Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Vincent Winstead]

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I'm having a real difficulty trying to get linux onto this board.  So I'm finally turning to the community for help.  The only people that have documented their approach to putting open source linux onto the ML310 board have used bitkeeper to download the kernel for the project, but bitkeeper isn't used any more is it?  I've been going straight to kernel.org and getting kernels from there and crosscompiling them on my machine to be transported to the ppc core on the ML310.  Is this wrong?  Is there a patch or some kernel source that I don't know about for PPC?  Thanks!
   
  -Vincent

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Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Grant Likely]

On 4/11/06, Vincent Winstead <vwinstead@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I'm having a real difficulty trying to get linux onto this board.  So I'm
> finally turning to the community for help.  The only people that have
> documented their approach to putting open source linux onto the ML310 boa=
rd
> have used bitkeeper to download the kernel for the project, but bitkeeper
> isn't used any more is it?  I've been going straight to kernel.org and
> getting kernels from there and crosscompiling them on my machine to be
> transported to the ppc core on the ML310.  Is this wrong?  Is there a pat=
ch
> or some kernel source that I don't know about for PPC?  Thanks!

Are you using 2.4 or 2.6?

Support for the ML300 & ML403 is in the mainline 2.6 git tree.  As
long as you've got an xparameters.h file for your FPGA bitstream,  you
should be able to port a 2.6 kernel really easily.

If you want to use 2.4, you can pull the linuxppc rsync mirror which
has ML300 support in it.

http://www.penguinppc.org/kernel/  (Look at the very bottom of the
page for the RSYNC mirror)

Cheers,
g.

--
Grant Likely, B.Sc. P.Eng.
Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.
(403) 399-0195

Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Grant Likely]

On 4/12/06, Vincent Winstead <vwinstead@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Thanks for the info!  Now I installed rsync onto this computer with
> configure, then make, then make install and everything seemed to install
> correctly.  Then i typed in:
>
>  rsync rsync://source.mvista.com/linuxppc-2.4
>
>  but it ended up showing a timed-out error message:
>
>  rsync: failed to connect to source.mvista.com: Connection timed out (110=
)
>  rsync error: error in socket IO (code 10) at clientserver.c(107) [receiv=
er]
>
>  Now, I've had problems in the past in that I can't access any ftp server=
s
> due to the fact that I am behind a firewall that I have no control over (=
on
> the University of Minnesota campus) and I was wondering - do you think th=
is
> might be related to that same problem?

You poor sod.  Yes, this is probably the same problem.  You can access
it via http instead.  (the git trees on kernel.org can be accessed
with rsync, http and git protocols.)

BTW, you need to download and install git also (and cogito for a nicer
front end).

http://git.or.cz/

Then you can do a "cg clone <depot>" to get the tree

g.

--
Grant Likely, B.Sc. P.Eng.
Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.
(403) 399-0195

Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Grant Likely]

Please remember to CC the mailing list when replying

On 4/12/06, Vincent Winstead <vwinstead@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>    Now, what does that mean, to get the tree.  Does it mean I'll get a li=
st
> of possible kernels that I can download, and then i'll have to choose one=
 of
> them to download?

It means you get a clone of the source tree + revision history which
you can easily keep up to date with mainline.  For things like Paul's
powerpc and powerpc-merge trees, you need to use it because I don't
think anybody is making .tar.gz snapshots from it.

>    Also, how come I have to go through all this 'git' mumbo-jumbo?  Why
> can't I just go to kernel.org and grab one of the 2.6 kernels off of ther=
e,
> then untar it?  What's so special about the source.mvista.com kernels
> through git and rsync?

If you want to use 2.6:  Git is a pretty easy way to keep up to date
with changes other are making on the tree.  But no, you don't have to
use it.  Some of the maintainers have snapshots generated from their
trees which you can download.

If you use 2.4: You need to use rsync to get the linuxppc-2.4 tree
because I don't think anyone is maintaining .tar.gz of the rsync
snapshot.  Email Tom Rini and ask him.  The linuxppc-2.4 tree is
special because it's one of the trees that actually has the ML300
patches integrated.  Mainline does not.

> --
> Grant Likely, B.Sc. P.Eng.
> Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.
> (403) 399-0195
>
>


--
Grant Likely, B.Sc. P.Eng.
Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.
(403) 399-0195

Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Grant Likely]

On 4/12/06, Vincent Winstead <vwinstead@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Very Interesting.  Now I know what they were talking about on the sites t=
hat
> go through how to install the linux kernel onto the ML300.  because in th=
ose
> method  walk-throughs they show which options you should choose when doin=
g a
> "make menuconfig" and there are specific ones regarding Xilinx but I neve=
r
> saw these when doing configurations of what you call mainline versions of
> the linux kernel.

>   So, when you say that the "The linuxppc-2.4 tree is
> special because it's one of the trees that actually has the ML300
> patches integrated", are you implying that you could put these patches in=
to
> the system on your own if you wanted to?

Of course you can

>  You're not talking about the board
> support package are you?

As far as you can apply the concept of BSP to Linux; yes I am.  The
patches provide the code required to work on an ML300 ref design...
drivers and initialization code specifically

g.

--
Grant Likely, B.Sc. P.Eng.
Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.
(403) 399-0195

Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Grant Likely]

On 4/12/06, Grant Likely <grant.likely@secretlab.ca> wrote:
> On 4/12/06, Vincent Winstead <vwinstead@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >   So, when you say that the "The linuxppc-2.4 tree is
> > special because it's one of the trees that actually has the ML300
> > patches integrated", are you implying that you could put these patches =
into
> > the system on your own if you wanted to?
>
> Of course you can

(assuming of course you can find copies of the patch files)

--
Grant Likely, B.Sc. P.Eng.
Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.
(403) 399-0195

Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Aidan Williams]

Grant Likely wrote:
> If you use 2.4: You need to use rsync to get the linuxppc-2.4 tree
> because I don't think anyone is maintaining .tar.gz of the rsync
> snapshot.  Email Tom Rini and ask him.  The linuxppc-2.4 tree is
> special because it's one of the trees that actually has the ML300
> patches integrated.  Mainline does not.
> 

For 2.4, I've had good success on two different boards
using the v2pro and virtex4 parts with:

   http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~pml/uclinux_powerpc/

The kernel tarball there has support for various xilinx
supplied peripheral cores..

The neat thing about this approach is that there is a
uclinux BSP for the EDK that is used to generate an
auto-config.in file which you then drop directly
into the linux kernel tree.

Even though it is about the microblaze rather than
the PPC, a helpful "getting started" document is:
http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~wu/downloads/uClinux_ready_Microblaze_design.pdf

- aidan

Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Vincent Winstead]

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  OK - I think i'm on a roll now.  I downloaded the necessary files for the uClinux distribution.  Two questions:
   
  1. I'm having a problem with two steps
          Step 5.  In your uClinux-dist directory, create a symbolic link called linux-2.4.x which points to the linuxppc-2.4 directory (linux-2.4.x -> ../linuxppc-2.4). 
          Step 6.  Ensure that you have the latest uClinux EDK Board Support Package installed (version 1.00d or later is required). 
   
  Now, as far as step 5, am I supposed to have a symbolic link that is named linux-2.4.x placed into the uClinux-dist directory?  Because there's already a folder named linux-2.4.x which was in there already when I untarred everything.  At the command prompt in the uClinux-dist directory I entered the following line:
   
  ln -s ../linuxppc-2.4 linux-2.4.x 
   
  and the result of this operation was to put a symbolic link into my linuxppc-2.4 directory with the name of linux-2.4.x  - is this correct?
   
  Now on to Step 6 problem.  
    How am I supposed to make use uClinux EDK Board Support Package 1.0 files?  I'm not sure how to go about using them in the Xilinx Platform Studio in order to generate the necessary auto-config.in file.  
   
  -Vincent
   
  
Aidan Williams <aidan@nicta.com.au> wrote:
  Grant Likely wrote:
> If you use 2.4: You need to use rsync to get the linuxppc-2.4 tree
> because I don't think anyone is maintaining .tar.gz of the rsync
> snapshot. Email Tom Rini and ask him. The linuxppc-2.4 tree is
> special because it's one of the trees that actually has the ML300
> patches integrated. Mainline does not.
> 

For 2.4, I've had good success on two different boards
using the v2pro and virtex4 parts with:

http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~pml/uclinux_powerpc/

The kernel tarball there has support for various xilinx
supplied peripheral cores..

The neat thing about this approach is that there is a
uclinux BSP for the EDK that is used to generate an
auto-config.in file which you then drop directly
into the linux kernel tree.

Even though it is about the microblaze rather than
the PPC, a helpful "getting started" document is:
http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~wu/downloads/uClinux_ready_Microblaze_design.pdf

- aidan



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Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Aidan Williams]

Vincent Winstead wrote:
> Now, as far as step 5, am I supposed to have a symbolic link that is 
> named linux-2.4.x placed into the uClinux-dist directory?  Because 
> there's already a folder named linux-2.4.x which was in there already 
> when I untarred everything.  At the command prompt in the uClinux-dist 
> directory I entered the following line:
>  
> ln -s ../linuxppc-2.4 linux-2.4.x
>  
> and the result of this operation was to put a symbolic link into my 
> linuxppc-2.4 directory with the name of linux-2.4.x  - is this correct?
>  

First, you'll need to move the existing directory aside using
a command like:

    mv linux-2.4.x linux-2.4.x-dist

and then re-run the ln -s command above.

> Now on to Step 6 problem. 
>   How am I supposed to make use uClinux EDK Board Support Package 1.0 
> files?  I'm not sure how to go about using them in the Xilinx Platform 
> Studio in order to generate the necessary auto-config.in file. 
>  

See the document below for the general approach:

>     Even though it is about the microblaze rather than
>     the PPC, a helpful "getting started" document is:
>     http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~wu/downloads/uClinux_ready_Microblaze_design.pdf
> 

Look particularly at the section "Software Platform Settings"
on page 29, steps 67,68.

If you are not overly familiar with the EDK, it would
be best to find someone locally who can help walk you
through the process of generating a system.

- aidan


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This email and any attachments may be confidential. They may contain legally
privileged information or copyright material. You should not read, copy,
use or disclose them without authorisation. If you are not an intended
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data corruption, delay, interruption, unauthorised access or unauthorised
amendment. This notice should not be removed.

Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Aidan Williams]

After generating a new auto-config.in using the BSP,
you'll need to:

   0. put new auto-config.in into kernel directory
      linux-2.4.x/arch/ppc/platforms/xilinx_auto

   1. change to the top uClinux-dist directory
      (*NOT* the kernel directory)

   2. In "Vendor/Product Selection  --->"
      Choose "Xilinx"
      Choose "powerpc-auto"

   3. In "Kernel/Library/Defaults Selection  --->"
      Choose linux-2.4.x as your kernel, making sure that
      this is a symlink to or copy of the linuxppc-2.4
      tarball from UQ.

   4. In "Kernel/Library/Defaults Selection  --->"
      Choose "[*] Default all settings (lose changes)"

   5. Save and quit..

This process will pull in default Xilinx/powerpc config
files from vendors/Xilinx/powerpc-auto/config.*
for the kernel and for other uClinux components.

It will also generate a new linux-2.4.x/.config
based on your auto-config.in and the defaults
in vendors/Xilinx/powerpc-auto/config.linux-2.4.x.

btw, I don't have an ML310 board.  I have however gotten
the UQ kernel + uclinux to work on a v2pro FF1152 board
and a virtex-4 FX-12 minimodule.

another btw, the linuxppc-2.4 code has an auto-config.in
inside it which, if you follow the above steps (without
doing step 0), should compile.  The supplied auto-config.in
won't match your board, but it should at least compile.

- aidan


Vincent Winstead wrote:
> guess what - I got the BSP to work!  But now I have a problem with the 
> make command.  I put the auto-config.in where it needs to be then I did 
> a make menuconfig to configure it, then I did a make dep, but when I did 
> a make is when  an error came up that I can't seem to figure out:
> 
> In file included from 
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/pagemap.h:16,
>                  from 
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/locks.h:8,
>                  from 
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/blk.h:5,
>                  from init/main.c:25:
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/highmem.h: In 
> function `kmap':
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/highmem.h:68: 
> error: `CONFIG_KERNEL_START' undeclared (first use in this function)
> init/main.c: In function `start_kernel':
> init/main.c:393: error: `CONFIG_KERNEL_START' undeclared (first use in 
> this function)
> make[1]: *** [init/main.o] Error 1
> make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4'
> make: *** [linux] Error 1
> 
> This CONFIG_KERNEL_START is the problem.  It doesn't seem to be defined 
> anywhere and I guess it needs to be.  Is this something I need to get 
> from somewhere?  Or is it maybe generated along with the BSP so I would 
> have to put a start number into the platform Studio configuration?
> 
> -Vincent
> 
> 
> */Aidan Williams /* wrote:
> 
> 
>     Vincent Winstead wrote:
>      > Now, as far as step 5, am I supposed to have a symbolic link that is
>      > named linux-2.4.x placed into the uClinux-dist directory? Because
>      > there's already a folder named linux-2.4.x which was in there
>     already
>      > when I untarred everything. At the command prompt in the
>     uClinux-dist
>      > directory I entered the following line:
>      >
>      > ln -s ../linuxppc-2.4 linux-2.4.x
>      >
>      > and the result of this operation was to put a symbolic link into my
>      > linuxppc-2.4 directory with the name of linux-2.4.x - is this
>     correct?
>      >
> 
>     First, you'll need to move the existing directory aside using
>     a command like:
> 
>     mv linux-2.4.x linux-2.4.x-dist
> 
>     and then re-run the ln -s command above.
> 
>      > Now on to Step 6 problem.
>      > How am I supposed to make use uClinux EDK Board Support Package 1.0
>      > files? I'm not sure how to go about using them in the Xilinx
>     Platform
>      > Studio in order to generate the necessary auto-config.in file.
>      >
> 
>     See the document below for the general approach:
> 
>      > Even though it is about the microblaze rather than
>      > the PPC, a helpful "getting started" document is:
>      >
>     http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~wu/downloads/uClinux_ready_Microblaze_design.pdf
>      >
> 
>     Look particularly at the section "Software Platform Settings"
>     on page 29, steps 67,68.
> 
>     If you are not overly familiar with the EDK, it would
>     be best to find someone locally who can help walk you
>     through the process of generating a system.
> 
>     - aidan
> 
> 
>     --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     This email and any attachments may be confidential. They may contain
>     legally
>     privileged information or copyright material. You should not read, copy,
>     use or disclose them without authorisation. If you are not an intended
>     recipient, please contact us at once by return email and then delete
>     both
>     messages. We do not accept liability in connection with computer virus,
>     data corruption, delay, interruption, unauthorised access or
>     unauthorised
>     amendment. This notice should not be removed.
> 
> 

Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Vincent Winstead]

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Ok, so all that worked - it WAS necessary to choose  "[*] Default all settings (lose changes)" in order for it to work though.  Without this option checked I needed to add information and variables and constants and definitions that were not added into necessary files after make menuconfig and make dep were completed.  
   But I still have nothing working with the ML310 board.  I did a "dow image.elf" at the XMD command prompt, then "con" and it showed up with a "RUNNING>" prompt, but nothing showed up on the hyperterminal window.  I compiled using 115200 baud and I changed my hyperterminal to match this, but nothing shows up ...at all.  Where do you think I would need to start looking to resolve this issue?  
 
 -Vincent

Aidan Williams <aidan@nicta.com.au> wrote: 
After generating a new auto-config.in using the BSP,
you'll need to:

   0. put new auto-config.in into kernel directory
      linux-2.4.x/arch/ppc/platforms/xilinx_auto

   1. change to the top uClinux-dist directory
      (*NOT* the kernel directory)

   2. In "Vendor/Product Selection  --->"
      Choose "Xilinx"
      Choose "powerpc-auto"

   3. In "Kernel/Library/Defaults Selection  --->"
      Choose linux-2.4.x as your kernel, making sure that
      this is a symlink to or copy of the linuxppc-2.4
      tarball from UQ.

   4. In "Kernel/Library/Defaults Selection  --->"
      Choose "[*] Default all settings (lose changes)"

   5. Save and quit..

This process will pull in default Xilinx/powerpc config
files from vendors/Xilinx/powerpc-auto/config.*
for the kernel and for other uClinux components.

It will also generate a new linux-2.4.x/.config
based on your auto-config.in and the defaults
in vendors/Xilinx/powerpc-auto/config.linux-2.4.x.

btw, I don't have an ML310 board.  I have however gotten
the UQ kernel + uclinux to work on a v2pro FF1152 board
and a virtex-4 FX-12 minimodule.

another btw, the linuxppc-2.4 code has an auto-config.in
inside it which, if you follow the above steps (without
doing step 0), should compile.  The supplied auto-config.in
won't match your board, but it should at least compile.

- aidan


Vincent Winstead wrote:
> guess what - I got the BSP to work!  But now I have a problem with the 
> make command.  I put the auto-config.in where it needs to be then I did 
> a make menuconfig to configure it, then I did a make dep, but when I did 
> a make is when  an error came up that I can't seem to figure out:
> 
> In file included from 
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/pagemap.h:16,
>                  from 
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/locks.h:8,
>                  from 
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/blk.h:5,
>                  from init/main.c:25:
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/highmem.h: In 
> function `kmap':
> /home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4/include/linux/highmem.h:68: 
> error: `CONFIG_KERNEL_START' undeclared (first use in this function)
> init/main.c: In function `start_kernel':
> init/main.c:393: error: `CONFIG_KERNEL_START' undeclared (first use in 
> this function)
> make[1]: *** [init/main.o] Error 1
> make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/ml310_linux/uClinux-dist/linuxppc-2.4'
> make: *** [linux] Error 1
> 
> This CONFIG_KERNEL_START is the problem.  It doesn't seem to be defined 
> anywhere and I guess it needs to be.  Is this something I need to get 
> from somewhere?  Or is it maybe generated along with the BSP so I would 
> have to put a start number into the platform Studio configuration?
> 
> -Vincent
> 
> 
> */Aidan Williams /* wrote:
> 
> 
>     Vincent Winstead wrote:
>      > Now, as far as step 5, am I supposed to have a symbolic link that is
>      > named linux-2.4.x placed into the uClinux-dist directory? Because
>      > there's already a folder named linux-2.4.x which was in there
>     already
>      > when I untarred everything. At the command prompt in the
>     uClinux-dist
>      > directory I entered the following line:
>      >
>      > ln -s ../linuxppc-2.4 linux-2.4.x
>      >
>      > and the result of this operation was to put a symbolic link into my
>      > linuxppc-2.4 directory with the name of linux-2.4.x - is this
>     correct?
>      >
> 
>     First, you'll need to move the existing directory aside using
>     a command like:
> 
>     mv linux-2.4.x linux-2.4.x-dist
> 
>     and then re-run the ln -s command above.
> 
>      > Now on to Step 6 problem.
>      > How am I supposed to make use uClinux EDK Board Support Package 1.0
>      > files? I'm not sure how to go about using them in the Xilinx
>     Platform
>      > Studio in order to generate the necessary auto-config.in file.
>      >
> 
>     See the document below for the general approach:
> 
>      > Even though it is about the microblaze rather than
>      > the PPC, a helpful "getting started" document is:
>      >
>     http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~wu/downloads/uClinux_ready_Microblaze_design.pdf
>      >
> 
>     Look particularly at the section "Software Platform Settings"
>     on page 29, steps 67,68.
> 
>     If you are not overly familiar with the EDK, it would
>     be best to find someone locally who can help walk you
>     through the process of generating a system.
> 
>     - aidan
> 
> 
>     --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     This email and any attachments may be confidential. They may contain
>     legally
>     privileged information or copyright material. You should not read, copy,
>     use or disclose them without authorisation. If you are not an intended
>     recipient, please contact us at once by return email and then delete
>     both
>     messages. We do not accept liability in connection with computer virus,
>     data corruption, delay, interruption, unauthorised access or
>     unauthorised
>     amendment. This notice should not be removed.
> 
> 



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Re: Xilinx Virtex-2 PRO FPGA ppc 405 on ML310 board

[Aidan Williams]

Vincent Winstead wrote:
>   But I still have nothing working with the ML310 board.  I did a "dow 
> image.elf" at the XMD command prompt, then "con" and it showed up with a 
> "RUNNING>" prompt, but nothing showed up on the hyperterminal window.  I 
> compiled using 115200 baud and I changed my hyperterminal to match this, 
> but nothing shows up ...at all.  Where do you think I would need to 
> start looking to resolve this issue?

Ensure that your hardware is working by running one of
the xilinx-supplied demo programs on your design
that outputs stuff from the serial port (e.g. the memory
tester).  If nothing comes out, check your hardware
design carefully, check your serial port settings
(e.g. flow control), etc.

I would also read up on serial port block you are using
and its linux driver.  For example, if you're using the
uartlite, it could be that your hardware and software
don't agree on the baudrate.

e.g. See drivers/char/xilinx_uartlite/xuartlite.h :-

* @file xuartlite.h
*
* This component contains the implementation of the XUartLite component which is
* the driver for the Xilinx UART Lite device. This UART is a minimal hardware
* implementation with minimal features.  Most of the features, including baud
* rate, parity, and number of data bits are only configurable when the hardware
* device is built, rather than at run time by software.


- aidan