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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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19 years ago

How to determine program start/stop Address Range

I have a C-Program that I Build using the Nios II IDE.

Lets say the program executes in external SRAM.

How do I determine where in memory the program starts and ends ?

I have a requirement to test this external SRAM.

That is, run a memory test on the memory range that is not

used for program storage. How do I determine this address range(s)?

Does the compiler have this info (start/end address...) that

can be used at compile time? For example, in my memory test when

I specify a start and end address for the memory test can this

range be provided by the compiler?

(would vary depending on my program size)

Thanks,

Jim

2 Replies

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

    Most of the info. you need can be found in an objdump file, which can be optionally generated by the IDE. (nios2-elf-objdump on the command line)

    You do, however, have to be wary of where you've decided to place the stack, heap, and exception address.

    There's a pretty decent description of how memory is managed (albeit in a Linux system) here (http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=173438).

    In general, what you'd like to do is not really possible unless you place the stack and heap in a separate memory or are darn sure that neither your stack nor your heap will "invade" the area that you're attempting to test.

    Cheers,

    - slacker
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    19 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by slacker@May 12 2006, 11:48 AM

    most of the info. you need can be found in an objdump file, which can be optionally generated by the ide. (nios2-elf-objdump on the command line)

    you do, however, have to be wary of where you've decided to place the stack, heap, and exception address.

    there's a pretty decent description of how memory is managed (albeit in a linux system) here (http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=173438).

    in general, what you'd like to do is not really possible unless you place the stack and heap in a separate memory or are darn sure that neither your stack nor your heap will "invade" the area that you're attempting to test.

    cheers,

    - slacker

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=15337)

    --- quote end ---

    --- Quote End ---

    Slacker,

    Thanks for the fast reply.

    Thats the info I was looking for.

    Jim