Configuration Of FPGA

[Altera_Forum]

Hi 

 i am new to FPGA. i am developing hardware using EP2C5T144C8 FPGA but i don't know about the configuration of FPGA. why we need to configure FPGA. what we need in hardware for configuration.  i am using USB BLASTER for programming.  what other things are required to develop FPGA Dev Board ??

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   i am new to FPGA. i am developing hardware using EP2C5T144C8 FPGA but i don't know about the configuration of FPGA. why we need to configure FPGA.    --- Quote End ---    FPGA configuration information is stored in volatile memory (SRAM). When the power is first applied, the configuration needs to be loaded, eg., like booting a processor.    --- Quote Start ---   what we need in hardware for configuration.   --- Quote End ---    There are several different options discussed in the data sheets for the devices. If you're building a board with just an FPGA on it, then you will likely want to use Active Serial (AS) configuration from a serial flash.    --- Quote Start ---   i am using USB BLASTER for programming.   --- Quote End ---    A USB-Blaster programs the FPGA SRAM cells directly. If you cycle the power, then the FPGA comes back alive blank, and you have to program it using the USB-Blaster again. If you add serial flash to the design, then the FPGA can be programmed from the flash at power-on. You can change the design programmed into the flash using the USB-Blaster.    --- Quote Start ---   what other things are required to develop FPGA Dev Board ??  --- Quote End ---    Hardware:  * FPGA + power supplies + JTAG header + serial flash  Software (free):  * Quartus II web edition  * Modelsim ASE simulator (for checking your code before using hardware)  Try and figure things out for yourself, and then ask questions on this forum.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Dave, 

 You have mentioned Web Edition. Yes, it is free. But isn't it the case that it supports only some mid-range and lower-range FPGAs? Or one could use it to target, say, Stratix V FPGA?

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   You have mentioned Web Edition. Yes, it is free. But isn't it the case that it supports only some mid-range and lower-range FPGAs? Or one could use it to target, say, Stratix V FPGA?  --- Quote End ---    The question above related to a Cyclone II device, which is supported by the Web Edition tools.  The Stratix series devices require the subscription edition license.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks for the relply 

 one more question  i have seen some Dev board. they use external CMOS SRAM with cycone FPGA. is it necessary to add external SRAM or configuration file can be stored in FPGA itself.  Thank you

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   i have seen some Dev board. they use external CMOS SRAM with cycone FPGA. is it necessary to add external SRAM or configuration file can be stored in FPGA itself.   --- Quote End ---    The external SRAM on those boards is not for configuration storage, its likely for code for a soft-core processor.  The configuration storage has to be non-volatile, i.e., it needs to keep its data when the power is removed. Configuration devices are either serial flash or parallel flash. The FPGA can be configured directly from these devices using Active Serial and Active Parallel mode, or the FPGA can be configured by another device, eg., a MAX II CPLD (which is a non-volatile device) plus flash can load an FPGA in Passive Serial or Passive Parallel mode.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks for the reply