downlaoding bit files to Xilinx FPGA

Hi All
I want to download bit file to the FPGA to program it w/out using any
GUIs like the JTAG programmer. I need to write some kind of APIs for
this. Could anyone suggest how to do this and what would be the kind of
interface required for the same. please help
Anuja

"Anuja" <thakkar.anuja@gmail.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:1127419460.738414.320340@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> Hi All
> I want to download bit file to the FPGA to program it w/out using any

Every datasheet explains the serial downloading procedure. Very easy to do.
Also downloading via JTAG isnt too difficult. Have a look into the xapps.

Regards
Falk

Anuja,

I am not familiar with other vendor's tools, but Xilinx's Impact has a
batch interface.  If you just want a way to automate programming, you
can use Impact w/o the GUI.

Stephen

Anuja wrote:
> Hi All
> I want to download bit file to the FPGA to program it w/out using any
> GUIs like the JTAG programmer. I need to write some kind of APIs for
> this. Could anyone suggest how to do this and what would be the kind of
> interface required for the same. please help
> Anuja

i dont want to use Impact.. the project requires me to write APIs in C
code such that i can download the bit file w/out using any special
software

I went through all the xapps but i dont think they have mentioned
clearly.. also i am trying to code in C .. one thing i dont understand
is .. if i code in C .. how is the JTAG cable going to understand the
commnads or the signals to be sent ??

Anuja -

Xilinx has a sample program called 'playxsvf' that you can customize
to your environment.

You use the normal Xilinx tools to create your bitfile, then convert it
to a .xsvf file.  This is the file that playxsvf downloads.

You can get the source code from the Xilinx web site, I believe it
came with one of their app notes.  You then need to modify the source
code to work in your environment.

I've modified the original code from Xilinx to work in several
different
environments including one with some dedicated hardware to do the
bit shifting.

So look around for playxsvf!

John Providenza

Anuja -

I found the XIlinx App note that describes playxsvf  - look for XAPP058


John Providenza

"Anuja" <thakkar.anuja@gmail.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:1127483599.347945.252720@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I went through all the xapps but i dont think they have mentioned
> clearly.. also i am trying to code in C .. one thing i dont understand
> is .. if i code in C .. how is the JTAG cable going to understand the
> commnads or the signals to be sent ??

To access the parallel port or USB, you need a driver.

Regards
Falk

can u get these drivers online or do u have to create one?

On 23 Sep 2005 06:51:59 -0700, "Anuja" <thakkar.anuja@gmail.com> wrote:
>i dont want to use Impact.. the project requires me to write APIs in C
>code such that i can download the bit file w/out using any special
>software

Well, even the code you write is "special"  :-)

You may find the following helpful:

   http://www.fpga-faq.org/FAQ_Pages/0038_Config_FPGA_from_a_processor.htm

Basically, you need some type of interface from your software to
the FPGA hardware for configuration, JTAG is an example, and
the Xilinx Serial Slave mode is another. The serial slave mode
is the simplest. you need a clocl line, a data line, a program line,
and a way to read back done and init. With software you shift the
data out 1 bit at a time to the data pin, and you make the clock
signal go high and low with software too. This is how the old
Xilinx parallel download cable works (for both serial slave and
JTAG modes).

You should be totally confused by now. Let me try and help:

The parallel download cable is called parallel because it
uses the parallel port of the PC. BUT it is used to send
data serially (one bit at a time) by directly controlling
turning various bits of the parallel data on and off. One
of these bit is used as the serial slave clock, and another
is used for serial slave data.

Have a look here at what Xilinx has inside their cable:

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

Once you understand this, everything else is easy   :-)

Philip



Philip Freidin
Fliptronics