Why does configuration fail when using Active Serial mode on Agilex™ FPGA family and Stratix®10 FPGA devices with QSPI flash devices that don’t use 8 Dummy Cycles for Fast Read as the default setting?

Description

Due to a limitation with the SDM bootrom in Stratix® 10 FPGA and Agilex™ FPGA Family devices, when using Active Serial mode with QSPI flash devices that have a default setting for Fast Read (1-1-1) set to anything other than 8 Dummy Clock Cycles, loading the SDM Firmware will fail and you will get error "Authentication Error" when checking the device status with the Configuration Debugger (2.2.1. Reading Device Information from SDM-Based Devices). 

To determine if your QSPI flash device has the correct default settings,  refer to the respective QSPI flash datasheet and look for the FAST READ instruction (0x0Bh) dummy clock cycles.

Resolution

To work around this issue, an alternate flash device must be chosen that supports a default setting for Fast Read (1-1-1) of 8 Dummy Clock Cycles.

For more details on recommended QSPI flash devices and their requirements, refer to:

•  AN 981: Using Generic QSPI Flash on SDM Devices
•  Configuration Device Support Center