The reference architecture can be tested in two ways:
Two types of connections are available:
Xilinx EDK/SDK and iMPACT (or equivalent XMD console commands) could be used to develop/generate an FPGA bitstream (with MicroBlaze's processor and software "merged" into an FPGA bitstream). When the FPGA bitstream is ready, either the USB or JTAG connection could be used to write the SPI Flash memory of the TE USB FX2 module (i.e. download the FPGA bitstream into the SPI Flash memory).
The JTAG connection could also be used to directly download the FPGA bitstream into the FPGA without the need of a reset.
The JTAG connection could be used with Xilinx EDK and SDK GUIs for development and debug purposes; XMD console could also be used.
The USB connection CANNOT be used with Xilinx EDK and SDK GUIs for development and debug purposes. The USB connection should be used after the development and debug process.
With a JTAG connection, the development and debug phases are easier.
Without a JTAG connection, the user/developer should create/use custom functions/programs for the debug phase but some JTAG debug features may not be easily replicated through a USB connection.
To test the USB communication in the Reference Architecture case is necessary:
For an example see here.
To completely test the Reference Architecture is necessary:
The procedures are the following (a TE0300 board case is described).
.bit or .mcs direct download iMPACT, OpenFut or OpenFutNet | Procedure SDK: opening and update SDK project only Compile and link time less than 1 minute. | Procedure XPS+SDK: opening and update both XPS and SDK projects Resynthesis of reference HW could take from 10 minutes to 1 hour(1) |
---|---|---|
Skip. | ||
Skip. | Skip. | Update XPS project from an old version to a new one |
Skip. | Skip. | |
Skip. | Open SDK project and (if needed) update the SDK project from an old version to a new one | Recreate SDK project using the new exported HW project |
Skip. | Generate a new link script | |
Download the reference bitstream to the FPGA using iMPACT, Open_FUT or OpenFutNet | Download the reference bitstream to the FPGA using SDK | |
Skip. | Run the demo project to run on board tests | |
Check the fiirmware of FX2 microcontroler | ||
USB communication tests + DMA tests |
(1) It depends on which computer is used (workstation, regular PC or low-end PC).
For old version of Xilinx EDK with older version of Project Reference (they do no longer exist on GitHub) the procedure is the folowing
To use the "demo" application contained in TE0xxx-Reference-Designs\reference-TE0xxx\SDK\SDK_Workspace, you should (1) copy GitHub's "TE-EDK-IP" folder (from https://github.com/Trenz-Electronic/TE-EDK-IP) to the folder that contains the folder "reference-TE0xxx":
otherwise you must copy the contents of GitHub's 'TE-EDK-IP' folder inside the already existent empty folder "TE0xxx-Reference-Designs\TE-EDK-IP".
Choice assumed in this step and in the following ones.
From now on, the choice (1) is assumed.
The FX2 microcontroller on the TE USB FX2 module should contain valid firmware before proceeding.