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DWolf's avatar
DWolf
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5 years ago

Nios II EDS: mem_init_generate failing

Hi,

Yesterday I was able to generate a .hex file for my onchip flash memory contents, but today when I run the mem_init_generate make target it's giving me an error.

Here is the console output:

wsl make mem_init_generate

Info: Building /mnt/e/repos/Vx834_LRF/FPGA/TestBoard/software/Vx834_LRF_bsp/

make --no-print-directory -C /mnt/e/repos/Vx834_LRF/FPGA/TestBoard/software/Vx834_LRF_bsp/

[BSP build complete]

Post-processing to create mem_init/onchip_flash_0.hex...

alt-file-convert.exe -I elf32-littlenios2 -O hex --input=Vx834_LRF.elf --output=mem_init/onchip_flash_0.hex --base=0x00020000 --end=0x0003c7ff --reset=0x00020000 --out-data-width=8 --boot="/mnt/e/intelfpga_lite/19.1/nios2eds/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec"

Apr 9, 2020 11:41:43 AM - (SEVERE) elf2flash: Read error: File not found: /mnt/e/intelfpga_lite/19.1/nios2eds/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec

Apr 9, 2020 11:41:43 AM - (SEVERE) elf2flash: Error reading boot copier

Apr 9, 2020 11:41:43 AM - (SEVERE) elf2flash: Error generating Flash file, exiting

nios2-elf-objcopy: 'C:\Users\devin\AppData\Local\Temp\tmp3_iay72c': No such file

Converting Nios II ELF file to HEX file. Appending boot file.

Post-processing to create onchip_flash_0.flash...

elf2flash.exe --input=Vx834_LRF.elf --output=onchip_flash_0.flash --sim_optimize=0 --base=0x00020000 --end=0x0003c7ff --reset=0x00020000 --boot="/mnt/e/intelfpga_lite/19.1/nios2eds/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec"

Apr 9, 2020 11:41:43 AM - (SEVERE) elf2flash: Read error: File not found: /mnt/e/intelfpga_lite/19.1/nios2eds/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec

Apr 9, 2020 11:41:43 AM - (SEVERE) elf2flash: Error reading boot copier

Apr 9, 2020 11:41:43 AM - (SEVERE) elf2flash: Error generating Flash file, exiting

make: *** [onchip_flash_0.flash] Error 5

/mnt/e/repos/Vx834_LRF/FPGA/TestBoard/software/Vx834_LRF_bsp/mem_init.mk:359: recipe for target 'onchip_flash_0.flash' failed

elf2flash is throwing an error saying that "boot_loader_cfi.srec" can't be found, but the file exists in the specified directory. If I open wsl and enter the directory as specified, I can see the file just fine.

I googled various permutations of the error message. The only thing I found that was matching was something from ~2009, applicable to the first gen Nios processor, saying you need to run the SOPC Builder, but I don't think this is applicable here.

Any idea what is going on?

-Devin

7 Replies

  • JLee25's avatar
    JLee25
    Icon for Contributor rankContributor
    5 years ago

    Hi Devin,

    I am facing the same issue.

    Did your problem got resolved ?

    BRs,

    Johnson

    • DWolf's avatar
      DWolf
      Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
      5 years ago

      Not yet, just started working on something else for a bit to see if I got any replies. Gonna take another crack at it, maybe later today. I'll post if I get any results.

  • DWolf's avatar
    DWolf
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
    5 years ago

    I tried using the method in the link, by copying the boot_loader_cfi.srec file to my Nios II software directory and running alt-file-convert.exe through the Nios command line. This is the error I received. It seems suspiciously similar to the old error. Unfortunately, the output of the executable is ambiguous as to which file it could not find, the .ELF or the bootloader, although I suspect that it is the bootloader. I tried omitting the --boot option from the executable arguments, and got a different error - "must be str, not NoneType".

    If I can't convert my .ELF file to a hex, I'm kind of dead in the water with my design. Can someone else please weigh in on this?

    -Devin

    • JLee25's avatar
      JLee25
      Icon for Contributor rankContributor
      5 years ago

      Hi Devin,

      I tried the link and generate the hex file successfully.

      But for unknown reason, my Nios 2 does not boot after programming.

      I noticed minor difference between your setting and mine.

      Anyway, i attached my command below for your reference,

      FYI!

      BRs,

      Johnson

  • ppauli's avatar
    ppauli
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
    5 years ago

    Hit this error also.

    It seems that there is some file path problems between Windows and linux subsystem.

    Found out a workaround by making a copy of bootloader_cfi.srec to eclipse workspace directory and making modification to BOOT_LOADER_CFI in bsp mem_init.mk file.

    #BOOT_LOADER_CFI ?= $(BOOT_LOADER_PATH)/boot_loader_cfi.srec
    BOOT_LOADER_CFI ?= ../boot_loader_cfi.srec

    (Nios project and bsp are directly under workspace)

    edit: --

    alt-file-convert.exe seems to want a windows path for --boot option (in windows machines), as mem_init.mk BOOT_LOADER_CFI modification to windows path removes error:

    BOOT_LOADER_CFI ?= "'C:\intelFPGA\19.1\nios2eds\components\altera_nios2\boot_loader_cfi.srec'"

    ---

    With this modification the mem_init_generate runs and there is a flash hex file which content seems to be correct (real world booting not tested yet)

    -Pauli-

    • diwi's avatar
      diwi
      Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
      5 years ago

      Hi @ppauli ,

      many thanks for this solution!

      I am facing this issue with Quartus Prime Pro 19.3 as well. Your fix seems to work. I did not verified on a target, yet.

      Is this issue fixed in newer Versions of Quartus Prime? Is there an official solution provided by Intel?

      BR, Dirk