platform flash for Xilinx ML403

platform flash for Xilinx ML403

[Aleck Lin]

Hello,

Can anyone help with my questions on platform flash for Xilinx ML403? 

>From what I understand, I can use platform flash to store my FPGA bitstream
file and my software application elf file, so it's like using an ACE file
through the CompactFlash, except I just need to set the configuration
address through DIP switch and then push the PROG button on the board
(provided it's set to Platform Flash mode) and then the software application
would start running. Is this correct?

If it's correct, then how would I be able to program the Platform Flash? Do
I program separate bit file and elf file, or do I program an ace file or ??
I have the ML40x Getting Started Tutorial in which there's a section on how
to program my own flash image. But I couldn't really understand some things
in it, such as a PROM file, or adding file to Revision no. and etc. Can
someone help or point out a more detailed document? 

My eventual goal is to be able to use the platform flash to start u-boot and
then boot linux image, which will be stored in linear flash. I think I have
all the parts ready (u-boot image, uImage, and hardware bitstream), but just
lack of the understanding to put in this particular configuration.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Aleck

RE : platform flash for Xilinx ML403

[alayrac]

Hi Aleck,

As far as I understand Platform Flash can Only handel bistream for FPGA.
If your code is small enough to fit in internal BRAM then you can embed
you application in the bistream making your project as "Mark to
initialize BRAM's". Then when you will build the project XPS will update
BRAM memory content with your application.

I don't think that after bitsream load the PPC405 can access the
PlatformFlash in order to start Uboot from that place, and I'm afraid
that U-boot is to big to fit in FPGA internal BRAM.

If you have a quick look to ML403 schematics (page 8/24) you will see
that XCF32P as no Read signal. The parallel bus is just use to load
bitstream in parallel mode. Furthermore there is no interface for that
plateform Flash in the XPS project (you can't find it in the System
Assembly).

You should try to open a WebCase from Xilinx website and look in the faq
to confirm that point.


Cheers

Chris

CRESITT INDUSTRIE
Email : christophe.alayrac@cresitt.com=20
Web : http://www.cresitt.com


<----> -----Message d'origine-----
<----> De=A0: linuxppc-embedded-
<----> bounces+christophe.alayrac=3Dcresitt.com@ozlabs.org
[mailto:linuxppc-
<----> embedded-bounces+christophe.alayrac=3Dcresitt.com@ozlabs.org] De =
la
<----> part de Aleck Lin
<----> Envoy=E9=A0: mercredi 4 octobre 2006 04:24
<----> =C0=A0: linuxppc-embedded@ozlabs.org
<----> Objet=A0: platform flash for Xilinx ML403
<---->=20
<----> Hello,
<---->=20
<----> Can anyone help with my questions on platform flash for Xilinx
ML403?
<---->=20
<----> >From what I understand, I can use platform flash to store my
FPGA
<----> bitstream
<----> file and my software application elf file, so it's like using an
ACE
<----> file
<----> through the CompactFlash, except I just need to set the
configuration
<----> address through DIP switch and then push the PROG button on the
board
<----> (provided it's set to Platform Flash mode) and then the software
<----> application
<----> would start running. Is this correct?
<---->=20
<----> If it's correct, then how would I be able to program the Platform
<----> Flash? Do
<----> I program separate bit file and elf file, or do I program an ace
file
<----> or ??
<----> I have the ML40x Getting Started Tutorial in which there's a
section
<----> on how
<----> to program my own flash image. But I couldn't really understand
some
<----> things
<----> in it, such as a PROM file, or adding file to Revision no. and
etc.
<----> Can
<----> someone help or point out a more detailed document?
<---->=20
<----> My eventual goal is to be able to use the platform flash to start
u-
<----> boot and
<----> then boot linux image, which will be stored in linear flash. I
think
<----> I have
<----> all the parts ready (u-boot image, uImage, and hardware
bitstream),
<----> but just
<----> lack of the understanding to put in this particular
configuration.
<---->=20
<----> Any help would be appreciated!
<---->=20
<----> Thanks,
<---->=20
<----> Aleck
<----> _______________________________________________
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