved, what do I need to do with my reset to get the system to boot from flash on power up.

Thanks in advance.

6 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    12 years ago

    Hi,

    Really need to know how you're calling elf2flash. What's the command like you're using?

    Mark.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    12 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    Hi,

    Really need to know how you're calling elf2flash. What's the command like you're using?

    Mark.

    --- Quote End ---

    Mark,

    Originally I was letting the Flash Programmer determine that given my BSP, sof, and elf file, but I tried a simple version in the Nios Shell.

    elf2flash --input=ICETest.elf --output=ICETest.flash --base=0x4000000 --end=0x6000000. The base and end were taken from what the Flash Programmer was using. I just wanted to see if a .flash file was being generated based on my elf. The flash files were generated, but they were only 32 bytes. This is consistent with the Flash Programmer generated files.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    12 years ago

    I have additional information. When I use the above command and this is similar to the command used in the Flash Programmer, it generates a .flash file of size 32 bytes. If I change the command to the following, "elf3flash --input=ICETest.elf --output=ICETest.flash --base=0x0 --end=0x4000000", it generates a 157k ,flash file. I'm confused.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    12 years ago

    Looking at this further, maybe I don't understand the --base and --end address. When I convert the sof file to flash, what flash address to i use? It is defined in the settings.bsp file as 0x4000000 and in the linker section in the bsp editor. Do i use that same address when I convert my elf to flash? That seems to be a problem. If I use 0x0, I get something in my elf to flash file. Does anyone have a good example?

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    12 years ago

    I'm getting the identical symptom using the Board Update Portal of a CycloneIV Eval board. I'm entering the following into the NIOS2 Cygwin shell (exactly as instructed by the Altera html served by the Eval board - except reset vector is changed to match my QSYS):

    elf2flash --base=0x08000000 --end=0x8ffffff --reset=0x09720000 --input=./myfile.elf --output=myfile_sw.flash --boot/$sopc_kit_nios2/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec --verbose

    There are no errors or warnings, and the .flash file generated is 2 words for a total of 32 bytes. (my input .elf file is 1.2kB )

    Does anyone have a solution or idea what's happening? Thanks.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    12 years ago

    Culleyd,

    Once i set my reset vector correctly in quartus, the flash command worked. I opened the flash programmer from the nios II eclipse. I created a new project using my sopcinfo file. I then added my elf file. and selected start. It is working.