Why does niosv-download return “Invalid reset option” when executing reset from debug module?

Description

Due to a problem in the Ashling RiscFree IDE for Altera® software, the niosv-download returns “Invalid reset option” when executing reset from debug module for designs targeting Nios^® V processor.

The affected versions are:

Software version 25.2.1 (version dated 9^th May 2025, paired with Quartus® Prime Pro software version 25.1.1 and Quartus® Prime Standard software version 25.1)

Software version 25.3.1 (version dated 1^st Aug 2025, paired with Quartus® Prime Pro software version 25.3.1)

Software version 25.4.1 (version dated 31^st Oct 2025, paired with Quartus® Prime Pro software version 26.1)

The problem is caused by Ashling GDBServer failing to execute software reset (swreset), and niosv-download is using Ashling GDBServer to communicate with the processor.

Thus, this failure prompts the “Invalid reset option” message when executing “niosv-download –r".

Resolution

To work around this problem, use the argument “-o” to change from Ashling GDBserver to OpenOCD.

$ niosv-download –r -o

This problem is fixed beginning with the Ashling RiscFree IDE for Altera® Quartus® software version 26.1.1-C, which is paired with Quartus® Prime Pro software version 26.1.1.

NIOS V/m dbg_reset_out signal (Q25.1 Std, MAX10) | Altera Community - 352387

Updated 4 months ago

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