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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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21 years ago

nios2-flash-programmer ERROR

Hi,

I have custom board with following specification:

Flash memory: S29GL064M90TAIRO

FPGA: Startix with NiosII

EPM7128 - configuration controller

Board design similar to Stratix development kit

1. I created board specification with mk_target_board utility - "new_board"

2. I created testing design with "new_board" target

3. nios2-flash-programmer (from cmd line and from IDE) cause following error: 

nios2-flash-programmer --input=user.flash --sof=`C:/altera/quartus41/sopc_builder/bin/find_sopc_component_dir abd`/system/abd.sof --device=1 "--cable='USB-Blaster '" --base=0x00800000
21.1.2005 14:42:24 - (INFO) nios2-flash-programmer: Launching Quartus Programmer to download:
     c:/altera/kits/nios2/components/abd/system/abd.sof
Send (64) failed.
Unable to synchronize with target.
21.1.2005 14:43:07 - (SEVERE) nios2-flash-programmer: Error opening target hardware

and later nios2-flash-programmer report 

make: ***  Error 6

Testing design works fine, but I can't flash it.

Is there any CFI flash software driver for testing conection between FPGA and FLASH ?

Or any idea what should be tested?

Jan

4 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    21 years ago

    Can you make the following test:

    - download your fpga.sof with quartus programmer to fpga.

    - run the memory test program from ALTERA,(ide -> new projects -> project template -> memory test)

    from ram with the debugger.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    21 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    originally posted by fischer@Jan 21 2005, 11:15 AM

    can you make the following test:

    - download your fpga.sof with quartus programmer to fpga.

    - run the memory test program from altera,(ide -> new projects -> project template -> memory test)

    from ram with the debugger.

    --- Quote End ---

    Hi,

    All memory (FLASH, SDRAM, SRAM) tests OK.

    Has someone flash downloader code for free?

    Thanks.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    21 years ago

    pleskacj,

    I also get the error:

    Send (64) failed.

    Unable to synchronize with target.

    In my case I do not have any flash at all, only the EPCS configuration device?

    Have you had any luck curing the problem?

    so far, I am getting advice from the software forum....

    http://www.niosforum.com/forum/index.php?a...=st&f=17&t=1033 (http://www.niosforum.com/forum/index.php?act=st&f=17&t=1033)

    For the moment, it is still a problem.... http://forum.niosforum.com/work2/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif

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

    Hi,

    1. FLASH memory used in our board doesn&#39;t support byte write mode, only write buffer mode in opposit of AMD FLASH memory used in Altera&#39;s kits.

    Nios2-flash-programmer support only byte write mode. Fischer (the man which answered my question on this forum) had similar problem and Altera answered him that sw tools are not compatible with this memory.

    2. I have no evidence that Nios software of flash programmer design is correct. I suppose, that GERMS monitor in Nios firmware have to be accessible from nios2 terminal utility commands. But I didn&#39;t test this functionality.

    3. I don&#39;t know what exactly "send(64) Unable to synchro... and later error 6" they means. I&#39;m still waiting for Altera support answers. I don&#39;t know, on which side error is - nios or pc software.

    4. I have no time, to solve this problem nowadays. But I think, that new flash software driver have to be written and integrated into nios2-germs monitor software.

    I&#39;ll monitoring information about this problem, I suppose, that we have to solved this problem in second half this year.

    New information about this problem you&#39;ll see there.

    Jan