How to use SignalTap II within Quartus Programmer?

[DrWhoFan]

Is there any documentation on how to use SignalTap II with the standalone Quartus Programmer Tool which doesn't require a license?  I see nothing in the Quartus Prime Pro Edition Programmer user guide.

It's important to be able to use SignalTap II without any required license on a closed network (no internet access).

[sstrell]

If a programming file for a design that includes Signal Tap has been created, you can use the standalone programmer to program the device and connect to and run the Signal Tap instances included in the design.  That's really all there is to it.

You can't make any changes to the design or Signal Tap instances without a full installation of Quartus.

This is documented in the debug tools user guide, not the Programmer user guide: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683819/25-1/running-the-standalone-version-of.html

[DrWhoFan]

Silly question, but is there a way to invoke the SignalTap analyzer within the programmer?  I see nothing for it in the menu selection after I programmed my design with the *.sof file that contains the defined Signaltap signals. This is for a Max 10 device.

[sstrell · Accepted solution]

You just start it from the Start menu.

[DrWhoFan]

Okay, so it's not from within the Programmer, it's a standalone application?  I'll have to check.  When IT installed it, none of the icons showed up on the desktop, I had to go looking for the executable.  Also, I haven't used Quartus/SignalTap since the Quartus II days and I've just inherited someone else's project I need to debug.  Thanks, again!

[DrWhoFan]

Found it! I'm good to go.

[KennyTan_Altera]

First, you need to make sure you are creating a non time_limited SOF. Once you have the sof files, you should be able to use the standalone programmer mention above.

do let us know if you have further question? If no, we shall close this thread.

[DrWhoFan]

I'm not familiar with time_limited *.sof files.  There are no restrictions on the licensing for Quartus Prime and we don't use anything other than a standard RAM MegaCore IP function.  Our program doesn't want to spend $4K+ for a standalone license in a closed area.

[KennyTan_Altera]

If you just use the standard IP not the PCIE, DDR and etc. You will not get the timelimited sof. those IP need to be purchased.

[KennyTan_Altera]

I’m glad that your question has been addressed, I now transition this thread to community support. If you have a new question, Please login to ‘https://supporttickets.intel.com/s/?language=en_US’, view details of the desire request, and post a feed/response within the next 15 days to allow me to continue to support you. After 15 days, this thread will be transitioned to community support. The community users will be able to help you on your follow-up questions.