Error Code 8 Command: nios2-flash-programmer

[Jayeshkumar]

We are facing an Error Code 8 Command: nios2-flash-programmer. can someone please help on this?

[JingyangTeh]

Hi Jayesh

For the error that you are facing could you send me a screen shoot of the whole error reported text and the nios2-flash-programmer command?

Furthermore could you also descript the environment you are working on? (eg. what board/ device you are using? )

At the meantime could you check the if there are any warnings/conflicts on the NIOS2 PLL settings for the SDRAM clock and the CPU clock?

It is recommended to have 3 separate clock source for the CPU,  internal SDRAM module, and external SDRAM module.

Regards

Jingyang,Teh

[Jayeshkumar]

Hello Jingyang,

Following is the whole error:

Info: 30 May, 2022 11:33:05 AM - (INFO) elf2flash: args = --input=C:/jayesh/AKASH_ARMY/mtx_firefly_4c40/software/hello/hello.elf --output=C:/jayesh/AKASH_ARMY/mtx_firefly_4c40/flash/hello_flash.flash --boot=C:/altera/15.1/nios2eds/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec --base=0xa000000 --end=0xc000000 --reset=0x0 --verbose
Info: 30 May, 2022 11:33:05 AM - (FINE) elf2flash: Starting
Info: 30 May, 2022 11:33:05 AM - (WARNING) elf2flash: Supplied reset address: 0x0 differs from the elf file reset vector: 0xa000000.
Info: 30 May, 2022 11:33:05 AM - (FINE) elf2flash: Done
Info: Using cable "USB-Blaster [USB-1]", device 1, instance 0x00
Info: Resetting and pausing target processor: OK
Info: No CFI table found at address 0x0A000000
Info: Original contents (after writing 0xF0 and 0xFF00FF to address 0x0A000000):
Info: 0: 98 00 00 01 3A 20 00 00 01 3A 88 01 00 01 37 42 ....: ...:....7B
Info: 10: 80 08 01 3A 88 B3 C8 01 2C F0 81 C8 01 1E F8 3F ...:....,......?
Info: 20: 10 01 35 D6 40 08 01 37 00 80 F0 01 35 BD 80 08 ..5.@..7....5...
Info: 30: 01 C4 FF BF 00 01 35 F0 80 08 01 BA 30 05 00 01 ......5.....0...
Info: 40: 7A 30 07 00 01 FA 30 09 00 01 3A 31 0B 00 01 35 z0....0...:1...5
Info: Contents after writing 0x980098 to address 0x0A0000AA:
Info: Same after writing 0x980098 to address 0x0A000154:
Info: Same after writing 0x00980098 to address 0x0A0002A8:
Info: Same after writing 0x980098 to address 0x0A000055:
Info: Same after writing 0x980098 to address 0x0A0000AA:
Info: Same after writing 0x00980098 to address 0x0A000154:
Info: Same after writing 0x980098 to address 0x0A000154:
Info: Same after writing 0x980098 to address 0x0A0002A8:
Info: Same after writing 0x00980098 to address 0x0A000550:
Info: 0: 98 00 00 01 3A 20 00 00 01 3A 88 01 00 01 37 42 ....: ...:....7B
Info: 10: 80 08 01 3A 88 B3 C8 01 2C F0 81 C8 01 1E F8 3F ...:....,......?
Info: 20: 10 01 35 D6 40 08 01 37 00 80 F0 01 35 BD 80 08 ..5.@..7....5...
Info: 30: 01 C4 FF BF 00 01 35 F0 80 08 01 BA 30 05 00 01 ......5.....0...
Info: 40: 7A 30 07 00 01 FA 30 09 00 01 3A 31 0B 00 01 35 z0....0...:1...5
Info: Ignored possible autoselect code 04-04 as no override data
Info: present in section [FLASH-04-04]
Info: Ignored possible autoselect code 0004-0004 as no override data
Info: present in section [FLASH-0004-0004]
Info: Ignored possible autoselect code 00000004-00000004 as no override data
Info: present in section [FLASH-00000004-00000004]
Info: Leaving target processor paused
Error: Error code: 8 for command: nios2-flash-programmer "C:/jayesh/AKASH_ARMY/mtx_firefly_4c40/flash/hello_flash.flash" --base=0xa000000 --accept-bad-sysid --device=1 --instance=0 '--cable=USB-Blaster on localhost [USB-1]' --program --verbose --erase-all

We are using Device : Cyclone IV : EP4CE55F23I7

The compile log report is attached herewith for your reference

We are using external PLL IP where the source clk is 24MHz and it is constraint in sdc file. There are two output clocks both are 100MHz out of which one is used for external SDRAM (External to FPGA) and other is used for NIOS. There is no internal SDRAM used in our project.

[JingyangTeh]

Hi Jayesh

From the error report, I see that there is no CFI Table available. 

There is a possibility that there is a problem with the flash and this could cause the programmer to unable to query the flash memory and that could be the cause of your problem.

Could we try to run the program from RAM instead of the flash as a first step? 

To run without downloading to the flash : 

1. You can run a software without downnloading program to the flash :  

In NIOS II IDE/SBT/EDS, you do "run as > ... hardware". By doing this, you download the programm to the RAM and run from here. 

After being able to run on the RAM we could debug the flash by entering the command:

nios2-flash-programmer --debug --base=0xa000000  

Please share the output for the debug command.

Regards

Jingyang, Teh

[JingyangTeh]

Hi Jayesh 

Any update on this case?

Regards,

Jingyang, Teh

[Jayeshkumar]

Hi Jingyang,

I have done as you told and following is the result of debug is attached for your reference. Please go through it.

Please let me know the alternate way to program the flash with .elf file. we need to convert .elf file to compatible flash file and load onto flash.

I was getting error code 8 when using Quartus 15.1 and now switched to Quartus 18.1 and getting error code 4 while programming the flash using nios flash programmer.

[JingyangTeh]

Hi Jayeesh

Could you use the Quartus Programmer instead of the Nios2 Flash Programmer? 

This is because currently the Nios2 Flash Programmer is not recommended to be use anymore.

You could find the steps on using the Quartus Programmer here:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683118/current/using-the-flash-programmer-from-the.html

With an elf file you could use the command "elf2flash" to first convert the elf to a S-Record file format that is required by the command "quartus_pgm --nios2" to program.

Regards

Jingyang, Teh

[JingyangTeh]

Hi Jayeesh

Any update on the new tool?

I believe that the Quartus Programmer will be the tool for your use.

Regards

Jingyang, Teh

[Jayeshkumar]

Hi Jingyang,

I will try quartus programmer as i am in another task so will try later. you can share the pdf link for using quartus programmer for programming flash.

you may close the thread as of now.

Thanks,

Jayesh

[JingyangTeh · Accepted solution]

Hi Jayesh 

You may find the quartus_pgm command line parameters in the links below:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683118/current/quartus-pgm-nios2.html 

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683118/current/general-parameters-74068.html

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683118/current/device-parameters-82285.html

Here are some examples for the quartus_pgm:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683118/current/quartus-pgm-nios2-command-line-examples.html

I shall set this thread to close pending. If you still need further assistance, you are welcome to reopen this thread within 20days or open a new thread, some one will be right with you.

If you happened to close this thread you might receive a survey.  If you think you would rank your support experience less than 10 out of 10, please allow me to correct it before closing or if

Regards

Jingyang, Teh