Flash Programmer Question

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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