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Altera_Forum
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21 years ago

Flash Programmer Question

Can anybody explain to me does Altera Flash Programmer places boot loader automatically before main programm at flash for copying main program to sdram or not? Or I must write my own boot loader a...
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Altera_Forum
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21 years ago

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originally posted by macshiz@Dec 7 2004, 03:05 AM

hm, may be you know what raw binary file (.rbf) contains? you can produce .rbf file from quartusii file menu->convert programming files.

is it that file i can write directly to user hardware image location (0x0060000) at flash for remote update of my system?

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I'm not sure if I understand you right.

The .rbf file is one of several alternatives to store the data generated by quartus to make a FPGA working. I use this type of file when I initialize a blank FPGA via microcontroller. These databytes are transfered 1:1 to FPGA when it is in configuration mode. If you want to use a parallel flash you need an additional configuration controller to select and serialize this data (cyclone series) on power up.

Besides configuration data, you need firmware to run a NIOS. This firmware must be loaded to RAM after FPGA configuration is done. A bootloader manages this step. Configuration data, bootloader and firmware can be merged together and stored for example, in a serial Flash (EPCS). This is build by quartus flash programmer together with a custom design and described in 'ug_nios2_flash_programmer.pdf'.

Mike