Minimal Setup of NIOS + EPCS not Working

[Altera_Forum]

Hi,  

I am trying to insert the EPCS serial Flash Loader to a NIOS system without any success. I would like to know if someone has an idea what is missing.  .sopc file is attached, and it is an architecture as follows:  CPU  EPCS_Flash_controller  jtag_uart  sysid   clock 50Mhz  OnchipRAM 128K (Any program even hello world is at least 57K :-( ) Nothing More.. Pretty Simple isnt it? I have been narrowing the project to get to this very simple project and it still not working. ( I am out of ideas )  on Quartus I only define the Clock and Reset Pins, with its location asignment.  Compile OK I have a .sof and .elf  on Flash Programmer   http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2746&stc=1&d=1279028786     This is the complete LOG that I see, while scrolling on the Flash PRogrameer  http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2747&stc=1&d=1279029165    Any ideas what can it be? I will also put the .c file in the .zip, it is only a super dumm program just to test if it boots.  I will really appreciate your help if this can be solved. The Board and Hardware is working since I can Programm the Flash with a .jic file if I load a design having the Serial Flash Programer gernerated from the Wizzard., in that case Auto Detect sees correctly the EPCS16  But not if it is done from NIOS.  Thankyou! :p

[Altera_Forum]

Do you need to get the jtag debugger code to run the nios cpu from its reset vector (presumably code in the EPCS interface)? 

 I just removed the jtag debugger completely when we started loading code by other means (and exporting the nios reset signals to an avalon slave).

[Altera_Forum]

At the moment the jtag debugger is the only way of looking if nios is running, by reading out the stdio.  

 I might try it now without jtag debugger, I will try to use some other means, like maybe a normal serial rs232.   This board is ment to be debugged via TCP, but if this simple project is not running, I am far from being able to debug via tcp. (this was the original project, but at this moment I am trying to do keep it simple untill it works and then I need to put the epcs on the original project with tmac etc.)  Thankyou

[Altera_Forum]

Serial is always useful. Failing that a single LED! 

 These days it is possible to get TTL <=> USB serial adapters that plug onto a 4 pin 0.1" (and probably other) header. They significantly reduce the board space (and cost) of adding a serial debug port.

[Altera_Forum]

Thankyou dsl, 

it is a good hardware solution for next time. At the moment I allready got the serial connector attached to some free GPIO I had free on the board.  The Version Without JTAG serial but instead a normal UART is at least smaller, < 1K, However I still have the same problem with EPCS.  Flash Programer can not access it. I am wondering what is the last lines on the log.  EPCS signature is 0x00 EPCS identifier is 0x000000 "No EPCS layout data - looking for section [EPCS-000000]" Unable to use EPCS device Leaving target processor paused Error code: 8 for command $SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/bin/..........  in SOPC the flash is in 0x00041800,  Why is it trying to find, so that it is going all the way to 0x00041B00? It is saying somethng about reserved fields non-zero... any ideas?  Thanyouo again.

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Serial is always useful. Failing that a single LED!  These days it is possible to get TTL <=> USB serial adapters that plug onto a 4 pin 0.1" (and probably other) header. They significantly reduce the board space (and cost) of adding a serial debug port.  --- Quote End ---    Hi dsl, I change allready the jtag uart for a real uart. and it is running as before. However the EPCS problem is still there,, Any ideas?  P.S. When I press the reset program is not starting again, I asume it is because it is jumping to the reset address pointing to the flash. how can I make it jump to the starting address without recompiling the sopc?

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Hi,  I am trying to insert the EPCS serial Flash Loader to a NIOS system without any success. I would like to know if someone has an idea what is missing.  .sopc file is attached, and it is an architecture as follows:  CPU  EPCS_Flash_controller  jtag_uart  sysid   clock 50Mhz  OnchipRAM 128K (Any program even hello world is at least 57K :-( ) Nothing More.. Pretty Simple isnt it? I have been narrowing the project to get to this very simple project and it still not working. ( I am out of ideas )  on Quartus I only define the Clock and Reset Pins, with its location asignment.  Compile OK I have a .sof and .elf  on Flash Programmer   http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2746&stc=1&d=1279028786     This is the complete LOG that I see, while scrolling on the Flash PRogrameer  http://www.alteraforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2747&stc=1&d=1279029165    Any ideas what can it be? I will also put the .c file in the .zip, it is only a super dumm program just to test if it boots.  I will really appreciate your help if this can be solved. The Board and Hardware is working since I can Programm the Flash with a .jic file if I load a design having the Serial Flash Programer gernerated from the Wizzard., in that case Auto Detect sees correctly the EPCS16  But not if it is done from NIOS.  Thankyou! :p  --- Quote End ---     Dear rubenc,  I have encounter the same problem. How did you solve this problem? It is appreciated to give me a guidance to solution. my email is simon_100@sina.com. Thank you!