USB Blaster II locks up after non-volatile key programming

Question

Hi all,

I am programming non-volatile design security key to Cyclone V using USB Blaster II. I am using Quartus 14.1 on Windows 7 64bit and USB Blaster II driver that comes with 14.1.

I know two different methods of programming the key from command line. These are:

quartus_jli.exe -c1 keyfile.jam -aKEY_PROGRAM

and

quartus_pgm -c1 -k -m JTAG -oP';keyfile.ekp'

But after programming the key, the USB Blaster II goes into a state that it no longer can program a .sof for example. It seems that it gets really slow. If following command is used:

quartus_pgm -c1 -m JTAG -oP';fpga.sof'

It starts programmer operation, green led on USB Blaster II is flashing. After about 30 seconds, errors 'Can't access JTAG chain' and 'CONF_DONE pin failed to go high in device 1' are given.

The USB Blaster can be remedied from this state by unplugging and replugging. It can also be remedied by disabling and enabling it from device manager.

Does anyone know of a command that could be used to reset the USB Blaster II, which preferably could be run without administrator privileges?

The only solution I have found so far is to use devcon.exe (it is basically a command line version of windows device manager):

devcon.exe disable "USB\VID_09FB&PID_6010&MI_00*"

devcon.exe enable "USB\VID_09FB&PID_6010&MI_00*"

but it requires administrator privileges, which is not nice when running a Labview / Teststand script.

Note; Quartus 14.1 is actually the first version which supports programming of the non-volatile key with USB Blaster II. If using Quartus 14.0 it gives message "Programming status: Current hardware doesn't support security key programming" or "Error: This hardware does not support frequency control", depending on used tool. Also, if driver from earlier Quartus than 14.1 has been installed on USB Blaster II, it can be really painful to get it working on that computer with the new driver.

altera_forum · Answer

FYI, Altera has been working on this problem for several weeks. If anyone else is facing the issue, please raise a support ticket so maybe they'll eventually fix it. I have also seen the USB Blaster II to go slow sometimes even without trying to program the key, this might be related.

Meanwhile I have been using the devcon.exe workaround, I was able to give Teststand enough privileges that it can use it automatically.

altera_forum · Answer

Finally, update from Altera. They have found the root cause of the issue which is caused by the TCK frequency. The TCK is changed to 100khz when USB Blaster II is performing non-volatile key programming. After it is completed, the TCK is not reverted back to 24Mhz which causes the issue.

This will be fixed in Quartus 15.1. A temporary workaround is to manually change the TCK back to 6, 16 or 24 MHz. I've tested this with the following command:

jtagconfig.exe --setparam USB-BlasterII JtagClock 24M

And it seems to work OK.

altera_forum · Answer

Hi jaka,  Thanks for the workaround while pending for fix.

altera_forum · Answer

Hi jaka,

I'm using Quartus 15.0 web edition trying to program the non-volatile key to the Cyclone V device on the SoCKit. SoCKit has the on-board USB Blaster II. But when I tried to program the non-volatile key, Quartus gave me the "Current hardware doesn't support security key programming" error. I tried you commnd line method but still the same. I also tried version 15.1, but still no luck.

You mentioned that Quartus 14.1 is the first version which supports programming of the non-volatile key with USB Blaster II. Do you know if this function in still in version 15.0 or 15.1?

Or is this function only available in paid verion of Quartus?

Thanks in advance for your help!

altera_forum · Answer

--- Quote Start ---

Hi jaka,

I'm using Quartus 15.0 web edition trying to program the non-volatile key to the Cyclone V device on the SoCKit. SoCKit has the on-board USB Blaster II. But when I tried to program the non-volatile key, Quartus gave me the "Current hardware doesn't support security key programming" error. I tried you commnd line method but still the same. I also tried version 15.1, but still no luck.

You mentioned that Quartus 14.1 is the first version which supports programming of the non-volatile key with USB Blaster II. Do you know if this function in still in version 15.0 or 15.1?

Or is this function only available in paid verion of Quartus?

Thanks in advance for your help!

--- Quote End ---

Hi jlai,

Your error message is probably caused by older version of USB Blaster II driver which doesn't support key programming. I have seen the same problem if the USB Blaster II was installed with driver from Quartus 14.0 or earlier. It can be very painful to get the driver properly updated to the newer version (I only succeeded by using another computer!)

It might also be that the integrated USB Blaster II is somehow different from the stand-alone USB Blaster II and the integrated does not support key programming? The integrated USB Blaster II was available long before the standalone one.

I haven't used Quartus 15.x but I see no reason why the key programming would have been removed. At least your error message suggests that it would support but the programmer HW or driver is preventing it.

You don't need a paid version of Quartus II to program key. The key can be programmed even with just the free Quartus II programmer software, full Quartus is not needed. You need a license to generate the encrypted programming files, but you don't need a paid Quartus for that either. You need to talk to your local FAE to get the encryption license.

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USB Blaster II locks up after non-volatile key programming

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