remote upgradation of FPGA

Hi Jake,

thank you for your precious time and help.

i got stuck near building SOPC builder only. while connecting ethernet in my SOPC system i got error like this.

"Error: altera_ethernet.receive/altera_ethernet.transmit: The width of the error signal from the source is 6 bits, but is 1 bits to the sink."

so i am not able to even generate my SOPC system.

i got one doubt regarding point# 2 in your explanation.

if i dont use NIOS II ,still can i load my POF files remotely to FPGA by SFL and PFL through ethernet?

if it is easy with NIOS II then could you pl. tell me more details regarding NIOS II usage in remote upgradation of FPGA

i have to upgrade my FPGA with new POF files once in 10 days( let it be) through ethernet only. i am using cyclone III and EPCS4 flash memory.

i am not able to fine solution for my problem. Could you Pl. help regarding this?

thanks in adavance.

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I've got to say I got a kick out of the term "upgradation".

There are a few components to remote upgrade:

1 - Uploading your new image to the FPGA

2 - Programming the new image into your configuration flash

3 - Remotely triggering the reconfiguration.

Now you indicate that for# 1 you want to use ethernet. To me this means a NIOS processor running a TCP/IP stack. Then you can use FTP or TFTP or your own mechansim for getting the image down to the FPGA. However, if you're not using a NIOS, you've got to write some custom HDL to handle the ethernet.

For# 2, you have a few options. If you are using a NIOS, it's pretty easy to interface to the flash and program the new data in. If you are not using a NIOS, you can use the PFL or SFL (parallel or serial flash loader) megafunctions to program the flash.

# 3, use the remote_update core as std_logic_vector indicated.

Jake

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