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Hi
We use Arial10 10AX057H3F34E2SG for both PCIe and none-PCIe XCVRs. Some questions about XCVR calibrations.
What would happen if Transceiver Calibration fails?
As Intel UG-01143 chapter 7 (page575) writes, "Transceivers include both analog and digital blocks that require calibration to compensate for process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations".
For example, Suppose XCVR reference clock is not ready when A10 is powered up. So this XCVR is not successfully Calibrated. For now POWER-ON-Calibration Failed.
Under this situation, will XCVR cannot run at all? Or it can still run with de-rated performance (worse than it should be), such as lower speed, more bit errors, etc. I guess it should be (b), but not officially confirmed.
Suppose after a while, the XCVR reference clock is available, for None-PCIe XCVRs, user indeed could start the “re-calibration” sequence, and then XCVR could normally work. Unfortunately, for PCIe XCVRs, since Altera said "PCIe link does not allow user recalibration"(UG-01143 section 7.3), is the PCIe XCVRs DEAD now? What can we do to make it work again?
To be honest, this RE-Calibration mechanism seems to be kind of Altera-Special feature. It requires stable and free-running external CLKUSR and XCVR ref clocks BEFORE FPGA powered up. No similar requirement in Xilinx competition devices such as XCKU060, which only requires calibration resistors correctly connected for proper XCVR calibration, and this means simpler hardware design.
One of the possible reason of this is said to be: Altera XCVR’s fPLL do not have enough driving strength than Xilinx’s does. We asked our supplier Cytech (one representative of intel FPGA), but received no reply.
This is why I had to post my questions and confusions here. Anyway, bleakly hope some real expert could help on this desperated topic. Thanks, and happy weekend.
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up. hope some expert could help....
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Hi Nathan, Thanks for patient explain which cleared my confusions. That’s great help.
To be more specific on PCIe links, our application is A10 FPGA Board connected with PC Board (Win7 OS) via PCIex4 GEN3.0 links, with board-to-board connectors. PC is root complex and A10 is endpoint of PCIe. For A10 Board, configuration scheme are JTAG and ASx4 (Autonomous Mode to comply PCIe 100ms boot time requirement).
Our concern is for JTAG mode. In development process, during we downloads new configuration data via JTAG the PCIe links will surely disconnect. But after JTAG configuration is done, what can we do to re-establish and re-enumerate the PCIe connection? Within my limited experience, at this moment the FPGA’s XCVRs MIGHT be calibrated correctly because PCIe_REF_CLK from PC MIGHT still running during JTAG configuration process. However, the windows re-enumeration will not happen automatically, because PCIe enumeration process is done by BIOS when PC booting up.
Maybe we would warm-restart PC to tigger re-enumerate, but when during PC shutdown and restart interval, the PCIe_REF_CLK will surely disappear, then FPGA XCVR might stop working as a result of lost REFCLK…..it seem to be a desperate loop….or maybe my thought is wrong somewhere. How do you think? We will appreciate your insights.
It is simpler for ASx4 mode configuration. After we update the Flash on A10 Board, we just need to power down and then re-power up the whole system, which is a whole new system cold-restart process, no problem at all. PC will start and send out PCIe_REF_CLK, at the same time FPGA Periphery Image will be re-configured within 100ms and successfully calibrated, and they will connect as expected.
Thanks very much!
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Hi Nathan,
Thank you very much for such detailed and patient explain. I summary as bleow according to your answer and our system real conditions, and I think I unsdrtand your explanation. If there is anything wrong, pls kindly point out.
1. A10 GX PCIe only requires successful transceiver calibration ONCE for every power cycle of the FPGA.
2. Our FPGA board has power supply independent of PC. During JTAG update FPGA, PCIe link between PC and FPGA will disconnect. Then we will warm-restart PC (Windows7)to re-trigger PCIe enumeration. Nothing special need to be done on FPGA as long as it stays powerd-on
3. After JTAG update is done, FPGA PCIe hard IP will stay calibrated and behave normally.
Thanks again for your help!
Yi XIAO
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