Nios not starting if encryption feature enabled in Convert Programming File tool

SBure · ‎08-28-2018

I'm using Q13.1 and run Nios from EPCQ (EPCS/EPCQx1 Serial Flash Controller installed in Qsys). Nios binary copied from EPCQ to DDR after power up. I generate jic file using Convert Programming File tool and everything works fine. So all offsets and setting is ok. But if I try to enable encryption in SOF properties, NIOS application not starting after power up. FPGA fabric still starts successfully. What might be reasone of this?

Ahmed_H_Intel1 · ‎09-21-2018

Are you using the hex file as on-chip memory initialization file or separated file ? if the first option then I suggest to make it separated from the .sof

SBure · ‎09-21-2018

Hi, thanks for answer. I'm using hex file, which is generated like this:

#Create a flash image of your FPGA configuration file
sof2flash --input=hw.sof --output=hw.flash --epcq --verbose
#Note: We are using --epcq instead of --epcs here for EPCQ devices
#Create a flash image of your NIOS II .elf file
elf2flash --input=sw.elf --output=sw.flash --epcs --after=hw.flash –verbose
#Create the .hex image of your Nios II software
nios2-elf-objcopy --input-target srec --output-target ihexsw.flash sw.hex