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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