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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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11 years ago

Set up flash in Qsys

Hello,

I want to boot my software from a flash memory but first i need to set up the hardware. Can anyone help me to set up the hardware? I'm using Qsys but all the "how to" i find are all uing System Builder. And when I have my hardware do I need too include a bootloader in my software or does the tools do i for me?

Thank you for your help :)

3 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    11 years ago

    It depends of how do you set up your board. An usual scheme is :

    - FPGA Hardware config in an EPCS memory through Active Serial connection with the generated .pof file to this OR program FPGA through JTAG with the generated .sof file. <-- "Quartus Programmer"

    - Embedded software in FLASH memory through JTAG with a running FPGA with your Qsys and co. The NIOS II IDE/SBT does compile and generate the .elf file. If you want to program the FLASH with bootloader + your software : Nios II IDE.SBT > Nios > Nios II Flash Programmer does the job.

    If you are at ease in command line, you can find quite easily the commands used by Nios II SBT : see .sh in your BSP directory.

    You may experienced "No Qsys connection" when you use Nios II Flash Programmer or with "Run as/ Debug as" with "Quartus programmer" opened.

    I advise to CLOSE Quartus Programmer after using it and before launch Nios II SBT.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
    Icon for Honored Contributor rankHonored Contributor
    11 years ago

    Ok I have understand that, but when i crate my hardware in Qsys I need to add an flash component, right? And if I want my software to be stored in a SDRAM on boot up i have reed something about that I need a tristate-brige to connect the flash and the SDRAM. It is that setup i do not understand.

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

    The default bootloader copies your software from flash to RAM. It is transparant, d'ont worry about that.

    Do you need to add a flash component in QSYS ? Yes of course.

    Do you need tri-state ... in Qsys ? It depends of your board. If physically Your address and data bus are shared between RAM and FLASH then yes.

    It a bit more difficult and complex to add tristate components in Qsys. Follow Altera User Guide (.pdf) From Altera Litterature web site.