Software and Hardware image in an EPCSx config mem

[Altera_Forum]

Hello, 

 I just want to know if there is a size limit (other limit than the size of the memory) if I will choose to store FPGA hardware image plus NIOS II software image ?  The purpose of my question is just to know If the Flash memory is absolutly needed when we build a SOPC chip (with Nios) and a big program.  Thanks  Etienne

[Altera_Forum]

Hi Etienne, 

 > is a size limit (other limit than the size of the memory) if I will choose > to store FPGA hardware image plus NIOS II software image ?  The application is stored as type-length-value records ... so if your elf sections are contiguous, there difference between a binary image and what gets stored in the epcs device will be negligible.  For details, use the force ;-) ... see:  components\altera_nios2\sdk\src\boot_loader_sources\boot_loader.S  > If the Flash memory is absolutly needed when we build a > SOPC chip (with Nios) and a big program.  Depending on your image size, you can wrap a secondary loader around a gzipped image ... and get much better mileage from your epcs :-) You can nick the gzip code from u-boot or any of several other source trees.  Regards, --Scott