/altera-cli-tools

Primary LanguageShell

Altera CLI Tools

This is a set of wrapper tools around around Altera Quartus to program altera FPGAs and specifically the DE1.

Getting Started

These tools require that the Altera NIOS tools are installed and are in the current path.

Before running any of these tools you must run the following:

~/altera/13.0sp1/nios2eds/nios2_command_shell.sh

Usage of Altera CLI Tools

rompgm

Program a ROM image <ROM.rom> into the DE1 Flash at address <0xADDR>

Usage:

rompgm <ROM.rom> <0xADDR>

  • <ROM.rom> - Rom image file
  • <0xADDR> - Address where to program it, must start with 0x

Steps:

  1. Load NIOS into the FPGA (see niosload)
  2. Convert the .rom file to a .flash file
  3. Program the flash

Notes:

After rompgm runs the board will still be running NIOS so a reset/power cycle may be required.

sofpgm

Program a .sof file into the EPCS2 configuration device on the DE1 board

Usage:

sofpgm <input_sof.sof>

  • <input_sof.sof> -- sof file to be programmed into the EPCS2 configuration device

Steps:

  1. Generate a .cof file
  2. Convert .sof to a .jic file
  3. Generate a .cdf file
  4. Program it into the EPCS2 device

Notes:

After sofpgm runs the board will still be running programming mode so a reset/power cycle may be required.

sofload

Load a .sof file into the FPGA

Usage:

sofpgm <input_sof.sof>

  • <input_sof.sof> -- sof file to be loaded into the FPGA

Steps:

  1. Generate a .cdf file
  2. Load it into the FPGA

Notes:

  • After sofload is run the board will immediately reset and start running the .sof file that was loaded.
  • The .sof file is loaded directly into the FPGA. This will be lost if the board is reset/power cycled. Use sofpgm to program the .sof file into the EPCS2 configuration device for a permanent load which will be persistent across reset/power cycle.

niosload

Load Altera NIOS into the FPGA Board

Usage:

niosload

Notes:

After rompgm runs the board will still be running NIOS so a reset/power cycle may be required to get back to anything that may be saved in the EPCS2 configuration device