Honored Contributor
Honored Contributor1. Unfortunately, the labelling on the various download ports is unclear. The port labelled ByteBlasterMV is the JTAG port. This port is used for downloading sof files, programming to flash with the Nios II flash programmer utility and communicating with the Nios II over JTAG. The port labelled ByteBlasterII is the programming port for the active serial configuration device. It is used for downloading pof files to the config device so that your design with be programmed into the FPGA when the board powers up.
2. If you're using the sof file for your design, it must be uploaded last as the Nios II flash programmer will overwrite your sof with a special flash programmer sof. Kernel and filesystem can be programmed in any order. 3. To make a design "persistant" you must have a pof file of your design (requires proper Nios II license). You can then program it into the active serial configuration device using the port labelled "ByteBlasterII". Steps for doing this should be in the documentation. 4. I think the way it works is that as long as the board has a JTAG connection back to Quartus II (a pop-up window about time limited will appear after you download the sof), the system will continue to work. You will need a full license for Nios II to create sof and pof files that won't timeout. 5. The sof/ptf pair is how we distribute the examples in the free download. Since you've purchased our board we can provide you with the full project. Send an email to support@microtronix.com asking for the full linux Quartus II project. 6. In the current release of our uClinux distribution (1.3), USB can work with some effort. There are a few posts in the forum describing the procedure. In the upcoming release (soon), USB will work "out of the box". Dennis Scott Microtronix Datacom
