Creating System ACE Programming Files

Creating System ACE Programming Files

There are two types of System ACE products, System ACE CF and System ACE MPM. Although similar in some ways, each product type uses a different configuration methodology and therefore each requires a different type of file. System ACE CF uses Boundary-Scan technology to configure devices connected to the System ACE CF controller, while System ACE MPM uses either Slave Serial or Select MAP configuration modes.

The following sections will explain the settings on the wizard screens for the individual System ACE types. After setting the properties, you will be prompted to add devices to the configuration chain or chains. As the final step in the wizard, you will be asked if you wish to generate the System ACE file. If you click "No", you can always generate the file later by using the Operations Menu.

System ACE CF Settings

The following are System ACE CF Wizard Selections.

Size (128, 256 Generic)

This enables you to specify the size of the compact flash you will be using in conjunction with the System ACE Controller. This will enable iMPACT to automatically confirm that the System ACE files will fit in your selected Compact Flash device. If your device is larger than 256 Megabits, or if you wish to disable this check, select Generic.

Reserve Space

This enables you to set aside space in the Compact Flash for other information, such as microprocessor code, general purpose ROM, etc. This value will be subtracted from the CF size, and the calculation for System ACE files will be based upon this reduced size.

System ACE CF Collection Name

All of the configuration files related to the different revisions in your System ACE design are referred to as a collection. This selection prompts you for the first collection name. You will be able to create other collections later in the flow. When creating the System ACE file, you will be prompted for which collection to make active. The active collection is actually used to configure the devices on your board.

Location

This is the directory path where you want your collection(s) to be saved on your local or network disk.

Configuration Address

These are also referred to as "revisions" and are accessed at run-time by using the physical address pins of the CF controller. You can have up to eight of these "revisions" per collection. Check the box next to the configuration address that you wish to use.

Design Name

This is the name of the "revision." Default is "rev<n>" where n corresponds to the configuration address number.

System ACE MPM Settings

Size (16,32,64,)

Enables you to specify the size of the MPM device you will use. This will enable iMPACT to automatically confirm that the System ACE files will fit in your selected MPM device.

System ACE MPM Name

This is the name of your System ACE MPM/SC formatted file.

Location

This is the directory path where you want your MPM file to be saved on your local or network disk.

Target in: Slave Serial Mode or SelectMAP Mode

Enables you to specify how devices are connected on your board. You have the choice of either connecting the FPGAs via SelectMAP parallel bus, or you can have up to 8 separate Slave Serial daisy chains. You can only select one mode per single MPM/SC device, as each configuration method is mutually exclusive of the other.

Slave Serial Mode > Number Of Chains

Clicking on a checkbox next to a data pin enables System ACE MPM/SC to download to a Slave Serial chain, connected to that data pin. You may have up to 8 independent daisy chains. You do not have to use sequential data pins. For example, you can have a chain hooked up to ConfigData0, and then another hooked up to ConfigData5, with none of the others used. Simply check the box next to the pin you are using.

Select MAP Mode > Specify CS Pin to be used in this design

Clicking on a checkbox next to a Chip Select pin enables that pin as a chip select to a device in Select MAP mode. You can have up to four FPGA devices connected to the System ACE MPM/SC device. You do not have to use sequential Chip Select pins. You can have one device hooked to CS0, and another connected to CS3. Simply check the box next to the pin you are using.

Configuration Address

This selection applies to both Slave Serial and Select MAP MPM/SC configurations. These addresses are also referred to as "revisions" and are accessed at run-time by using the physical address pins of the MPM/SC device. You can have up to eight of these "revisions" per collection. Check the box next to the configuration address that you wish to use.

File Generation > Compress File

MPM/SC devices offer compression/decompression of bitstreams which enables you to save space in the flash. The bitstreams are decompressed by the MPM/SC device before they are sent out over the data pins to the FPGA devices.

Adding Files to System ACE Devices

The last stage of the wizard enables you to add the individual configuration files you wish to be included in the System ACE file.

Note The same startup clock restrictions that apply for configuring devices with a cable also apply to adding bitstreams to the System Ace files. For System ACE CF, only bitstreams with startup clock settings of Boundary Scan (JTAG) Clock are allowed. For System ACE MPM, only bitstreams with startup clock settings of CCLK are allowed.

The Add Files wizard sequence will first take you through adding devices in a single Configuration Address space (revision). When you have added all of your files in the current revision, click No when you see the dialog that looks similar to the one in Figure 5-3.

Figure 5-3 Assign Device Dialog Box

The wizard will then move to the next configuration address that you enabled earlier in the wizard sequence, and enable you to assign files to the devices shown in this address space. Follow the sequence until all desired files have been added.

System ACE CF

The following section provides specific information for System ACE CF operations.

System ACE CF Screen

Figure 5-4 shows the System ACE screen for a typical CF design. Moving your mouse over different areas of the screen will reveal details specific to that area. There are three basic areas of the screen:

The collection table at the top.
The chain description area in the center.
The System ACE area at the left.

In the Figure below, three different areas are shown. When moving the mouse over a configuration address, the configuration size for that address displays. Moving your mouse over the "Collection:" row of the table near the top of the screen will display a detailed summary for that collection. Moving your mouse over a device in the chain shows the size of that bitstream, and moving your mouse over the Compact Flash icon shows detailed size information for the total CF design, including all collections and any reserve space specified. Also, a tally of total utilization is always displayed under the System ACE CF icon.

Figure 5-4 System ACE Screen for a CF Design

Figure 5-5 Collection Summary for a CF Design

Viewing Different Configuration Addresses

In the collection table, there is a row titled "Cfg Addr" which will also be referred to as revisions. Each revision that is not being used is grayed out and cannot be selected. Left-clicking your mouse on an active (lighter colored) revision name will select this revision and display the contents of the chain in the center of the window.

Adding More Devices After the Wizard Has Finished

In a blank portion of the chain description portion of the screen, right-click or use the Edit menu to select Add Xilinx Device. A dialog box will appear that will enable you to select a bitstream to add to the chain.

Note If you are in Novice Mode for System ACE CF devices (recommended), adding a device to one revision also adds a device to all revisions. In this case, a wizard appears and will assist in assigning files to the other revisions.

Assigning a Different File to a Device

If you wish to change the file that is assigned to a certain device, you can double-click the device and the Assign New Configuration File dialog will appear. This dialog can also be accessed by selecting the device and right-clicking or by using the Edit menu to select Assign Configuration File.

Managing Multiple Collections

System ACE CF devices enable you to store multiple collections on the Compact Flash device. However, only one collection, called the "active collection," is available to be loaded into FPGA devices by the System ACE CF controller. The decision on which collection is active is made when you actually generate the System ACE file. See "Generating the System ACE CF File" section for more information.

In a blank section of the chain description portion of the screen, right-click or use the Edit menu to select Add Collection, Delete Collection, List All Collections. Add Collection will open the Wizard at the collection name input screen, and the wizard will proceed from there to take you through the steps of adding files to your newly created collection.

To switch to a different collection, use List All Collections. This menu item will display the dialog box shown in Figure 5-6. The drop down list will enable you to select which collection you wish to work on and clicking OK will make that collection current.

Figure 5-6 SystemACE CF Collection Dialog Box

To delete a collection, use the Delete Collection menu item. This will bring up the list dialog shown in Figure 5-6. Clicking OK on this dialog box will cause the selected collection to be deleted from iMPACT's current session. However, this command will not delete previously generated System ACE CF files from your disk.

Generating System ACE CF Files

To generate a System ACE CF fileset, right-click in a blank space in the Chain Description area, or from the Operations menu, select Generate File. This will open the dialog shown in Figure 5-7. Here you can select the active revision. Click OK to generate the file.

Figure 5-7 File Generation Dialog Box

System ACE MPM

The following section provides specific information for System ACE MPM operations.

System ACE MPM Screen

Figure 5-8 shows the System ACE screen for a typical MPM Slave Serial Mode design and Figure 5-9 shows the screen for a typical Select MAP design. Moving your mouse over different areas of the screen will reveal details specific to that area. There are four basic areas of the screen:

The Configuration Address (Revision) table at the top.
The chain description area in the center.
The Chip Select or Serial Data Stream selection area to the near left.
The System ACE MPM area at the far left.

Figure 5-8 System ACE Screen for an MPM Slave Serial Design

In Figure 5-8, three different areas are shown. When moving the mouse over a configuration address, the configuration size for that address is shown. Moving your mouse over a device in the chain shows the size of that bitstream. In Slave Serial Mode, moving your mouse over a data pin shows the size of the chain connected to that pin.

Figure 5-9 System ACE Screen for an MPM SelectMAP Design

Figure 5-10 System ACE MPM Design Size Information

As shown in Figure 5-10, moving your mouse over the MPM icon shows detailed size information for the total MPM design, including any reserve space specified. Also, a tally of total utilization is always displayed under the MPM icon.

Viewing Different Configuration Addresses

In the collection table, there is a row titled "Cfg Addr" which will also be referred to as revisions. Each revision that is not being used is grayed out and cannot be selected. Left-clicking your mouse on an active (lighter colored) revision name will select this revision and display the contents of the chain in the center of the window.

Adding More Devices After the Wizard Has Finished

In a blank section of the chain description portion of the screen, right-click or use the Edit menu to select Add Xilinx Device. A dialog box will appear that will enable you to select a bitstream to add to the chain.

Assigning a Different File to a Device

If you wish to change the file that is assigned to a certain device, you can double-click the device and the Assign New Configuration File dialog box will appear. This dialog can also be accessed by selecting the device and right-clicking or by using the Edit menu to select Assign Configuration File.

Generating System ACE MPM Files

To generate a System ACE MPM file, right-click in a blank space in the Chain Description area, or from the Operations menu, select Generate File. This will open the dialog shown in Figure 5-11. Here you can turn on file compression by checking the Compress File box'. Click OK to generate the file.

Figure 5-11 File Generation Option Dialog Box