Unable to compile EP20K300EQC240-2X device using Quartus 9.0sp2 Web edition on Windows XP.

[NJuser]

APEX20KE devices are obsolete, WIndows XP is not supported...but unfortunately, I need to build the pof / sof file to reverse engineer the design. The error I keep getting is "Error: Current license file does not support the EP20K300EQC240-2X device", even though I generated the web license file using my NIC id. The error occurs at the Fitter stage.

[AR_A_Intel]

Hello Welcome to INTEL forum. Can you provide your license.dat file and error message screen shot for checking? And you can also reply/attach your file in private message.

[NJuser]

The Error screenshot and the license file that I am using is attached

[AR_A_Intel]

we don't received your attachment. could you help to re-attach the fail again? you can also attach your file in private message.

[NJuser]

Uploading the license file

[NJuser]

Uploading the error screenshot

[AR_A_Intel]

Hi I'm checking with customer service team regarding your issue, Meanwhile, may i know, do you have a license for Quartus 9.0 before?

[NJuser]

A license is not required for Quartus 9.0 web edition, isn't that what your website says? The original design was compiled using Quartus 5.

[Kay]

Web edition does not require a license file. Have you tried to remove the license.dat from license setup? Do you see the same error?

[NJuser]

It does need a license, contrary to what is advertised. When I had reported the error, the XP machine had absolutely no Quartus license. The design was not compiling, as described in the original complaint. Then, I generated a companion license from the Intel Self Service Licensing Center (I included the XP Machine's NIC ID). I copied the license locally on to the XP machine, and pointed the Quartus 9.0sp license to the same. It worked right away.

Intel / Altera needs to fix this issue, or simply state on their website that a license IS ACTUALLY required. But that's asking too much, isn't it?

[Kay]

It seems like generating the companion license fixed the error. Thanks for sharing this info :)

what is the companion license? Is it the one you attached earlier ?

[NJuser]

If you buy a fixed NIC ID license for a single machine from Intel / Altera, they still allow you to use the Quartus tool on two other machines (like having a home, desk and lab machine, all being used to work on the same design). The Intel Self Service Licensing Center generates the appropriate license.dat file when you provide the NIC IDs for these companion machines. You can read the documentation on their website about companion licensing.

[Kay]

I see. Thank you for sharing this :)