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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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19 years ago

How to make custom target board?

hi,I'm creating my own target board with the board discription editor.I use quartus2, version 5.1,and Nios2 version 5.1.it seems that mk_target_board can't be used.I just declared the flash memory on the board,and sepcified the regions,but it doesn't work,with the flash memory problems.what else should I do if I want to make my custom target board?I've read the flash programmer and SOPC Builder handbook,but the answer is not be found.

12 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    Instructions for creating a board description on a board without specifying a netlist:

    1. open SOPC builder for your project

    2. File -> New Board Description...

    3. in the Netlist tab, select the Device Family

    4. in the Flash Memory tab add EPCS and/or CFI Flash, when selecting a name, be careful not t select a name already used by Altera, it may cause problems

    5. in the same tab add a hardware image (for EPCS Flash in my case)

    6. in the Files tab specify the Board Description Name, again be careful with name repetition

    7. the other tabs can be left untouched

    8. press Finish

    9. select the new board with your design

    Note: you may have to restart SOPC builder or something like that

    IzI
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    Creating a custom board is not that difficult. The QUARTUS II manual is very well detailed and if You follow all the steps, You will be able to get Your custom board created easily.

    Being able to program the flash using the "Flash Programmer" is an other issue: You may end up to use the command line feature and not the NIOS IDE flash programmer unless You have one of the Flash Memories specified in the appendix of the Flash Programmer Manual.

    One suggestion that I can give to You: create the custom board and include only the EPCS and any other Flash component; even if the feature of assigning the FPGA pins during this process, I found more convenient to do all the assignment in QUARTUS II. This approach will allow to reuse the same custom board configuration (FPGA + EPCS + Flash) over and over without the need to create a custom board for every single project. Moreover, this will allow You to modify the pin out of the FPGA even with the actual PCB already developed, without the need to go back into the custom board creation process again.

    Have fun.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    thank you two for your reply.I really appreciate.I've made my target board,generated the sopc builder system,compiled the quartus project,and built an easy c project(hello led) ,after that,the .sof file is downloaded successfully.But while I run the project to the hardware,there's a mistake:

    using cable "byteblasterii [lpt1]", device 1, instance 0x00

    resetting and pausing target processor: failed

    leaving target processor paused

    I've no idea what causes this problem.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by cicizhang@Nov 22 2006, 12:12 AM

    thank you two for your reply.i really appreciate.i've made my target board,generated the sopc builder system,compiled the quartus project,and built an easy c project(hello led) ,after that,the .sof file is downloaded successfully.but while i run the project to the hardware,there's a mistake:

    Using cable "ByteBlasterII [LPT1]", device 1, instance 0x00

    Resetting and pausing target processor: FAILED

    Leaving target processor paused[/b]

    I've no idea what causes this problem.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=19568)

    --- Quote End ---

    [/b]

    --- Quote End ---

    Can you try USB blaster instead LPT1?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    I usually received this message when my processor was not functioning. There may be many reasons for it.

    If you already tested a working processor design with the board than, check how you connect reset, some of my designs worked with the reset_n connected to VCC but lately I usualy have to use a timer generating a reset pusle (I am not sure it this timer is realy needed, since at the same time I changed the chip from Cyclone to Cyclone II and changed Quartus to a newer version).

    If it is the first time you try to start the board than:

    - check power supply

    - check if you get the clock (connect a blinking led to a timer connected to the clock)

    - check the reset signal for the processor

    - try a processor without an external chips, use internal RAM (this way you know that at least the Altera chip works)

    - try the full design

    IzI
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    Thank you.The board has been used befrore,and proved to work fine.And the reset_n pin of Flash is always connected to Vcc.I think maybe the SOPC Builder or the Nios2 5.1, with Quartus2 5.1 can&#39;t work fine on Cyclone ,but on Cyclone2 is OK.But I&#39;m not sure,I&#39;ll try to find another board with Cyclone2.Thank you again.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    How far did you get into the board,

    - conected a LED to a counter to make it blinking?

    - conected to a processor without Flash and RAM interface using internal M4K blocks?

    List the components on the board, oscilator frequency, Cyclone os Stratix....

    Give us some details on the board and on your progress, otherway threre is no way we could help you.

    And please use Quartus 6.0, please do not bother us with old versions.

    IzI
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    I was under the impression that you had to use the USB blaster (rev b I think) to debug with the NIOS II. The error message sounds like it might be resolved by using the USB blaster. Again use Quartus II 6.0 if you can, or at least stick to Quartus II 5.1

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by mgilroy@Nov 27 2006, 07:17 PM

    i was under the impression that you had to use the usb blaster (rev b i think) to debug with the nios ii. the error message sounds like it might be resolved by using the usb blaster. again use quartus ii 6.0 if you can, or at least stick to quartus ii 5.1

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=19643)

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    --- Quote End ---

    I use ByteBlaster MV for all my designs (to program, to flash and to debug) it does complain but it works. And I always use the latest software (Quartus II 6.0 and Nios II 6.0).

    IzI