Configuring the ML402

[Griffin]

Hello,

I'm fairly new to FPGAs and such, and I'm having a really hard time
configuring my ML402 board. I'm using EDK / ISE 11.2. I'm using the
JTAG connector, and don't have a compact flash reader (yet) to allow
my computer to move files onto the ML402's CF card.

Is there a way to configure the ML402 board using only the JTAG
connector?

Thanks in advance!

Sean Griffin

[austin]

Sean,

The Xilinx Platform Cable USB II works with the Impact software in ISE
to program over JTAG, or over any one of the other modes the FPGA
supports. It is what I have on my desk...there may be a newer model.

There are third party suppliers of JTAG cables and programming
software, as well.

Austin

[Griffin]

Hi, thanks for the response.

That much I know from scouring around the internet. In fact, I have
the Xilinx Platform Cable USB II. Perhaps I should be more clear: I
guess I'm looking for a clear step-by-step procedure (for lack of a
better term) for downloading and running a project on the ML402.

-Sean.

[Peter Van Epp]

Griffin <captain...@gmail.com> writes:

>Hi, thanks for the response.

>That much I know from scouring around the internet. In fact, I have
>the Xilinx Platform Cable USB II. Perhaps I should be more clear: I
>guess I'm looking for a clear step-by-step procedure (for lack of a
>better term) for downloading and running a project on the ML402.

>-Sean.

http://www.fpga4fun.com/ISEQuickStart.html gives a quick overview
of the basic steps of loading code in to an FPGA using ISE (as I think the
ML402 is Xilinx, there is a version for Quartis on the site as well if I'm
wrong).
Its for an older version of ISE so the screen shots aren't quite
correct but it gives the flow you need to compile and load a project which
is I think what you are asking for. It got me to the point of being able to
successfully compile, load and execute one of their example progams (writing
my own is likely quite another matter though :-)) into their Dragon board
using a later version of ISE.
At the end of it there is a reference to Xilinx tutorials for the
various versions of ISE (I haven't gotten that far yet though :-))

Peter Van Epp

[Griffin]

> http://www.fpga4fun.com/ISEQuickStart.htmlgives a quick overview

> of the basic steps of loading code in to an FPGA using ISE (as I think the
> ML402 is Xilinx, there is a version for Quartis on the site as well if I'm
> wrong).
> Its for an older version of ISE so the screen shots aren't quite
> correct but it gives the flow you need to compile and load a project which
> is I think what you are asking for. It got me to the point of being able to
> successfully compile, load and execute one of their example progams (writing
> my own is likely quite another matter though :-)) into their Dragon board
> using a later version of ISE.
> At the end of it there is a reference to Xilinx tutorials for the
> various versions of ISE (I haven't gotten that far yet though :-))
>
> Peter Van Epp

Thanks, Peter.

Over the past couple months, I've succeeded in working with ISE VHDL-
only projects, but now I've moved onto my first embedded design and am
using only EDK. It is my understanding that when working with embedded
processor projects, running it on an FPGA (in my case, the Virtex-4 on
the ML402) is not as simple as downloading the bitstream (as is my
experience with working with vhdl projects on a Xilinx Spartan3
board) . If I understand correctly, there are executables (ELF?) and
such which must also be loaded to memory (DDR, SRAM) and then executed
such that the project runs. It is these two things that I am unsure
how to do. If I understand correctly, EDK11 can handle the bitstream
downloading via Device Configuration -> Download Bitstream, but what's
the deal with loading things into memory and executing them?

Can anyone point me to some good references on this subject?

Thanks!

-Sean.

[austin]

Sean,

You can see how this is done on the latest V5 or V6 EDK projects, it
is the same.

There is a "download" software tool button, as well, if the code is in
the external SRAM or DDR memories. The JTAG cable will download a
shell tool, so you can copy the .elf file into the memory location
needed, and then control the processor (start, stop, etc.).

http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/ml505/ml505_11.1_1/docs/ml505_bsb_design_creation.pdf

slide 39, onwards, applies to the older boards and tools as well.

The location of the pulldown menus might be different in the older
versions, but it still works the same way (for .elf file loading).

Austin

[Griffin]

Thanks, Austin, this was exactly what I needed.

-Sean.

> Sean,
>
> You can see how this is done on the latest V5 or V6 EDK projects, it
> is the same.
>
> There is a "download" software tool button, as well, if the code is in
> the external SRAM or DDR memories.  The JTAG cable will download a
> shell tool, so you can copy the .elf file into the memory location
> needed, and then control the processor (start, stop, etc.).
>

> http://www.xilinx.com/products/boards/ml505/ml505_11.1_1/docs/ml505_b...