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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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16 years ago

SOPC/NIOS II license issue

Hello there,

I work in a research firm and we have a full version of Quartus II, as well as a number of AMPP/MegaCore options. I would assume that this license is sufficient to compile time-unlimited NIOS II blocks, featuring some Altera basic components (e.g. NIOS II core, EPCS controller, SDRAM controller, UART JTAG, etc.). However, it turns out that the resulting SOF file in my design is time limited (please see the message below).

As a result, the EDA netlist writter does not write the VHDL files that I need for a gate-level simulation in Modelsim.

Does anyone know if SOPC builder (and/or NIOS II core) require a special license? If yes, please let know which one.

I already asked my people here who bought the Quartus II license but they never used SOPC builder before, so they actually don't know.

Thanks you.

+--------------------+

; Assembler Messages ;

+--------------------+

Info: *******************************************************************

Info: Running Quartus II Assembler

Info: Version 9.0 Build 132 02/25/2009 SJ Full Version

Info: Processing started: Tue Oct 20 15:20:41 2009

Info: Command: quartus_asm --read_settings_files=off --write_settings_files=off design -c design

Info: Writing out detailed assembly data for power analysis

Info: Assembler is generating device programming files

Info: Design contains a time-limited core -- only a single, time-limited programming file can be generated

Warning: Can't convert time-limited SOF into POF, HEX File, TTF, or RBF

Info: Quartus II Assembler was successful. 0 errors, 1 warning

Info: Peak virtual memory: 211 megabytes

Info: Processing ended: Tue Oct 20 15:20:48 2009

Info: Elapsed time: 00:00:07

Info: Total CPU time (on all processors): 00:00:07

+-----------------------------+

; EDA Netlist Writer Messages ;

+-----------------------------+

Info: *******************************************************************

Info: Running Quartus II EDA Netlist Writer

Info: Version 9.0 Build 132 02/25/2009 SJ Full Version

Info: Processing started: Tue Oct 20 15:20:52 2009

Info: Command: quartus_eda --read_settings_files=off --write_settings_files=off design -c design

Error: Can't generate netlist output files because the file "./design.root_partition.map.atm" is an OpenCore Plus time-limited file

Error: Can't generate netlist output files because the file "./design.root_partition.map.atm" is an OpenCore Plus time-limited file

Error: Can't generate netlist output files because the file "./design.root_partition.map.atm" is an OpenCore Plus time-limited file

Error: Can't generate netlist output files because the file "./design.root_partition.map.atm" is an OpenCore Plus time-limited file

Error: Quartus II EDA Netlist Writer was unsuccessful. 4 errors, 0 warnings

Error: Peak virtual memory: 183 megabytes

Error: Processing ended: Tue Oct 20 15:20:53 2009

Error: Elapsed time: 00:00:01

Error: Total CPU time (on all processors): 00:00:01

6 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    The NIOS II CPU requires a specific license, and some memory controllers do too.

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    Run Quartus II open the menue Tools -> License Setup

    There you can see for what you have a license and if it is expired or still valid.

    Sometimes it is good to check if Altera has changed your license, as they did add some features in the past for existing subriptions.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    Hello Daixiwen, MSchimitt,

    Thank you for your feedbacks. If you are interested, please find in attachment a screenshot my current license setup.

    I found in the compilation report the item that requires a license, it is a Altera SRAM controller. Now, when I program the FPGA, there is a dialog window that pops up (please see screenshot in attachment too) and it says that the license time in unlimited.

    >> Info: SRAM Object File C:/.../design_time_limited.sof contains time-limited megafunction that supports OpenCore Plus feature -- Vendor: 0x6AF7, Product: 0x00A2

    If it is unlimited, why can't I close that window? If I do so, my NIOS II C program simply stops. What a shame... my program has an USB interface and I need to use that piece of hardware with computers that do not have Quartus II installed.

    Does any one know if it is possible (and now) flash the program when a license check is pending? Like in my case... Thank you.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    You have no license for the Nios II.

    If you use the nios II you need something like that mentioned in your license setup

    "Altera (6AF8) Nios II Embedded Processor..."

    and / or

    "Altera (6AF7) Nios II Embedded Processor..."

    even my FAE couldn't tell me what the difference is, i've got both.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    The time is unlimited as long as the USB cable is connected. As you realized, the evaluation stops when you close the OpenCore Ples status window.

    What you can do is disconnect the USB cable BEFORE you close the window. In that case the design will work for about one hour.
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    16 years ago

    Hi guys,

    Yes, I understand the problem. I will try to convince my people to buy the missing license. In the mean time, I will also try to figure out a work around.

    Anyway, thank you very much.

    Cheers,

    C.