Introduction
The reference architecture can be tested in two ways:
- USB communication tests + DMA tests
- full test (USB communication tests + DMA tests + other tests)
JTAG and USB connections
Two types of connections are available:
- USB connection (USB (host computer) ↔ USB (TE USB FX2 module))
- JTAG connection (normally a JTAG adapter cable; we recommend using the Xilinx Platform Cable USB (USB (host computer) ↔ JTAG (TE USB FX2 module)) ;
Xilinx EDK/SDK and Impact (or equivalent console XMD commands) could be used to develop a FPGA bitstream (with MicroBlaze's SW "fused" in a FPGA bitstream). When the FPGA bitstream is ready, either USB connecion or JTAG connection could be used to write TE USB FX2 module's SPI Flash (downolad the FPGA bitstream in the SPI Flash).
JTAG connection could also be used to directly downolad the FPGA bitstream on the FPGA without the need of a reset.
JTAG connection could be used with Xilinx EDK and SDK GUIs for development and debug phases; XMD console couls also be used.
USB connection could NOT be used with Xilinx EDK and SDK GUIs for development and debug phases. USB connection should be used after the end of development and debug phases.
With the use of a JTAG connection, the development and debug phases are easier; without the use of JTAG connection, the user/developer should create/use custom functions/programs for the debug phase and some JTAG debug feature may not be easily replicated with the use of a USB connection.
USB communication tests + DMA tests only
Use of JTAG connection is NOT necessary.
To test the USB communication in the Reference Architecture case is necessary:
- to download the correct reference bitstream file in the FPGA and/or SPI Flash;
- the USB FX2 microcontroller on the TE USB FX2 module should contain valid firmware;
- the host computer should have a specific driver installed;
- a USB cable should be used to connect the PC and the FPGA module (USB communication tests and/or power supply);
- run the C# or C++ Reference Project test.
For an example see here.
Full test
Use of JTAG connection is necessary.
To completely test the Reference Architecture is necessary:
- to download the bitstream file (that create the Microblaze system) and the demo.elf file or to be certain that this two are already downloaded before;
- the USB FX2 microcontroller on the TE USB FX2 module should contain valid firmware;
- the host computer should have a specific driver installed;
- the host computer should have Xilinx EDK installed;
- a JTAG adapter cable. We recommend using the Xilinx Platform Cable USB (USB ↔ JTAG) ;
- a USB cable should be used to connect the PC and the FPGA module (USB communication tests and/or power supply);
- run the C# or C++ Reference Project test (USB communication tests + DMA tests).
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
- Open the project by double-clicking on the system.xmp file. The Xilinx Platform Studio is opened.
- If you open the project with a new version of Xilinx XPS, the tool will try to update all the components of MicroBlaze system. In some case it is not possible to refuse the update.
- To compile the project press the "Download Bitstream to the FPGA" button.
- If the HDL design was successfully implemented and downloaded to the TE USB FX2 module, you can proceed to compile the MB software. Press the "build all user applications" button.
Copy IP Cores and drivers used in TE reference projects
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":
- C:\XilinxProject, if you have copied the folder "TE0xxx-Reference-Designs\reference-TE0xxx" to "C:\XilinxProject" ( "C:\XilinxProject\reference-TE0xxx" and "C:\XilinxProject\TE-EDK-IP");
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".
You should not alter folder nesting (double nesting) because is a Xilinx Platform Studio requirements.
Choice assumed in this step and in the following ones.
From now on, the choice (1) is assumed.
Check the firmware of FX2 microcontroler
The FX2 microcontroller on the TE USB FX2 module should contain valid firmware before proceeding.
- If the FX2 microcontroller has not been programmed before, please follow the instructions here and here. You can use Cypress, Python OpenFut or C# OpenFutNet programs.
- If you are sure that the FX2 microcontroller is properly connected, you can connect to the TE USB FX2 module with a JTAG adapter cable. We recommend using the Xilinx Platform Cable USB.
- Then connect the TE USB FX2 module to a USB cable.
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