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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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19 years ago

In-production with Nios/uCLinux?

Group,

I've been working on the development of a product that would include a seperate ARM processor running Linux connected to an Altera FPGA.

Now, recent specification changes would allow me to integrate all CPU functionality in NIOS and onto the FPGA. However, some flavor of Linux is still very important to the product.

After looking at the online documentation and support sites, I am somewhat concerned that uCLinux for NIOS is not very mature.

How many of you actually have a NIOS-based unit IN PRODUCTION with uCLinux running as your OS?

I am very interested to know how "production-proven" the port is. Obviously most of the kernel itself has been merged into mainline, but what about drivers and all of the other support functionality?

Thanks,

espian

16 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    I have worked for 2 clients in particular that will be putting it into production shortly. So far, there have been no reliability issues. Although myself, I am still scepticle over how stable it will be given the nature of FPGAs themselves.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by jdhar@Jun 6 2006, 08:23 AM

    i have worked for 2 clients in particular that will be putting it into production shortly. so far, there have been no reliability issues. although myself, i am still scepticle over how stable it will be given the nature of fpgas themselves.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=15964)

    --- quote end ---

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    "Although myself, I am still scepticle over how stable it will be given the nature of FPGAs themselves."

    What do you mean exactly? http://forum.niosforum.com/work2/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    In my mind, FPGAs aren&#39;t as stable as lets say off-the-shelf processors. For example, there are problems on configuration sometimes from powerup, so you have to accunt for that in circuitry (CRC checking). Also, I have had problems with the Avalon fabric itself locking up, so that has reduced my trust in FPGAs. These are just a few of the issues. Also, I haven&#39;t subjected them to temperature variations, so that&#39;s a big Q-mark for me.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by jdhar@Jun 7 2006, 09:32 AM

    in my mind, fpgas aren&#39;t as stable as lets say off-the-shelf processors. for example, there are problems on configuration sometimes from powerup, so you have to accunt for that in circuitry (crc checking). also, i have had problems with the avalon fabric itself locking up, so that has reduced my trust in fpgas. these are just a few of the issues. also, i haven&#39;t subjected them to temperature variations, so that&#39;s a big q-mark for me.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=16000)

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    --- Quote End ---

    Oh Ok.

    Regarding to temperature issues, I developped many FPGA design for my company, and each time we had to subject them to temperature variations (-30 °C/+70°C). And believe me, if your design is well coded (fully synchronous especially ), it works.

    Regarding to avalon fabric bug. What can be said ? ASIC are also prone to mask bug. With an ASIC , you have to wait for a new mask. With an FPGA you have to wait for a new design. So...

    By the way, what other issues do you talk about ?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    Maybe I am lucky. I had more than a dozen of nios/nios2 designs. Some had shipped more than 100k pcs. There aren&#39;t issues in power-on config or temp. (of cours, be careful in your design.) I feel the quality of altera&#39;s fpga is excellent.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    Wow, I&#39;m impressed with the number of designs that you&#39;ve put into production!

    How many of them also utilized uCLinux?

    Thanks.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by espian@Jun 7 2006, 11:31 PM

    wow, i&#39;m impressed with the number of designs that you&#39;ve put into production!

    how many of them also utilized uclinux?

    thanks.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=16004)

    --- quote end ---

    --- Quote End ---

    Not yet.

    I started uClinux for new products this year. I did have a hard time initially. But now things move smoothly. The first one with uClinux should be out this month.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by hippo+jun 7 2006, 08:16 pm--><div class='quotetop'>quote (hippo @ jun 7 2006, 08:16 pm)</div>

    --- quote start ---

    <!--quotebegin-espian@Jun 7 2006, 11:31 PM

    wow, i&#39;m impressed with the number of designs that you&#39;ve put into production!

    how many of them also utilized uclinux?

    thanks.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=16004)

    --- quote end ---

    --- Quote End ---

    Not yet.

    I started uClinux for new products this year. I did have a hard time initially. But now things move smoothly. The first one with uClinux should be out this month.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=16012)</div>

    [/b]

    --- Quote End ---

    Hi Hippo,

    I&#39;m facing with the same problem as Espian . I plan to use NIOS2 for a new design in production, so I&#39;would like to know if this solution is really robust.

    When you say "hard time initially", do you mean NIOS2 related problems or more uClinux related problems ?

    IMO the 2 things are different, because I think that starting into uCLinux is a big task, whatever the target is (NIOS2, ARM...) ?

    Moreover, would it be possible to know what kind of product you develop (if it not secret http://forum.niosforum.com/work2/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif ) ?

    Regards.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    Hi bigboss25,

    It was uClinux. I was a newbie to uClinux. It takes some time to learn.

    For my current application, the Nios2 + uClinux solution works as expected. Yes, it is robust.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    19 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by hippo@Jun 8 2006, 03:05 AM

    hi bigboss25,

    it was uclinux. i was a newbie to uclinux. it takes some time to learn.

    for my current application, the nios2 + uclinux solution works as expected. yes, it is robust.

    <div align='right'><{post_snapback}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=16024)

    --- quote end ---

    --- Quote End ---

    Thx Hippo.One more question , what is your background : electronic or software engineer ?