NiosII QSPI Flash

[aamlb]

Hi,

We have a NIOSII design which use QSPI flash (as NVM, no for programming).

There are 2 IPs that could be used for this:

1. https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/programmable/us/en/pdfs/literature/ug/ug-gen-sfi.pdf

2. https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/programmable/us/en/pdfs/literature/ug/ug_embedded_ip.pdf (section 22).

The questions:

1. What is difference between the IPs? 

2. From 2nd reference:

"Generic Serial Flash Interface Intel FPGA IP Core User Guide
For your new (non Nios II) designs, Intel recommends you use the Generic Serial
Flash Interface Intel FPGA IP core rather than this IP core."

This note refer to the generic flash interface (Ref.1), for non Nios II, but Intel recommendation is to use the  generic flash interface, why?

3. The BSP generation has no software drivers to the 'generic flash interface', in case that this IP will be used, is there a suitable software driver?

Thanks.

[EricMunYew_C_Intel]

Hi, Alon

1. Generic QUAD SPI controller II is older generation and it has limited coverage on flash device programming. Generic serial flash Intel IP is more recommended for newer designs moving forward. It covers more flash device programming.

2. Generic serial flash Intel IP has more coverage on flash device programming and application moving forward.

3. There is no readily available HAL API for Generic serial flash Intel IP, but there are reference examples on how to develop the APIs in detail, you can refer to page 22 - 30 of https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/programmable/us/en/pdfs/literature/ug/ug-gen-sfi.pdf?wapkw=quad%20spi

Thanks.

Eric

[EricMunYew_C_Intel]

Hi, Alon

Can we close this if you have no more inquiry ?

Thanks.

Eric

[aamlb]

Hi Eric,

We would like to use the a QSPI flash to contains the NIOSII application, and then copied it to the RAM.

The instruction as described in 'Embedded Design Handbook', version '2020.07.22', section '5.2.4.3. Nios II Processor Application Copied from QSPI Flash to RAM Using Boot Copier', use the 'Generic QUAD SPI Controller'.

As mentioned before, we use the 'Generic serial flash' controller to access the QSPI flash.

The question is, does the 'Generic serial flash' support the 'boot copier' option? and what is the required configuration?

Thanks.