Program Xilinx with Altera JTAG Programmer?

jackm wrote:

> 
>> Forget the Altera cable, because Xilinx software doesn't work
>> with anything they don't make or authorize.
> 
> Yes I know that Xilinx software would not work with an Altera programmer
> but my question is what if I used Altera's Quartus II software with the
> Altera programmer? I don't know much about JTAG but would it be possible
> for the Quartus II software to detect a Xilinx device in the JTAG chain
> and let me program it with a file of my choosing??
Pretty unlikely.  i think the FPGAs have the memory divided into blocks,
and each block has a CRC that has to match a live one that is
calculated as it is loading for the load to be accepted.
I guess the CRC is actually present in the .bit file, but there still needs
to be a bunch of hand-shaking for it to all work.

The standardisation of the JTAG only goes as far as having several
JTAG ports connected in a serial string, and getting a device type
ID from each device.  So, it would be EXTREMELY unlikely that Altera
software would accept a Xilinx .bit file, or know how to set up the
internal state of a Xilinx CPLD for programming/downloading.

Now, a Xilinx CPLD is a bit different, they look a lot more like
a generic memory, and the programming file is in JEDEC format.
So, I think programming them might be a bit more generic.

Jon

On Wed, 25 Feb 2015 16:38:46 -0800, jackm wrote:

>> Forget the Altera cable, because Xilinx software doesn't work with
>> anything they don't make or authorize.
> 
> Yes I know that Xilinx software would not work with an Altera programmer
> but my question is what if I used Altera's Quartus II software with the
> Altera programmer?
> I don't know much about JTAG but would it be possible for the Quartus II
> software to detect a Xilinx device in the JTAG chain and let me program
> it with a file of my choosing??

You may wanna try Lattice's software, provided you have hardware at hand 
you can use with it.

Of the many different programming schemes, they have what they call "JTAG 
full VME embedded" system. It consists of a small program that is 
supposed to be uploaded to a dedicated programmer and which takes as 
input VME files. VME files are a 1:1 binary format of SVF files. This 
program can also be used on a PC equipped with random peripherals. You 
will need to teach it how to use your hardware and you will probably need 
to severely optimize the program to account for very high latencies of a 
PC system, but it can be done. If your Xilinx software can produce SVF 
files, the Lattice embedded programmer is supposed to be able to program 
devices with it. It even has special provisions for Xilinx devices 
written into the source (the programmer is open source).

glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> writes:

> I have wondered if the Xilinx software and cable will load or dump
> JTAG devices that aren't FPGAs.

By generating SVF files I've programmed Altera FPGA's using Xilinx
impact and cable (or the other way around, can't remember). I would
expect it to work both ways as long as you can generate and play a SVF
file.

//Petter

-- 
.sig removed by request. 

Ok, I went ahead and ordered the fake chinese Altera USB Blaster programmer=
. It was $6.66 including shipping.  When I get it in 3-4 weeks I will repor=
t on whether it works or not.  I am trying to program an XC9572XL CPLD, usi=
ng Altera's Quartus II software...