Programmable Devices
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flash usage

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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I'm trying to follow the Altera DE2-115 with Linux sample from this link (http://www.alterawiki.com/wiki/linux_with_mmu_on_veek/t-pad#unfortunately.2c_if_you_don.27t_have_veek.2ft-pad_kit.2c_but_you_have_de2-115...).  

 

The first part works but then I get 

$ nios2-flash-programmer --epcs --base=0x0a001800 tPad_Selector.flash --debug Reading override file "/opt/intelFPGA_lite/16.1/nios2eds/bin/nios2-flash-override.txt" Using cable "USB-Blaster ", device 1, instance 0x00 Resetting and pausing target processor: OK Processor data bus width is 32 bits Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x0A001800 (with 32bit alignment) Initial values: 0001703A 04C00074 9801483A 9CFFF804 983FFD1E 0000203A Not here: reserved fields are non-zero Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x0A001900 (with 32bit alignment) Initial values: 92400237 4A40100C 483FFD26 90000135 92400237 4A40200C Not here: reserved fields are non-zero 

 

Can you help me? Why doesn't it work?
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Hi, 

 

There are few possibilities based on the error message, usually this is due to the flash programmer not able to find the EPCS flash. 

Please check the base address, and make sure the HW connections are OK.
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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What hardware are you using? Is it a DE2-115 or are you simply using that link for reference? 

 

If it's you own hardware - what EPCS device are you using? And, if necessary, does it have an entry in the nios-flash-override file? 

 

If you're on a DE2-115 board then I suspect you've specified your base and/or boot addresses wrong when you've configured your Nios. Refer to one of the examples that come with the kit for reference. 

 

Cheers, 

Alex
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Yes, it's my own DE2-115 and I'm trying to run Linux. The output from jtagconfig 

 

$ jtagconfig 

1) USB-Blaster [2-4] 

020F70DD EP3C120/EP4CE115
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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--- Quote Start ---  

Hi, 

 

There are few possibilities based on the error message, usually this is due to the flash programmer not able to find the EPCS flash. 

Please check the base address, and make sure the HW connections are OK. 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

The HW connections seem OK because jtagconfig reports the connection is there.  

 

But how can I check the base address? I don't have much more than what is online about DE2-115. I got the actual board but I don't think that I got a CD or any other "reference designs".  

 

I just want to try and run Linux with it.
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Download the resource cd from here (http://www.terasic.com.tw/cgi-bin/page/archive.pl?language=english&categoryno=139&no=502&partno=4). You may need to register. 

 

I'm sure the H/W connections are fine - I'm not doubting the jtag connections. 

 

The base address is specified when you put your Qsys system together and instantiate the EPCS - assuming that's what you've done. Based on the fact you're trying to use 'nios2-flash-programmer' I hope you have a Nios in your system and an EPCS. 

 

Download the CD and look at some of the examples - there are quite a few you should be able to look for guidance. 

 

Cheers, 

Alex
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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I don't understand why I constantly must start over and with something else.  

 

I try both this sample and the other with mmu and Linux and nothing works.  

 

There is absolutely no sustainability in the releases and nothing works for DE2-115.  

 

Been trying for weeks and all I could was get some pre-built uClinux running with a shell that had only root access.  

 

Altera, you don't supply working software.
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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--- Quote Start ---  

Download the resource cd from here (http://www.terasic.com.tw/cgi-bin/page/archive.pl?language=english&categoryno=139&no=502&partno=4). You may need to register. 

 

I'm sure the H/W connections are fine - I'm not doubting the jtag connections. 

 

The base address is specified when you put your Qsys system together and instantiate the EPCS - assuming that's what you've done. Based on the fact you're trying to use 'nios2-flash-programmer' I hope you have a Nios in your system and an EPCS. 

 

Download the CD and look at some of the examples - there are quite a few you should be able to look for guidance. 

 

Cheers, 

Alex 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

I don't need to put together something with Qsys because I use a prebuilt system. It's already loading 

Info (209060): Started Programmer operation at Sun Mar 19 02:02:40 2017 Info (209016): Configuring device index 1 Info (209017): Device 1 contains JTAG ID code 0x020F70DD Info (209007): Configuration succeeded -- 1 device(s) configured Info (209011): Successfully performed operation(s) Info (209061): Ended Programmer operation at Sun Mar 19 02:02:46 2017  

I'm trying to run the nios2-flash-programmer and I don't need to start over with something else.  

 

nios2-flash-programmer --epcs --base=0x0a001800 tPad_Selector.flash Using cable "USB-Blaster ", device 1, instance 0x00 Resetting and pausing target processor: OK No EPCS layout data - looking for section Unable to use EPCS device Leaving target processor paused 

 

 

 

What are the possibilities to actually use the example with DE2-115 and not something completely different?
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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debug output 

nios2-flash-programmer --debug --epcs --base=0x0a001800 tPad_Selector.flash Using cable "USB-Blaster ", device 1, instance 0x00 Resetting and pausing target processor: OK Processor data bus width is 32 bits Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x0A001800 (with 32bit alignment) Initial values: 0001703A 04C00074 9801483A 9CFFF804 983FFD1E 0000203A Not here: reserved fields are non-zero Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x0A001900 (with 32bit alignment) Initial values: 92400237 4A40100C 483FFD26 90000135 92400237 4A40200C Not here: reserved fields are non-zero Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x0A001A00 (with 32bit alignment) Initial values: 108001C4 1004D0FA 002EE03A 003F9C06 002EE03A 003F9506 Not here: reserved fields are non-zero Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x0A001B00 (with 32bit alignment) Initial values: 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 Not here: SPI_SLAVE_SEL has 0 valid bits (should be between 1 and 16) Looking for EPCS registers at address 0x0A001C00 (with 32bit alignment) Initial values: 00000000 00000000 00000260 00000000 00000000 00000001 Valid registers found EPCS signature is 0x16 EPCS identifier is 0x010216 No EPCS layout data - looking for section Unable to use EPCS device Leaving target processor paused
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Can you help me or are you again going to point at a haystack and tell me to look for a needle? 

 

The examples from Altera with the reference designs are a haystack and it is impossible to find anything relevant.  

 

Please notice that I'm trying to run one (1) command and program the flash memory.  

 

How difficult can it get? Will it take me decades?
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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It'll take you decades to get a supportive response, from the people who offer their own time to support this forum, if you continue to create posts like that. Stop moaning. 

 

The debug output in your latter post contains the info needed for an answer. Add the following lines to your "nios2-flash-override.txt" file in your {QuartusInstalledFolder}\nios2eds\bin folder.# EPCS64N(lead-free) sector_size = 65536 sector_count = 128If the file's not there create it. 

 

Alex
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Thank you for the answers. I just feel that the instructions are misleading.  

 

"Here you can run Linux with your Altera DE2-115"-  

 

Really? But how? 

 

I beg your pardon that I was negative. I know it's not a perfect world. But I really tried everything and I'm a bit disappointed that there are no more ways to build the thing.  

 

I bought the Altera FPGA for my own money because I was enthusiastic. Now I feel disappointed. I'm not a noob with building source code. There are also others who had the same problem.  

 

I feel that the whole idea of sustainable software is just bogus if we can't use code just because it's a few years old.  

 

I really tried everything and I asked only when everything else failed. The manual isn't very good either: What is meant by "incorrect" and why did I buy something "incorrect"? 

 

I realize that many things must work to run an os with my Altera DE2-115. But I already could run the os from my instructor at the university with no problem whatsoever.  

 

Anyway it was good to learn but I would like to come the whole way and boot a somewhat mature shell, at least the sash shell and preferably a shell that is targeted for real usage.
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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--- Quote Start ---  

 

 

Add the following lines to your "nios2-flash-override.txt" file in your {QuartusInstalledFolder}\nios2eds\bin folder.# EPCS64N(lead-free) sector_size = 65536 sector_count = 128If the file's not there create it. 

 

Alex 

--- Quote End ---  

 

Unfortunately, under Quartus 16.1 it doesn't work!!! 

I had this setup under Quartus 13 and it was working fine. 

I had to change computer and try now to migrate my projects to Quartus 16.1. 

So I copied my original nios2-flash-override.txt to the nio1eds/bin folder... and... 

Error: No EPCS layout data - looking for section [EPCS-010216] 

 

 

Any workaround? 

Thanks 

jylo
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