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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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14 years ago

Quartus-II and APEX20K160E

Hi I am trying to save the configuration file from an APEX20K altera device using jtag interface. I am using the Quartus-II software and USB blaster cable. I can see the JTAG chain, but I cannot see the options for programming/save file/erasing. The checkboxes for these options are disabled. So I cannot save the data from the device. Is it something that I am missing or Is it possible to retrieve the data somehow from Altera APEX20K160E device.

Thanks for your help in advance.

10 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Sor a FPGA like APEX20E, Program/Configure will be the only available option. The configuration can be only read back from the non-volatile configuration memory device, e.g. EPC.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Thanks for your reply. So are these apex devices just sdram memory device where whatever data you store is gone after you power off. Are these devices reprogrammable?

    --- Quote Start ---

    Sor a FPGA like APEX20E, Program/Configure will be the only available option. The configuration can be only read back from the non-volatile configuration memory device, e.g. EPC.

    --- Quote End ---

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    So are these apex devices just sdram memory device where whatever data you store is gone after you power off. Are these devices reprogrammable?

    --- Quote End ---

    The FPGAs are volatile, they are programmed at power-on by a configuration device. The EPC2 device FvM mentioned is basically a non-volatile flash that is used to program the FPGA.

    You can reprogram the FPGA using JTAG while the power is on, and when you cycle power, the old configuration will reload from the EPC2.

    You can change the FPGA configuration permanently by reprogramming the EPC2.

    The APEX20K devices are old. I think you will need to use Quartus II 9.0SP2 to generate programming files.

    Cheers,

    Dave
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Dave,

    Thanks for the good info. In my board I have a EPM7032AE device also in the chain along with this APEX IC. Is EPM7032AE a volatile flash that can load the APEX with the data?

    Thanks

    Nidhin

    --- Quote Start ---

    The FPGAs are volatile, they are programmed at power-on by a configuration device. The EPC2 device FvM mentioned is basically a non-volatile flash that is used to program the FPGA.

    You can reprogram the FPGA using JTAG while the power is on, and when you cycle power, the old configuration will reload from the EPC2.

    You can change the FPGA configuration permanently by reprogramming the EPC2.

    The APEX20K devices are old. I think you will need to use Quartus II 9.0SP2 to generate programming files.

    Cheers,

    Dave

    --- Quote End ---

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    Thanks for the good info. In my board I have a EPM7032AE device also in the chain along with this APEX IC. Is EPM7032AE a volatile flash that can load the APEX with the data?

    --- Quote End ---

    The EPM7032AE is a non-volatile CPLD - think of it as a wanna-be FPGA - its likely used as glue logic on your board.

    It might be part of the programmer logic, but you need to look at the schematic again. You're looking for flash or some sort of non-volatile memory, or a standard Altera device, eg., EPC2, EPC16.

    Cheers,

    Dave
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    There is no other altera IC's on my board. Could it be like my controller on the board MPC855 is loading the FPGA with the data it need or will it be just like a seperate flash on the board or could it be any of these?. Thanks for your help Dave

    --- Quote Start ---

    The EPM7032AE is a non-volatile CPLD - think of it as a wanna-be FPGA - its likely used as glue logic on your board.

    It might be part of the programmer logic, but you need to look at the schematic again. You're looking for flash or some sort of non-volatile memory, or a standard Altera device, eg., EPC2, EPC16.

    Cheers,

    Dave

    --- Quote End ---

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    Could it be like my controller on the board MPC855 is loading the FPGA with the data it need or will it be just like a seperate flash on the board or could it be any of these?

    --- Quote End ---

    Anything is possible :)

    Look on the schematic. Trace the configuration signals on the FPGA to their source. The configuration signals are the same as the ones described in this doc

    http://www.ovro.caltech.edu/~dwh/carma_board/fpga_configuration.pdf (http://www.ovro.caltech.edu/%7edwh/carma_board/fpga_configuration.pdf)

    Cheers,

    Dave
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    Thanks Dave. I will check that out now. In your first reply you mentioned about using quartus-II9.0sp2 to generate programming files right. Do you mean like downloading the file or just creating a new configuration file for the device?

    --- Quote Start ---

    Anything is possible :)

    Look on the schematic. Trace the configuration signals on the FPGA to their source. The configuration signals are the same as the ones described in this doc

    http://www.ovro.caltech.edu/~dwh/carma_board/fpga_configuration.pdf (http://www.ovro.caltech.edu/%7edwh/carma_board/fpga_configuration.pdf)

    Cheers,

    Dave

    --- Quote End ---

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    --- Quote Start ---

    In your first reply you mentioned about using quartus-II9.0sp2 to generate programming files right. Do you mean like downloading the file or just creating a new configuration file for the device?

    --- Quote End ---

    If you want to create a new programming file, then Quartus II needs to support the APEX device. As Altera develops new devices and new support, they drop support for older devices.

    You can download 9.0SP2 from here (the web edition is what you want):

    ftp://ftp.altera.com/outgoing/release/

    Cheers,

    Dave
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    14 years ago

    thanks Dave.

    --- Quote Start ---

    If you want to create a new programming file, then Quartus II needs to support the APEX device. As Altera develops new devices and new support, they drop support for older devices.

    You can download 9.0SP2 from here (the web edition is what you want):

    ftp://ftp.altera.com/outgoing/release/

    Cheers,

    Dave

    --- Quote End ---