Run the demo project

Configure debug and run operation

Before you could run the "demo.elf" file on MicroBlaze you should configure the "stdio output".

You shoud click "Run">"Run Configurations...".

Open "Run Configurations"

A pop-up "Run Configutations" will appear. Click "demo.elf" (if it is not already selected) and then click "SDIO Connection" tab.

"Run Configurations" opened

Check () the box "Connect STDIO to Console" and select as port "JTAG UART". Then click "Apply" button.

Connect STDIO to Console

Then click "Close" button. The pop-up will close.

Change perspective from "C/C++" to "Debug"

To change perspective you should click "Window">"Open Perspective">"Debug".

Open Debug Perspective

The new perspective is the following.

Debug perspective opened

Use the "demo" project with the XMD UART

With this application, you can test the PC ↔ USB ↔ JTAG  ↔ FPGA communication using a simulated UART (XMD_UART) on JTAG/USB connection.

GUI procedure

In this simple case you can simply click "Run" > "Run"

demo.elf downloaded and connected to Jtag-Uart

In the console the menu of demo.elf should appear. If the menu doesn't appear you have probably set RS232 instead of debug (mdm) and/or set incorrectly "Stdio output".

If you write the character "a" the RAM test should start.

XMD procedure

In the XMD console you should write "connect mb mdm -debugdevice cpunr 1".

In the XMD console you shoud write "rst" and then click "return" on the keyboard.

In the XMD console you should write "dow C:/XilinxProject/reference-TE0300/SDK/SDK_Workspace/demo/Debug/demo.elf" and then click "return" on the keyboard.

In the XMD console you shoud write "run" and then click "return" on the keyboard.

In the XMD console you shoud write "terminal -jtag_uart_server 4321" and then click "return" on the keyboard.

After this  you should open some terminal emulators (because you want to input/output some characters with the XMD UART), such as

• Microsoft / Hilgraeve HyperTerminal (usually included in Windows before Vista START MENU > All programs > Acessories > Communications > Hyper Terminal). 
• ClearTerminal (very easy)

In the XMD console you shoud write "stop" and then click "return" on the keyboard.

In the XMD console you shoud write "run" and then click "return" on the keyboard.

After this two further step the menu of "demo.elf" should appear in the terminal emulator.

After this two further step the menu of "demo.elf" should appear in the terminal emulator.

In the console the menu of demo.elf should appear. If the menu doesn't appear you have probably set RS232 instead of debug (mdm) and/or set incorrectly "Stdio output".

If you write the character "a" the RAM test should start.

If you write the character "a" the RAM test should start.

Use the demo project without the XMD UART

To use the demo project without the XMD UART, you need to use "RS232" instead of "debug_module" as standard in/out port. Otherwise the application running on the Microblaze processor freezes if you disconnect the XMD. To accomplish that you need to set up the Microblaze "Software Platform Settings".

• In the dialog window select "OS and libraries" in the left window and pick "RS232" as a stdout and stdin interface.
• Then rebuild the software and download again the project to the FPGA.

The UART is then redirected to external pins, which are defined in the data/system.ucf file.

The following snippet shows the case of the TE0300 series modules:

Module RS232 constraints*
Net fpga_0_RS232_RX_pin LOC=B13;
Net fpga_0_RS232_TX_pin LOC=B14;
Please refer to the table below  for other module series relevant to this application note.

Sample UART to USB virtual COM port converter.

Sample UART to USB virtual COM port converter: signal detail for TE0320 and TE0323.