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NGord's avatar
NGord
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2 years ago

NiosV

Hi I am in the process of converting a MAX10 Nios2 design to a MAX10 NiosV. It boots from Flash loaded into DDR

All is good with the compiling apart from I need to convert the elf file to a hex file.
Nios2 was done with Eclipse tools and it created the script


alt-file-convert.exe -I elf32-littlenios2 -O hex --input=app.elf --output=mem_init/ext_flash.hex --base=0x44000000 --end=0x45ffffff --reset=0x44430000 --out-data-width=8 --boot="C:\intelfpga_lite\23.1std\nios2eds\components\altera_nios2\boot_loader_cfi.srec"

Now i have to use NiosV command line to do the same, but the alt-file-convert.exe command doesnt exist.

I think it may be something like this:

elf2flash --input=sw/app/build/app.elf --output=sw/app/build/mem_init/ext_flash.hex --epcs –-offset 0x0 --end=0x45ffffff --boot="C:/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/niosv/components/bootloader/niosv_g_bootloader"

Note the --base and --reset that alt-file-convert.exe used can't be used with elf2flash - is that
correct?


Embedded Applications Layer

32 Replies

  • NGord's avatar
    NGord
    Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
    2 years ago

    I dont think I should have "--epcs" mode set for QSPI?


    if I remove that then I can add "--base" and "--reset".

    That only leaves "--out-data-width=8" - I take it I dont need that for QSPI either

    Also "-I elf32-littlenios2" and "-O hex" are superfluous for elf2flash I take it.

  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi


    Could you try the command below:

    nios2-elf-objcopy -O ihex file.elf output_file.hex


    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh


    • NGord's avatar
      NGord
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      2 years ago

      nios2-elf-objcopy is not recognised by niosv command shell.

      Moreover I got elf2flash to create a hexfile but when I use 'convert programming file' in Quartus to create a pof file for qspi programming , I discover that the hexfile isnt Intel format which it meeds to be for it to work!

      So I reiterate:

      What is the NiosV equivalent of the Nios2 command?:

      alt-file-convert.exe -I elf32-littlenios2 -O hex --input=app.elf --output=mem_init/ext_flash.hex --base=0x44000000 --end=0x45ffffff --reset=0x44430000 --out-data-width=8 --boot="C:\intelfpga_lite\23.1std\nios2eds\components\altera_nios2\boot_loader_cfi.srec"


      • NGord's avatar
        NGord
        Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
        2 years ago

        It seems elf2flash creates an s-record file which is no good .
        I need an equivalent for alt-file-convert.exe which created an Intel hex file!!!

        I think I can use a 3rd party hex editor to convert between s-records and Intel Hex though, I can try that.


        elf2hex creates an Intel hex file but doesnt allow a bootloader to be added, although the command line doesnt complain when I add it!
        I tried it and it created a file 78MB which is an order of magnitude bigger than it should be.

        It seems to me Nios V toolset isnt ready for me to replace Nios II .

        Moreover Platform designer in the Pro version of Quartus has a BSP editor. Thats all very well but Quartus Pro doesnt support MAX10!!





  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi

    The nios2-elf-obj is available under the nios2 command shell.

    To launch you can use the nios2-elf-objcopy.exe shown below:

    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh

  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi


    Any update on this case?

    Have you managed to locate the exe in your windows system?


    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh


    • NGord's avatar
      NGord
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      2 years ago

      Thats the point I am trying to use Nios V not Nios II !!!!!
      Please try reading the thread.

  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi


    Sorry for the confusion.

    For the NiosV there is a new tool to be used for creating the hex for bootloader.

    The command tool to used is :


    elf2flash --input software/app/debug/<Nios V application>.elf \

    --output flash.srec --reset <reset offset + base address of GSFI AVL MEM> \

    --base <base address of GSFI AVL MEM> \

    --end <end address of GSFI AVL MEM>


    riscv-none-embed-objcopy --input-target srec --output-target ihex \

    flash.srec <Nios V application>.hex



    Instead of one command to generate the hex it is separated into 2 steps.


    https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/726952/22-1-21-2-0/software-design-flow-56009.html



    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh


    • NGord's avatar
      NGord
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      2 years ago

      Thats great - just what I wanted..

      One more thing:
      My Nios2 haad use of Exception Vector set within Platform designer.
      For Nios V it must be set with the Nios V command shell because MAX10 doesnt have a BSP editor!
      Any advice how I do that with the niosv-bsp command?


      • NGord's avatar
        NGord
        Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
        2 years ago

        Sorry I was bit hasty there..

        riscv-none-embed-objcopy doesnt exist in Quartus 23.1 std/lite edition.. The documentation is incorrect.

  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi


    For the NiosV they make the exception vector editable in the BSP Editor.

    You are able to change the exception vector in the BSP Editor under the BSP linker script.


    Which doc you referring to that uses the riscv-none-embed-objcopy ?


    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh




    • NGord's avatar
      NGord
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      2 years ago

      riscv-none-embed-objcopy is in your reply dated 20th June.

      Once again, I repeat, BSP editor is only available in Quartus Pro and Quartus Pro doesnt support MAX10!!

      Nios V isnt properly supported it seems - if you want me to migrate from Nios2 to NiosV then Intel need to sort the tools out.

  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi

    For the Max10 that is using the FPGA Std/lite.

    You could launch the BSP-editor manually using the command line.

    Launch the niosv-command shell and enter the command "niosv-bsp-editor"

     

     

    If you could not find the niosv-command shell, it is located here.

    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh

    • NGord's avatar
      NGord
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      2 years ago

      Thats useful - however with all the above I still cant run NiosV Hello.
      On the other hand NiosII Hello works just fine on the same Platform Design and hardware.

      I am using MAX10M40 .
      I am booting from Internal Flash(UFM) into External Ram. The Hello example is too big perversely to be loaded into internal RAM.

      I create the BSP:
      niosv-bsp -c --sopcinfo=hw/q_sys.sopcinfo --type=hal sw/bsp_hal/settings.bsp
      I use niosv-bsp-editor as you suggested to check/edit settings and regenerate.
      I add app:
      niosv-app --bsp-dir=sw/bsp_hal --app-dir=sw/app_hal --srcs=sw/app_hal/hello.c
      cmake:
      cmake -S ./sw/app_hal -G "Unix Makefiles" -B sw/app_hal/build
      make:
      make -C sw/app_hal/build

      create srec file and append bootloader file:
      elf2flash --input=sw/app_hal/build/app_hal.elf --output=sw/app_hal/build/mem_init/onchip_mem.srec --reset=0x4a000020 --base=0x4a000000 --width=8 --end=0x4a06ffff --boot="C:/intelFPGA_lite/23.1std/niosv/components/bootloader/niosv_g_bootloader.srec"

      convert to hex:
      riscv32-unknown-elf-objcopy --input-target srec --output-target ihex sw/app_hal/build/mem_init/onchip_mem.srec

      sw/app_hal/build/mem_init/altera_onchip_flash.hex


      I add the hex file to UFM and add the .sof file in "Convert Programming files" to create a pof file.
      I program my device but nothing appears on juart-terminal.

      Furthermore you cant enable debug on the NiosV because it requires Single Uncompressed Image with Memory initialisation
      so it seems.
      If I do that it reduces the amount of UFM available such that its insufficient to hold the Hello program!
      I know its stupid isn't it.
      In practice I would be using QSPI for softawre storage which worked great for NiosII but because that didnt work with NiosV I wanted to try something very simple.

      Has anyone got NiosV to work properly?


  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi


    Have not tried out on the MAX10 before, however I did managed to run the hello world on other boards

    Could you try just booting the hello world elf from the memory itself instead of using the bootloader method?

    I followed the steps from the link below on getting the hello world running in other boards.

    https://community.intel.com/t5/Nios-V-II-Embedded-Design-Suite/Nios-V-Processor-Installation-and-Hello-World-Execution-Part-1/m-p/1552554#M52380



    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh



    Before you try booting it from the flash .

    Have you tried running it from the


    • NGord's avatar
      NGord
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      2 years ago

      I tried that - it seems to load ok (- my DDR is at 2000000) do you see anything wrong? Nothing still on the terminal.

      [niosv-shell] C:\Users\nigelg\Documents\max10_minuet_niosV_hello1\top_project> niosv-download sw/app_hal/build/app_hal.elf
      INFO: Generating OpenOCD config file. Running "openocd-cfg-gen C:\Users\nigelg\AppData\Local\Temp\tmpgv_staf3\niosv.cfg".
      INFO: Starting OpenOCD. Running "openocd -c tcl_port disabled -c gdb_port 0 -c telnet_port 0 -f C:\Users\nigelg\AppData\Local\Temp\tmpgv_staf3\niosv.cfg".
      [OpenOCD output] Open On-Chip Debugger 0.11.0-R22.4
      [OpenOCD output] Licensed under GNU GPL v2
      [OpenOCD output] For bug reports, read
      [OpenOCD output] http://openocd.org/doc/doxygen/bugs.html
      [OpenOCD output] Info : only one transport option; autoselect 'jtag'
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Application name is OpenOCD.20240703094844
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Attempting to find 'USB-BlasterII [USB-1]'
      [OpenOCD output]
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Cable 1: device_name=(null), hw_name=USB-BlasterII, server=(null), port=USB-1, chain_id=0000000000ad69d0, persistent_id=1, chain_type=1, features=14336, server_version_info=(null)
      [OpenOCD output] Info : TAP position 0 (310D0DD) has 2 SLD nodes
      [OpenOCD output] Info : node 0 idcode=08986E00 position_n=0
      [OpenOCD output] Info : node 1 idcode=0C006E00 position_n=0
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Discovered 1 TAP devices
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Detected device (tap_position=0) device_id=0310d0dd, instruction_length=10, features=4, device_name=10M40D(A|C)
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Found an Intel device at tap_position 0.Currently assuming it is SLD Hub
      [OpenOCD output] Info : This adapter doesn't support configurable speed
      [OpenOCD output] Info : JTAG tap: tap_0310D0DD.0 tap/device found: 0x0310d0dd (mfg: 0x06e (Altera), part: 0x310d, ver: 0x0)
      [OpenOCD output] Info : JTAG tap: tap_0310D0DD.0 Parent Tap found: 0x0310d0dd (mfg: 0x06e (Altera), part: 0x310d, ver: 0x0)
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Virtual Tap/SLD node 0x08986E00 found at tap position 0 vtap position 0
      [OpenOCD output] Info : datacount=2 progbufsize=8
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Examined RISC-V core; found 1 harts
      [OpenOCD output] Info : hart 0: XLEN=32, misa=0x40001100
      [OpenOCD output] Info : starting gdb server for tap_0310D0DD.0.niosv_0.cpu on 0
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Listening on port 64525 for gdb connections
      INFO: Found gdb port 64525
      [OpenOCD output] Ready for Remote Connections
      [OpenOCD output] Info : tcl server disabled
      [OpenOCD output] Info : Listening on port 64526 for telnet connections
      INFO: Found telnet port 64526
      INFO: OpenOCD is ready.
      INFO: Loading image via GDB. Running "riscv32-unknown-elf-gdb -batch -ex set arch riscv:rv32 -ex set remotetimeout 60 -ex target extended-remote localhost:64525 -ex load sw/app_hal/build/app_hal.elf -ex set $mstatus &= ~(0x00000088)".
      The target architecture is set to "riscv:rv32".
      warning: No executable has been specified and target does not support
      determining executable automatically. Try using the "file" command.
      0x44001004 in ?? ()
      Loading section .exceptions, size 0x284 lma 0x20000000
      Loading section .text, size 0x18170 lma 0x20000284
      Loading section .rodata, size 0xfb0 lma 0x20018400
      Loading section .rwdata, size 0x1cc0 lma 0x200193b0
      Start address 0x200002e8, load size 110692
      Transfer rate: 79 KB/sec, 11069 bytes/write.
      [Inferior 1 (Remote target) detached]

      [niosv-shell] C:\Users\nigelg\Documents\max10_minuet_niosV_hello1\top_project> juart-terminal
      juart-terminal: connected to hardware target using JTAG UART on cable
      juart-terminal: "USB-BlasterII [USB-1]", device 1, instance 0
      juart-terminal: (Use the IDE stop button or Ctrl-C to terminate)



  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi


    Is it possible that you share me your bsp settings and a screenshot of your Platform Designer "Address Map" tab?


    From the looks of it the elf is set to launch at address 0x20 000 000 where as your ddr is set to 0x2 000 000.


    Could you double check your linker settings in the bsp settings?


    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh


  • tehjingy_Altera's avatar
    tehjingy_Altera
    Icon for Regular Contributor rankRegular Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi


    Taking a look at your BSP Settings. The address looks ok.

    The linker is set to boot from 0x20000000 .


    Instead of creating a project you could just add your project into the IDE and create a debug configuration.

    https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/730783/22-1std/importing-project.html


    Once you imported you could create the debug connection.

    Take note to select "Ashling RISC-V (auto-detect) Hardware Debugging"

    Then in the debugger tab you could select the NiosV processor in the core selection.


    https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/730783/22-1std/setting-debug-configurations-and-downloading-59901.html


    Please note to close the juart-terminal if you have open before opening a debugging connection.


    If you are able to see the logs in the terminal from the project you created. That means the elf is working.

    From the the debugger could you try taking a look at the address map of 0x20000000. To see if the bootloader have copied the code over to the memory space?


    Regards

    Jingyang, Teh



    • NGord's avatar
      NGord
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      2 years ago

      I havent found any way for Ashling IDE to give me a reliable error free build, even using 24.1.1 "import niosv cmake project"


      The only method that work consistently error free is by using niosv-shell with:-
      > cmake -S ./sw/app_hal -G "Unix Makefiles" -B sw/app_hal/build
      > make -C sw/app_hal/build

      Nios2 was never this troublesome.The same software and the same hardware worked just fine, but there I was using Quartus 18, not Quartus 23.1.1.

      Maybe I will try Nios2 with Quartus 23.1.1 tomorrow to see what happens

      If you can get a NiosV Hello working on a MAX10 development board on Windows 10 with WSL V1 , I would love to know.


      • NGord's avatar
        NGord
        Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
        2 years ago

        Nios2 with the same design works ok on Quartus 23.1.1.