Which JTAG cable for Xilinx & Linux?

Hi,

I have an old Xilinx XChecker Serial cable which has served me well. 
Apparently (not that I can tell) and unfortunately, it is not supported in
the newer ISE 7.1i tools.

Which cable do you guys suggest to use?  My only real restriction is that it
needs to work with Linux / Linux versions of the ISE 7.1i tools.  USB
cables seem too flaky, but maybe that's changed?

I'm also wondering if I should consider the Chameleon POD which can emulate
many useful JTAG adaptors.

Ideas?

Thanks.
RAM

Ram wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I have an old Xilinx XChecker Serial cable which has served me well.
> Apparently (not that I can tell) and unfortunately, it is not supported in
> the newer ISE 7.1i tools.
> 
> Which cable do you guys suggest to use?  My only real restriction is that
> it
> needs to work with Linux / Linux versions of the ISE 7.1i tools.  USB
> cables seem too flaky, but maybe that's changed?
> 
> I'm also wondering if I should consider the Chameleon POD which can
> emulate many useful JTAG adaptors.
> 

Hi RAM.

The Xilinx CPLD=DK I got last week from Xilinx Jtag Cable connects to the
DB25 Pin parallel port and works correctly on ISEi 7.1 and 7.1.1a.

http://toolbox.xilinx.com/docsan/data/alliance/jtg/fig26.htm

gives it all to you. On the RHS of the schematic there are two pinouts. Top
one is for direct connect to CPLD Jtag SIL header, the bottom RHS
connection is for the FPGA connection.

Hope this assists you. 
-------------
Cheers Grahame

Ram,

The xchecker cable has not been supported in any version of Xilinx 
software since 1999 (Release 4.1i)

The latest software will work with either the Xilinx Parallel Cable IV 
or the Xilinx Platform Cable USB on Linux.  As you might guess from the 
names, the former is a parallel port connected cable and the latter a 
USB port cable.  The performance of either cable will be a substantial 
improvement over the xchecker cable.

You can check out more details and pricing information on the Xilinx web 
site:

http://www.xilinx.com/xlnx/xebiz/designResources/ip_product_details.jsp?sGlobalNavPick=PRODUCTS&sSecondaryNavPick=Design+Tools&key=HW-USB

http://www.xilinx.com/xlnx/xebiz/designResources/ip_product_details.jsp?sGlobalNavPick=PRODUCTS&sSecondaryNavPick=Design+Tools&key=HW-PC4

Ram wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I have an old Xilinx XChecker Serial cable which has served me well. 
> Apparently (not that I can tell) and unfortunately, it is not supported in
> the newer ISE 7.1i tools.
> 
> Which cable do you guys suggest to use?  My only real restriction is that it
> needs to work with Linux / Linux versions of the ISE 7.1i tools.  USB
> cables seem too flaky, but maybe that's changed?
> 
> I'm also wondering if I should consider the Chameleon POD which can emulate
> many useful JTAG adaptors.
> 
> Ideas?
> 
> Thanks.
> RAM

Neil Glenn Jacobson wrote:
(...)> The latest software will work with either the Xilinx Parallel
Cable IV
> or the Xilinx Platform Cable USB on Linux.  As you might guess from the
> names, the former is a parallel port connected cable and the latter a
> USB port cable.  The performance of either cable will be a substantial
> improvement over the xchecker cable.
> 

I am user of both cables, and I have to make a note: If you are not sure
that your parallel port is 100% ECP compatible, go for the USB cable. It
is more expensive, but it works everyhere

Zara