Generating BSP has encountered a problem

Hello,

Many thanks for your reply.

I encountered this issue just after adding the new module "interval timer" into Nios II system.

The previous design (without adding any new modules) was an existing project and it runs OK. I will upload both .sopcinfo files. The old one is the design without any issues, and the current one is the design which encounters issues.

Please see attached.

Hello,

Sorry for the confusion, the "interval timer" was renamed by me as a "timestamp_timer" in the design, you may find it from the attached .sopcinfo file, so it was connected as a peripheral in Nios II. At the moment, BSP project has been successfully generated by typing "nios2-bsp-generate-files --bsp-dir . --settings settings.bsp" at the relevant directory via Nios II command shell, but BSP still cannot be automatically generated by clicking "generate BSP" at the sub-menu of "Nios II" in Eclipse.

Hence, generate BSP could be partially resolved at present, as the programme in C can be downlaoded and executed in Nios II. However, some new issues were encountered recently. As I mentioned that I was trying to measure the code running time by using an interval timer (i.e., "timestamp_timer" in my design), but it seems that my programme "froze"/stucked at "alt_timestamp_start()" when executing the code. Please see part of my test code below:

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#include "system.h"
#include "sys/alt_timestamp.h"
#include "alt_types.h"

int main()
{
alt_u32 t0, t1;

alt_timestamp_start();

t0 = alt_timestamp();
usleep(10000000);
t1 = alt_timestamp();

printf("time stamp t0 = %ld \n", t0);
printf("time stamp t1 = %ld \n", t1);
printf("time stamps (t1-t0) = %ld \n", (t1-t0));
printf("\n");

return 0;
}

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In this method, I also enabled timestamp_timer in BSP editor, please see the screen shot below:

Having realised time stamp method may not work properly, I tried another method to measure the code running time, which is almost the same as this one: https://community.intel.com/t5/Nios-V-II-Embedded-Design-Suite/How-to-calculate-the-time-for-running-the-code-in-Nios-II-and/m-p/1430160 (BTW, the peripheral "interval timer" (i.e., timestamp_timer) connection in my design is exactly the same as the one mentioned in this link). Since both of the methods have to utilise the "interval timer". Hence, I changed my test code as follows:

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#include "stdio.h"
#include "unistd.h"
#include "time.h"
#include <math.h>

int main()
{
clock_t t;

t = clock();

usleep(10000000);

t = clock() - t;

printf("It took me %ld clocks. \n", t);

return 0;
}

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Further, in this second method, I enabled sys_clk_timer in BSP editor, since the programme is counting system clock cycles...

However, the second method is returning 0 clocks from printf(), in other words, the value of "t" doesn't change...

There should be something wrong in the design settings (perhaps BSP settings) or something wrong about the timestamp_timer connections. Could you please help to check it? Thank you very much in advance.

Hello,

Thanks for your reply, yes the interval timer is included, and renamed as "timestamp_timer".

Hello,

After a correct HAL setting upon the timestamp timer, I finally made it to read programme execution time. Many thanks for your help!