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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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20 years ago

Help with Flash Programmer on custom board

Hi!

I've made a board with cpld and flash as in Cyclone Development Kit, but different is

cpld EPM3128A only. I ran it on Quartus 4.0 (SP1) and NIOS 1.0 (SP1) and

it is configuring and working OK. I try to configure it in new version of Quartus 4.2 with SP1 single

and NIOS 2 1.1, but when I was programming it by Flash Programmer appear errors.

I've changed a JTAG_UART in custom board design and added a reset_delay block but

error is the same.

Maybe someone had this problem before?

Thanks.

Error:

# ! /bin/sh# # This file was automatically generated by the Nios II IDE Flash Programmer.# # It will be overwritten when the flash programmer options change.#

cd C:/altera/qdesigns42/CamelotProject1/software/CamelotProject1/Debug

# Creating .flash file for the FPGA configuration

$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/sof2flash --flash=U5 --offset=0x00700000 --input=C:/altera/q

designs42/CamelotProject1/CamelotProject1.sof --output=CamelotProject1.flash

Info: *******************************************************************

Info: Running Quartus II Convert_programming_file

Info: Command: quartus_cpf --no_banner --convert C:/altera/qdesigns42/CamelotPro

ject1/CamelotProject1.sof CamelotProject1.rbf

Info: Quartus II Convert_programming_file was successful. 0 errors, 0 warnings

Info: Processing ended: Thu Mar 24 13:18:37 2005

Info: Elapsed time: 00:00:00

# Programming flash with the FPGA configuration

$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/nios2-flash-programmer --input=CamelotProject1.flash --sof=$

SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/components/Camelot_Custom_Board/system/Camelot_Custom_Board.sof -

-cable='USB-Blaster [USB-0]' --base=0x00800000

24.03.2005 13:18:39 - (INFO) nios2-flash-programmer: Launching Quartus Programme

r to download:

C:/altera/kits/nios2/components/Camelot_Custom_Board/system/Camelot_Custom_

Board.sof

Send (64) failed.

Unable to synchronize with target.

24.03.2005 13:19:19 - (SEVERE) nios2-flash-programmer: Error opening target hard

ware

24.03.2005 13:19:19 - (SEVERE) nios2-flash-programmer:

In order to program flash, you must first create a purpose-built

flash-programming design (i.e. FPGA configuration) and associate it with

your particular board. The Nios development kit is delivered with purpose-bui

lt

flash-programming designs pre-built for several development boards. If you wi

sh

to program flash on your own board, you must first create a flash-programming

design.

The process of creating a flash-programming design for your board is mostly

automated. From a bash-shell, execute this script:

mk_target_board --help

The help-message includes references to other documentation on programming

flash and targeting Nios systems to custom board designs.

- exiting.

# Creating .flash file for the project

$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/elf2flash --flash=U5 --base=0x00000000 --end=0x800000 --rese

t=0x0 --input=CamelotProject1.elf --output=cfi_flash_0.flash --boot=$SOPC_KIT_NI

OS2/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec

# Programming flash with the project

$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/nios2-flash-programmer --input=cfi_flash_0.flash --sof=__NO_

SOF_PLEASE__ --cable='USB-Blaster [USB-0]' --base=0x00800000

24.03.2005 13:19:20 - (INFO) nios2-flash-programmer: SOF-download skipped.

Send (8) failed.

Unable to synchronize with target.

24.03.2005 13:19:51 - (SEVERE) nios2-flash-programmer: Error opening target hard

ware

24.03.2005 13:19:51 - (SEVERE) nios2-flash-programmer:

In order to program flash, you must first create a purpose-built

flash-programming design (i.e. FPGA configuration) and associate it with

your particular board. The Nios development kit is delivered with purpose-bui

lt

flash-programming designs pre-built for several development boards. If you wi

sh

to program flash on your own board, you must first create a flash-programming

design.

The process of creating a flash-programming design for your board is mostly

automated. From a bash-shell, execute this script:

mk_target_board --help

The help-message includes references to other documentation on programming

flash and targeting Nios systems to custom board designs.

- exiting.

9 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    20 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by camelot@Mar 24 2005, 01:31 PM

    hi!

    i've made a board with cpld and flash as in cyclone development kit, but different is

    cpld epm3128a only. i ran it on quartus 4.0 (sp1) and nios 1.0 (sp1) and

    it is configuring and working ok. i try to configure it in new version of quartus 4.2 with sp1 single

    and nios 2 1.1, but when i was programming it by flash programmer appear errors.

    i've changed a jtag_uart in custom board design and added a reset_delay block but

    error is the same.

    maybe someone had this problem before?

    thanks.

    error:

    # ! /bin/sh# # this file was automatically generated by the nios ii ide flash programmer.# # it will be overwritten when the flash programmer options change.#

    cd c:/altera/qdesigns42/camelotproject1/software/camelotproject1/debug

    # creating .flash file for the fpga configuration

    $sopc_kit_nios2/bin/sof2flash --flash=u5 --offset=0x00700000 --input=c:/altera/q

    designs42/camelotproject1/camelotproject1.sof --output=camelotproject1.flash

    info: *******************************************************************

    info: running quartus ii convert_programming_file

    info: command: quartus_cpf --no_banner --convert c:/altera/qdesigns42/camelotpro

    ject1/camelotproject1.sof camelotproject1.rbf

    info: quartus ii convert_programming_file was successful. 0 errors, 0 warnings

    info: processing ended: thu mar 24 13:18:37 2005

    info: elapsed time: 00:00:00

    # programming flash with the fpga configuration

    $sopc_kit_nios2/bin/nios2-flash-programmer --input=camelotproject1.flash --sof=$

    sopc_kit_nios2/components/camelot_custom_board/system/camelot_custom_board.sof -

    -cable='usb-blaster [usb-0]' --base=0x00800000

    24.03.2005 13:18:39 - (info) nios2-flash-programmer: launching quartus programme

    r to download:

    c:/altera/kits/nios2/components/camelot_custom_board/system/camelot_custom_

    board.sof

    send (64) failed.

    unable to synchronize with target.

    24.03.2005 13:19:19 - (severe) nios2-flash-programmer: error opening target hard

    ware

    24.03.2005 13:19:19 - (severe) nios2-flash-programmer:

    in order to program flash, you must first create a purpose-built

    flash-programming design (i.e. fpga configuration) and associate it with

    your particular board. the nios development kit is delivered with purpose-bui

    lt

    flash-programming designs pre-built for several development boards. if you wi

    sh

    to program flash on your own board, you must first create a flash-programming

    design.

    the process of creating a flash-programming design for your board is mostly

    automated. from a bash-shell, execute this script:

    mk_target_board --help

    the help-message includes references to other documentation on programming

    flash and targeting nios systems to custom board designs.

    - exiting.

    # creating .flash file for the project

    $sopc_kit_nios2/bin/elf2flash --flash=u5 --base=0x00000000 --end=0x800000 --rese

    t=0x0 --input=camelotproject1.elf --output=cfi_flash_0.flash --boot=$sopc_kit_ni

    os2/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec

    # programming flash with the project

    $sopc_kit_nios2/bin/nios2-flash-programmer --input=cfi_flash_0.flash --sof=__no_

    sof_please__ --cable='usb-blaster [usb-0]' --base=0x00800000

    24.03.2005 13:19:20 - (info) nios2-flash-programmer: sof-download skipped.

    send (8) failed.

    unable to synchronize with target.

    24.03.2005 13:19:51 - (severe) nios2-flash-programmer: error opening target hard

    ware

    24.03.2005 13:19:51 - (severe) nios2-flash-programmer:

    in order to program flash, you must first create a purpose-built

    flash-programming design (i.e. fpga configuration) and associate it with

    your particular board. the nios development kit is delivered with purpose-bui

    lt

    flash-programming designs pre-built for several development boards. if you wi

    sh

    to program flash on your own board, you must first create a flash-programming

    design.

    the process of creating a flash-programming design for your board is mostly

    automated. from a bash-shell, execute this script:

    mk_target_board --help

    the help-message includes references to other documentation on programming

    flash and targeting nios systems to custom board designs.

    - exiting.

    --- Quote End ---

    NIOS 1.1 bug?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    20 years ago

    I have also problems with the ide flash programmer and i decided to use

    the NIOS SDK SHELL and shell scripts for programming.

    in your example, perhaps there is missing the

    --devive=<device number> part in the call to nios2-flash-programmer

    try to write your own script to program the flash,

    e.g edit

    # ################################################################################ script to flash a file

    # FILE TO FLASH

    FLASH_FILE=$1

    # PATH TO FLASH PROGRAMMER BOARD FILE

    BOARD_CONF_FILE=BOARD_1DVI02_EP1C6.sof

    # CABLE

    CABLE="USB-Blaster [USB-0]"# NO OF DEVICE in JTAG_CHAIN

    JTAG_DEVICE=2# BASEADDRESS OF FLASH IN FLASHPROGRAMMERDESIGN (!!! not in APPLICATIONDESIGN)

    FP_BASEFLASH=0x00800000

    # ####################

    echo ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    echo "PROGRAM FILE : "$FLASH_FILE

    echo "BOARD FILE : "$BOARD_CONF_FILE

    echo "CABLE : "$CABLE

    echo "JTAG-DEVICE : "$JTAG_DEVICE

    echo "FLASHPRG BASE ADD : "$FP_BASEFLASH

    echo ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    nios2-flash-programmer --input=$FLASH_FILE --sof=$BOARD_CONF_FILE --device=$JTAG_DEVICE --cable=$CABLE --base=$FP_BASEFLASH

    if [ $? != 0 ]

    then

    echo "--- !!! ERROR !!! !!! ERROR !!! !!! ERROR !!! !!! ERROR !!! ---"

    exit 1

    fi

    echo "### SUCCESS# ## SUCCESS# ## SUCCESS# ## SUCCESS# ## SUCCESS # ##"

    exit 0
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    20 years ago

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

    --- Quote Start ---

    # script to flash a file[/b]

    --- Quote End ---

    Where is the file?

    And the error says

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

    --- Quote Start ---

    Unable to synchronize with target.[/b]

    --- Quote End ---

    Maybe It is the problem that set the inapposite parameters of the common flash interface.

    Altera says nothing about how to set the parameters. I read the flash datasheet, want to find something about setup/hold/wait time with the Avalon interface, but get nothing.

    Can anybody give some index?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    20 years ago

    Hi LiangYi,

    the file is given by the command line to the script (Command line parameter $1),

    you have to call this script in the bash shell (NiosII SDK Shell) )with e.g.

    "sh flash CamelotProject1.flash"
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    20 years ago

    I added a device number and cable in .sh file, but error the same.

    Maybe someone from NIOS developers knows what I should do in this

    situation.

    Thx.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    20 years ago

    To Camelot,

    First, have you tested your memory with memtest project? If tested successfully, I think it is the problem of your Flash Programming Design.

    You should deal with the clk and reset_n pins(in your Flash Programming Design) the same to your real design.

    I do this and success.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    20 years ago

    In NIOS 2 1.0 my board works, programmes and configures correctly, from this I think it is bug in new

    release of NIOS 2. My question is what I can do to remove this bug?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    20 years ago

    But I use the latest version, it success.

    My SW is Nios II 1.1 Eval + Quartus II 4.2 SP1.

    HW is Microtronix Cyclone Dev Board.

    I mean that if Clk Pin in your Flash Programming Design is assigned to the right Pin in your real design and use the same Pll or reset delay circuit.