Altera configuring/programming for FLEX10KE with EPC2 - sof or pof?

I want to configure/program an Altera FLEX EPF10K30ETC144-3 + EPC2LC20
using files I've generated using Quartus for the same devices. I want
to use JTAG to interface to the devices using my ByteBlaster II. I have
carefully followed all Altera directions in generating the files and
designing the circuit with the devices on a PCB. My 2 questions are:

1) What is the difference between "configuring" and "programming" in
this context?

2) What file should I use to configure/program? .sof or .pof or both?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I inherited the code and PCB
from another team that were using everything successfully. All I'm
trying to do is reprogram a new FPGA on the same PCB with the same
files. Unfortunately I do not have any contact with that team any more
for help.

-Jim

Hello Jim,

) Configuring refers to the loading information into the FPGA.
Programming refers to loading information into the EPC2 flash memory
device.

2) Quartus II software uses the SOF file to configure the FPGA with a
download cable.  The POF file is used to program the EPC2 device.

Hope this helps.
Subroto Datta
Altera Corp.



jasimpson@gmail.com wrote:
> I want to configure/program an Altera FLEX EPF10K30ETC144-3 + EPC2LC20
> using files I've generated using Quartus for the same devices. I want
> to use JTAG to interface to the devices using my ByteBlaster II. I have
> carefully followed all Altera directions in generating the files and
> designing the circuit with the devices on a PCB. My 2 questions are:
>
> 1) What is the difference between "configuring" and "programming" in
> this context?
>
> 2) What file should I use to configure/program? .sof or .pof or both?
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated. I inherited the code and PCB
> from another team that were using everything successfully. All I'm
> trying to do is reprogram a new FPGA on the same PCB with the same
> files. Unfortunately I do not have any contact with that team any more
> for help.
> 
> -Jim

Thanks Subroto. I'm using Quartus with Byteblaster II to program the
EPC2 using JTAG. I have the EPC2 configured (using the .pof file) to
then configure the FLEX10K using Passive Serial mode. (I never use the
.sof file and I can't talk to the FPGA directly  anyways.)

But this is the problem that I'm having now:

The configuration cycle state machine seems to be getting stuck in the
Configuration state thereby never getting to the user-mode. I suspect
this because my CONF_DONE is low and nSTATUS is high. Also, all my
output pins seem to be high (or tri-stated).

The FPGAs were working fine and I hadn't programmed the EPC2 more than
a handful of times, but one fine morning it just randomly stopped
working. I have other spare boards running the same configuration and
code and they've been working fine for over a year.

Thanks again,
Jim

Subroto Datta wrote:
> Hello Jim,
>
> ) Configuring refers to the loading information into the FPGA.
> Programming refers to loading information into the EPC2 flash memory
> device.
>
> 2) Quartus II software uses the SOF file to configure the FPGA with a
> download cable.  The POF file is used to program the EPC2 device.
>
> Hope this helps.
> Subroto Datta
> Altera Corp.
>
>
>
> jasimpson@gmail.com wrote:
> > I want to configure/program an Altera FLEX EPF10K30ETC144-3 + EPC2LC20
> > using files I've generated using Quartus for the same devices. I want
> > to use JTAG to interface to the devices using my ByteBlaster II. I have
> > carefully followed all Altera directions in generating the files and
> > designing the circuit with the devices on a PCB. My 2 questions are:
> >
> > 1) What is the difference between "configuring" and "programming" in
> > this context?
> >
> > 2) What file should I use to configure/program? .sof or .pof or both?
> >
> > Any help would be greatly appreciated. I inherited the code and PCB
> > from another team that were using everything successfully. All I'm
> > trying to do is reprogram a new FPGA on the same PCB with the same
> > files. Unfortunately I do not have any contact with that team any more
> > for help.
> > 
> > -Jim