Example designs for communicating two Altera boards

[Altera_Forum]

I am looking for example designs or tutorials showing how to communicate two Altera boards using simple protocols. The purpose is to see how the two devices interact by transmitting data back and forth and to check the transmission somehow. I am using two Altera Transceiver Signal Integrity Development Kit, Stratix IV GT (EP4S100G2F40I1) boards. 

 Please help to advice if anyone knows such tutorials and examples. Also, any suggestions are highly appreciated.   Thanks.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  If the board has two transmitters and two receivers on the SMA connectors, then you could use two SMA-to-SPF+ adapters. You could then connect two SFP+ cables to a desktop 10Gbps SFP+ card or to two ports on a 10Gbps switch. That way you can have 10Gbps continuous through the link.  --- Quote End ---    Does this mean instead of using normal Ethernet interface to transfer data from host PC, device/board receive data from host PC via SMA connectors. And to do so, the host PC must be equipped with a 10Gbps SFP+ card? If so, how to realize this transmission? Any tutorial related to this?  Thank you.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Does this mean instead of using normal Ethernet interface to transfer data from host PC, device/board receive data from host PC via SMA connectors. And to do so, the host PC must be equipped with a 10Gbps SFP+ card? If so, how to realize this transmission? Any tutorial related to this?   --- Quote End ---  Not quite. Here's what I would try to find;  1) A PCIe 10Gbps NIC (network interface card) with SFP+ connectors. Eg., Newegg has them  http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16833106057 http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16833120384  2) A couple of SFP+ to SMA breakout cables or boards, eg.,  http://hitechglobal.com/boards/modules/sma_to_sfp+.htm  3) Plug the NIC into your test PC, plug the SFP+ cable into the NIC and the adapter board, and then wire the SMAs onto your SI kit. You can also use the adapter boards to connect your kits together.  However, in hindsight, you should have just purchased a GT board with SFP+ connectors on it already, eg.,  http://www.hitechglobal.com/boards/stratix4gx.htm  Note that if you are just connecting your two SI kits together using 10Gbps, you can just use SMA cables there.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  It looks like your script output stops right around the time Java is started. Perhaps Java on Windows Server 2008 is broken.  --- Quote End ---   I have just tried the generation with Quartus II 11.0 sp1 installed in Window 7 OS. And it was fine. So, I will check the time java on the server. In case, it does not help, we will need to reinstall an supported OS.  Now I see why my boss want me to use the Windows Server 2008. The server has a NIC with SFP+ connectors and he has been told that the NIC just works with Win Server 2008. I need to investigate this soon. But, if this is true, how should we do?    --- Quote Start ---  You will not get any response to requests for support until you are using a supported OS.  --- Quote End ---   A reason strong enough for us to decide changing the OS.  Thank you very much. PLMT

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   Now I see why my boss want me to use the Windows Server 2008. The server has a NIC with SFP+ connectors and he has been told that the NIC just works with Win Server 2008. I need to investigate this soon. But, if this is true, how should we do?   --- Quote End ---    Look at the $600 Intel NIC. Check if its supported under Windows 7 and Linux RedHat 6 (or Centos 6). Even if you're not going to use Linux, its a good indicator that the NIC works well and is documented (since the Linux guys had enough info to write a driver).  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Dear Dave, 

 Thank you very much, your explanation and instruction help me understand my target system really better. Still, I have some doubts as follow.    --- Quote Start ---  1) A PCIe 10Gbps NIC (network interface card) with SFP+ connectors. Eg., Newegg has them  http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16833106057 http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16833120384  --- Quote End ---   My boss said that we have NIC with SFP+ connector for our server. So I assume that we have already had this by now.    --- Quote Start ---  2) A couple of SFP+ to SMA breakout cables or boards, eg., http://hitechglobal.com/boards/modules/sma_to_sfp+.htm  --- Quote End ---    And this is what we will need to have to realize our target application, am I right?    --- Quote Start ---   3) Plug the NIC into your test PC, plug the SFP+ cable into the NIC and the adapter board, and then wire the SMAs onto your SI kit.  --- Quote End ---   This is how I set up a connection from a test PC to my SIV GT SI board for transferring 10Gbps, is that right?  My next wonder is how I can transfer data from the test PC to board in terms of implementation? if there is an existing tool for this or I need to create my own software/design?    --- Quote Start ---  However, in hindsight, you should have just purchased a GT board with SFP+ connectors on it already, eg., http://www.hitechglobal.com/boards/stratix4gx.htm  --- Quote End ---   I am not sure if I understood your point here. But I still do not have SFP+ connector. I have only the XCVR SI Dev kit, SIV GT, eg., http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/altera/kit-stratix-iv-gt-si.html    --- Quote Start ---  Note that if you are just connecting your two SI kits together using 10Gbps, you can just use SMA cables there.   --- Quote End ---   This is clear for me. This is what I am doing for testing the XCVR Toolkit examples.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Look at the $600 Intel NIC. Check if its supported under Windows 7 and Linux RedHat 6 (or Centos 6). Even if you're not going to use Linux, its a good indicator that the NIC works well and is documented (since the Linux guys had enough info to write a driver).   --- Quote End ---    It says "Support for most Network Operating Systems". So I think that no way to have a driver in Windows 7 or XP. You have any ideas?

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  It says "Support for most Network Operating Systems". So I think that no way to have a driver in Windows 7 or XP. You have any ideas?  --- Quote End ---    Read the datasheet:  http://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/product-brief/10-gigabit-af-da-dual-port-server-adapter-brief.pdf  I suspect it would work under Windows 7. You could always contact Intel and ask, or use Google.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   My boss said that we have NIC with SFP+ connector for our server. So I assume that we have already had this by now.   --- Quote End ---    But you also said your boss thought it would only work under Windows Server 2008. If that is the case, then just buy a new NIC that is compatible with the OS that is also compatible with Quartus.    --- Quote Start ---   My next wonder is how I can transfer data from the test PC to board in terms of implementation? if there is an existing tool for this or I need to create my own software/design?   --- Quote End ---    Its called network or sockets programming.    --- Quote Start ---   I am not sure if I understood your point here.   --- Quote End ---   The point was that you purchased a really expensive board before figuring out what you really want to do, and now you find that you have to purchase other really expensive adapters to add the missing functionality. The lesson to take from this is; design first, and then buy.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   I suspect it would work under Windows 7. You could always contact Intel and ask, or use Google.   --- Quote End ---    Yeah, thanks a lot. I just saw Wins Vista is supported so maybe Wins 7 is also supported. I will check this soon.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Its called network or sockets programming.   --- Quote End ---   This absolutely answers my wonder.   --- Quote Start ---  The point was that you purchased a really expensive board before figuring out what you really want to do, and now you find that you have to purchase other really expensive adapters to add the missing functionality. The lesson to take from this is; design first, and then buy.  --- Quote End ---   Thanks for pointing out our lesson. Actually, even before I realize this uneconomic issue thanks to your explanation, I was feeling that our choice of device was not well decided as it is not easy to find reference designs, examples, tutorials provided for our device. So it takes more time from me.  Again, thank you very much Dave, I have learnt a lot. If possible, I will be back to bother you when I have further wonders.  Best, PLMT

[Altera_Forum]

Dear Dave, 

 I just found out that our NIC with SFP+ connector is the second one you found: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16833120384 And it does only support Window Server among Windows OSs. We may have to decide whether:  1-Buy new NIC(s) that support Windows 7/vista or XP so that we can use Quartus II in Windows. But this seems to be an expensive choice. 2-Change to use Quartus II in Linux OS, but I did not have experience with this OS and this would be hard choice for me. 3-Keep using Windows Server 2008. But first, try to fix the issue for Qsys generation with On-chip memory cores. However, this is not a Quartus supported OS, so I don't know if I should try this direction.  Do you have any further advice?  I am more prone to the third option right now. Regarding the issue, you have suggested me to check the Java Runtime:   --- Quote Start ---   It looks like your script output stops right around the time Java is started. Perhaps Java on Windows Server 2008 is broken.   --- Quote End ---   I suspected that the current jre of Quartus has problems. So, I have installed newest Java 7 and replaced the content of C:\altera\11.1\quartus\bin64\jre64 with C:\Program Files\Java\jre7. But this does not help. If you have any further ideas about how to check and fix this issue?  Thank you very much. PLMT

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   I just found out that our NIC with SFP+ connector is the second one you found: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16833120384 And it does only support Window Server among Windows OSs. We may have to decide whether:   --- Quote End ---    That is unfortunate.    --- Quote Start ---   1-Buy new NIC(s) that support Windows 7/vista or XP so that we can use Quartus II in Windows. But this seems to be an expensive choice.   --- Quote End ---    You're kidding right? Your bosses went out and purchased $16,000 worth of Stratix GT kits before even determining that you could use them for your project ...  http://www.altera.com/products/devkits/altera/kit-stratix-iv-gt-si.html  and now they won't bother to spend $600 on a new NIC. Not only do you need the NIC, you also need the SFP+-to-SMA adapters.  Just buy the hardware. The time you are wasting now, and will waste trying to use an unsupported OS, will far exceed $600.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Just buy the hardware. The time you are wasting now, and will waste trying to use an unsupported OS, will far exceed $600.  --- Quote End ---    Thanks for your advice. So, I will no longer waste my time on fixing the problem.   How about the choice of using RedHat Enterprise Linux or SUSE Linux Enterprise with current NIC? Can you share some experience related to Altera software in these OSs?

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   How about the choice of using RedHat Enterprise Linux or SUSE Linux Enterprise with current NIC? Can you share some experience related to Altera software in these OSs?  --- Quote End ---  I use Centos 6.2. This is the 'community' version of RedHat 6.2. It works very well. I've used Centos for years, with previous versions of Quartus and Modelsim-ASE and SE, and have had no issues.  However, if you run Linux on your Windows Server 2008 machine, then you'll stop others from using it. Perhaps that is not an issue though.  I also use VirtualBox as a virtual machine manager. You can install Windows XP, Windows 7, Ubuntu, etc., as a VM client, and then the host OS running Centos can be used to give the USB-Blaster interface to the virtual machine. That way you can run the Board Test System (BTS) application under Windows XP to check your hardware. Using Windows 7 as the host OS does not support this (I'm not sure why, since Windows XP does).  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   I also use VirtualBox as a virtual machine manager. You can install Windows XP, Windows 7, Ubuntu, etc., as a VM client, and then the host OS running Centos can be used to give the USB-Blaster interface to the virtual machine.   --- Quote End ---    How about licensing? As I know, Altera does not support generation of licenses for virtual machine MAC addresses. How can I license my Quartus in an virtual environment?

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  How about licensing? As I know, Altera does not support generation of licenses for virtual machine MAC addresses. How can I license my Quartus in an virtual environment?  --- Quote End ---    In the case of using the VM to run the windows BTS application, licensing does not matter. You can install the full-edition in the VM so that the BTS application has access to the programmer and JTAG DLLs, but since you would not be synthesizing in the VM, you don't need to worry about the licensing.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

on the licensing center you can actually generate companion licenses etc

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  In the case of using the VM to run the windows BTS application, licensing does not matter. You can install the full-edition in the VM so that the BTS application has access to the programmer and JTAG DLLs, but since you would not be synthesizing in the VM, you don't need to worry about the licensing.  --- Quote End ---    Thank you. So, I have one more option. I may try this. But first, I will discuss with my boss soon to have a decision.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  1) Unzip your design  2) Opened the Qsys design and generated the system  3) Clicked on the files tab in the main GUI, and then clicked on the qsys_system.qsys and set it as the top-level entity (as described in the tutorial).  4) Synthesized the design.  There were no errors.  --- Quote End ---    As I mentioned before, I could generate the Qsys system using other PC (not the Windows server). Then, the compilation need to be done in the server because of the license issue. But, it was quite strange that the compilation took really long time to complete, more than 1 hour. Can you tell me how long it takes for compiling in your PC?

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---   Can you tell me how long it takes for compiling in your PC?  --- Quote End ---    No more than a few minutes. Windows XP, 2,2GHz, 3GB RAM. If you do not have much RAM, then your synthesis time will increase dramatically. I suspect that is your problem.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  If you do not have much RAM, then your synthesis time will increase dramatically. I suspect that is your problem.  --- Quote End ---   Thanks Dave. It was my mistake before. Actually, the compilation was done in my desktop instead of the server and it took long time because of the low RAM.   The thing is that this design still cannot be compiled in the Server 2008. I generated the Qsys system in a XP PC and copied the design to compile in the Server, but it stopped at analysis and systhesis step without an error. Anyway, we are going to replace the OS soon. Probably, we will use Redhat Enterprise.  Regarding the socket programming you mentioned before, I have no experience on this, if you can tell me some tools and are they OS dependent? For example if they work well in Windows?  Thank you and Happy Easter!  Best, PLMT.