[UrJTAG-dev] Can UrJTAG be used to program .bit files into a Xilinx FPGA?

[Chris Stankevitz]

Hello,

[This question comes from a linux sysadmin-type, not an FPGA-type]

I have been given a circuit board with Xilinx FPGA, a power adapter,
and a .bit file. My job is to:

1. Turn on power to circuit board/FPGA
2. Program the .bit file into the FPGA using the JTAG interface
3. Watch lights blink.

Step (2) is a real pain because it involves doing the following from
all my machines:
2a. Connect JTAG to computer and to FPGA
2b. Download 'impact" (a multi-gigabyte download (albeit free))
2c. Register software, install software
2d. Use impact to upload bit file

Question: Can UrJtag replace steps (2b) - (2d)? Ideally this would
look like "urjtag --program-fpga file.bit"

Thank you,

Chris

[Marek Peca]

Post by Chris Stankevitz
Question: Can UrJtag replace steps (2b) - (2d)? Ideally this would
look like "urjtag --program-fpga file.bit"

Yes, given you will produce SVF or STAPL file instead of .bit by the
impact tool once.

Good luck,
Marek

[Åke Rehnman]

Hello Chris,

I know it's a pain because I used to install the download tools onto
production line computers. It's a 8gb download for the ise webpack which
includes the impact tool.

It is possible to program the fpga with urjtag but that requires a SVF file
which can be played back with urjtag. However Xilinx impact tool is still
required to convert the bit files into svf files.

Another way would be to program the attached flash prom by defining a "bus"
in urjtag, then program the flash, then rebooting the board. Unfortunately
urjtag only support parallel flash chips as far as I know. It's probably
also a very slow process to program a serial flash through urjtag.


-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Stankevitz [mailto:***@gmail.com]
Sent: den 17 januari 2013 00:51
To: urjtag-***@lists.sourceforge.net
Subject: [UrJTAG-dev] Can UrJTAG be used to program .bit files into a Xilinx
FPGA?

Hello,

[This question comes from a linux sysadmin-type, not an FPGA-type]

I have been given a circuit board with Xilinx FPGA, a power adapter,
and a .bit file. My job is to:

1. Turn on power to circuit board/FPGA
2. Program the .bit file into the FPGA using the JTAG interface
3. Watch lights blink.

Step (2) is a real pain because it involves doing the following from
all my machines:
2a. Connect JTAG to computer and to FPGA
2b. Download 'impact" (a multi-gigabyte download (albeit free))
2c. Register software, install software
2d. Use impact to upload bit file

Question: Can UrJtag replace steps (2b) - (2d)? Ideally this would
look like "urjtag --program-fpga file.bit"

Thank you,

Chris

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[Michael Walle]

Post by Chris Stankevitz
Hello,
[This question comes from a linux sysadmin-type, not an FPGA-type]
I have been given a circuit board with Xilinx FPGA, a power adapter,
1. Turn on power to circuit board/FPGA
2. Program the .bit file into the FPGA using the JTAG interface
3. Watch lights blink.
Step (2) is a real pain because it involves doing the following from
2a. Connect JTAG to computer and to FPGA
2b. Download 'impact" (a multi-gigabyte download (albeit free))
2c. Register software, install software
2d. Use impact to upload bit file
Question: Can UrJtag replace steps (2b) - (2d)? Ideally this would
look like "urjtag --program-fpga file.bit"

yes what are you looking for is the "pld load bitstream.bit" command.
Please consult the corresponding documentation at doc/README.pld.

[Uwe Bonnes]

Chris> Hello, [This question comes from a linux sysadmin-type, not an
Chris> FPGA-type]

Chris> I have been given a circuit board with Xilinx FPGA, a power
Chris> adapter, and a .bit file. My job is to:

Chris> 1. Turn on power to circuit board/FPGA 2. Program the .bit file
Chris> into the FPGA using the JTAG interface 3. Watch lights blink.

Chris> Step (2) is a real pain because it involves doing the following
Chris> from all my machines: 2a. Connect JTAG to computer and to FPGA
Chris> 2b. Download 'impact" (a multi-gigabyte download (albeit free))
Chris> 2c. Register software, install software 2d. Use impact to upload
Chris> bit file

Chris> Question: Can UrJtag replace steps (2b) - (2d)? Ideally this
Chris> would look like "urjtag --program-fpga file.bit"

Did you consider sourceforge xc3sprog? If you need help, please let me know,
best over the xc3sprog mailing list.

Bye