Nios: Hardwire or programmed on stratix chip ?

[Altera_Forum]

Hello 

 I don't know if someone can respond to me, but it will be very appreciate.  I have a stratix developpement board. The one I have is a bit old, it came wit version 3 of Quartus II. I can have Quartus II version 4, but it will do no good for me if I don't have a Nios II on my chip (so I think).  So the real question is : The Nios processor is a) hardwired on the chip, or b) programmed by Quartus on it when needed.  If it is programmed, in my knowledge the version 4 of Quartus II will program the Nios II processor.  Thanks for all information.

[Altera_Forum]

It's a soft processor, so it is created by SOPC builder and is synthesised by Quartus for later programming into the chip. 

 I can't remember which was the first version of Quartus II which supported Nios II, but I think it was 4.0 SP1. You need to use a Nios II kit which matches your Quartus.

[Altera_Forum]

What exactly do you means by you need to use a nios ii kit which matches your quartus ? 

 In installing Quartus II and its tools, you don't have all this ? What else do I need ?  Thanks

[Altera_Forum]

You need to install the "Nios II processor tools" software, which include the compiler, linker, debugger, IDE and some embedded software to run on it. 

 See http://www.altera.com/support/ip/processor...s2_support.html (http://www.altera.com/support/ip/processors/nios2/ips-nios2_support.html)  There is an evaluation edition which is installed with recent builds of Quartus, which you can use for development - if you haven't got this then you can download it from the web (see the download link on the page above).

[Altera_Forum]

thanks