PFL - Flash queries

Hi @YuanLi_S_Intel

Will appreciate a reply to my previous msg.

Our latest updates :

Chunks of bytes will be send via I2C to the CPLD via FPGA (FPGA is just a middle man, pass through i2c data to CPLD).

So configuration data will be coming from FPGA to CPLD now. Data manipulation will be done in the CPLD. CPLD contains one PFL (see next paragraph) & will update the flash Device. I will need to supply data to the combined loader_config_pfl with some manipulation of course. Could this data be .pof format (knowing its structure?). Then the writing data to the flash will be held automatically by the combined loader_config_pfl itself (which I am trying to test right now, not remotely to get that to work first)

Wrt another ticket I created, we are trying to combine now 'flash programming' + 'FPGA configuration' using one PFL. Having other issues here at the moment not knowing how to control the handshaking signals pfl_flash_access_granted & pfl_flash_access_request to achieve successful flash programming & FPGA configuration. Your reply to this matter will be appreciated too. In this instance we are not sending any data across via I2C.

With this test I am doing now (having issues with the 2 handshaking signals how to properly control), we are:

1) Programming/configuring the CPLD with the combined loader_config.pof

2) Then after power cycle, autodetecting the flash device

3) Then we program/Configure the flash with the application page data .pof

=> We expect to see successful Flash programming & FPGA configuration at the end of this test

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Could we have byte of data that can be converted to JTAG kind of data for the loader_config_pfl to understand? or can you propose other ways to achieve this?

ie need to be able to extract the data (eg .pof) & supply it to the loader (this will be implemented in VHDL).

What is the best way of achieving this ?

It is very important to know what the .pof structure format looks like otherwise will not now what data will be sending across to the loader and how the loader will receive it and understand it?

Regards,

Kevin

Hi @YuanLi_S_Intel

>> First of all, if you are using RBF file, you need to write your own controller to do programming and configuration as PFL IP is not supporting RBF file.

Q/ Is this still the case ?

Found the following comments by @ShafiqY_Intel who replied to another user the following :

Yes, PFL is able to configure the FPGA with .rbf file if only you convert POF to rbf. (not SOF to rbf). You no need to write extra Option Bits to the flash device (in rbf file already include Option Bits (in binary form) )

1) converting .pof to .hexout

quartus_cpf -c <pof_file_base_name>.pof <hex_file_base_name>.hexout

2) Then convert .hexout to .rbf using nios2_elf_objcopy command on the NIOS II command shell

nios2-elf-objcopy –I ihex –O binary <input file>.hexout <output file>.rbf

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1) I found the way to convert from .pof to .hexout on the quartus command window because above quartus_cpf command was not recognised :

Invoke Quartus. Load the project
cd into the directory where the .pof file is
Then execute the following in the command window :
execute_module -tool cpf -args "-c *.pof *.hexout"

I am not using the NIOS II processor just a CPLD with the PFL instantiated within it and an FPGA Cyclone V (no NIOS II processor is used within the FPGA)

Where can I execute the 2nd nios2_elf_objcopy command:

nios2-elf-objcopy –I ihex –O binary <input file>.hexout <output file>.rbf

Do I need a special NIOS II command shell? If yes, how do I get this ?

=> Looks like I need to get the NIOS II command shell up to be able to type above NIOS II command.

I have the following directory:

C:\intelFPGA_lite\20.1.0\nios2eds

Inside it contains:

• NIOS II Command Shell.bat
• nios2_command_shell.sh (Is this the Unix version?)
• version.ptf

Need the windows command shell version.

Clicked on the "NIOS II Command Shell.bat" executable but window opens and closes instantly. I also tried to give administrator right permission but see same behaviour (ie Command Shell prompt window instantly closes after it is opened)

Need assistance here please..

I asked @ShafiqY_Intel the same question.

Regards,

Kevin