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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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17 years ago

Serial Flash Loader with Multiple Configuration Files

I'm starting a new design and would appreciate any info on the best way to do the following. I'm using Quartus V8.1 free version with a EP3C25 and an EPCS configuration device on a custom board. I want to do remote update and so will need to store factory and application configuration files in the EPCS. Also, I would like to put some user data in the EPCS also, about 512 bytes. I would like to use the Serial Flash Loader to put these three pieces of data into the EPCS all at one time in a production environment and I would like to use the standalone quartus programmer to do this. I don't have a NIOSII in the system and do not want to use the NIOS IDE's flash programmer. From what I read this should be possible but I don't quite know how to deal with the two configuration and one data file to get them to be programmed into the correct places in the EPCS, ie at the memory address I want them to be. The factory config is easy since it has to be at address zero but how do I generate or convert the other two files to have the correct start addresses. Also, could these three files be combined into one file for programming the EPCS? Any ideas, info, or leads would be greatly appreciated.

2 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    17 years ago

    If you wanted to use the SFL, then you will need a JIC(JTAG Indirect Configuration) file.

    You may use the "Convert programming Files" option in the Quartus II software to achieve this

    See

    http://www.altera.com/literature/hb/cfg/cfg_cf52007.pdf

    You can add sof data for the application and Factory images and hex data for the user data

    Hope this helps
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    17 years ago

    OK, thanks. That sounds good. I figured a .jic was the way to go but got hung up on assigning the start address of the different files. Seems to make sense to me know. Thanks a lot.