Programming the Actel Smartfusion Eval Kit in Linux

Hi,

I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
running the windows Libero IDE under wine.

While the application runs fine under wine, I am not able to program the
device with the Flashpro software. Seems like it is not able to talk to the
programmer.

I know this is as much a wine issue, but i wanted to know if there is a
native software for linux which can be used to just program the device and
which supports smartfusion fpgas.

And which can work on the free gold license.

Thanks
Manish

	   
					
---------------------------------------		
Posted through http://www.FPGARelated.com

shoonya <manish.paradkar@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,

> I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
> running the windows Libero IDE under wine.

> While the application runs fine under wine, I am not able to program the
> device with the Flashpro software. Seems like it is not able to talk to the
> programmer.

> I know this is as much a wine issue, but i wanted to know if there is a
> native software for linux which can be used to just program the device and
> which supports smartfusion fpgas.

> And which can work on the free gold license.

How is the hardware connected (serial/parallel/USB). 
-- 
Uwe Bonnes                bon@elektron.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de

Institut fuer Kernphysik  Schlossgartenstrasse 9  64289 Darmstadt
--------- Tel. 06151 162516 -------- Fax. 06151 164321 ----------

>shoonya <manish.paradkar@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>
>> I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
>> running the windows Libero IDE under wine.
>
>> While the application runs fine under wine, I am not able to program
the
>> device with the Flashpro software. Seems like it is not able to talk to
the
>> programmer.
>
>> I know this is as much a wine issue, but i wanted to know if there is a
>> native software for linux which can be used to just program the device
and
>> which supports smartfusion fpgas.
>
>> And which can work on the free gold license.
>
>How is the hardware connected (serial/parallel/USB). 
>-- 
>Uwe Bonnes                bon@elektron.ikp.physik.tu-darmstadt.de
>
>Institut fuer Kernphysik  Schlossgartenstrasse 9  64289 Darmstadt
>--------- Tel. 06151 162516 -------- Fax. 06151 164321 ----------
>

Hi,

Here's the kit 
http://www.actel.com/products/hardware/devkits_boards/smartfusion_eval.aspx

It has to usb connections. One for power and uart - it uses the cp210x chip
from Silicon Labs. 

The other usb is for programming which has actel flaspro3 programmer.
I got a response from actel saying that flaspro is not supported in Linux
even though they have a linux version of Libero.

Beats me.

Regards
Manish	   
					
---------------------------------------		
Posted through http://www.FPGARelated.com

On 17 Jun., 15:11, "shoonya" <manish.paradkar@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com>
wrote:
[..]
> I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
> running the windows Libero IDE under wine.
>
> While the application runs fine under wine, I am not able to program the
> device with the Flashpro software. Seems like it is not able to talk to the
> programmer.
>
> I know this is as much a wine issue, but i wanted to know if there is a
> native software for linux which can be used to just program the device and
> which supports smartfusion fpgas.
.
First there is also a linux version of most tools in Libero. But it
has drawbacks in performance against windows. It might be that wine
+windows version shows better performance than linux native version of
the tools.

For programming there is only the windows version of the FlashPro. I
guess this is due to the fact that the programmer needs direct control
of the interface. At least the older versions of FlashPro required
admin rights for programming over parallel port. I have no experience
with wine, but expect that wine won't allow that direct access to the
hardware that FlashPro seems to require.

bye Thomas

>On 17 Jun., 15:11, "shoonya" <manish.paradkar@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com>
>wrote:
>[..]
>> I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
>> running the windows Libero IDE under wine.
>>
>> While the application runs fine under wine, I am not able to program
the
>> device with the Flashpro software. Seems like it is not able to talk to
the
>> programmer.
>>
>> I know this is as much a wine issue, but i wanted to know if there is a
>> native software for linux which can be used to just program the device
and
>> which supports smartfusion fpgas.
>.
>First there is also a linux version of most tools in Libero. But it
>has drawbacks in performance against windows. It might be that wine
>+windows version shows better performance than linux native version of
>the tools.
>
>For programming there is only the windows version of the FlashPro. I
>guess this is due to the fact that the programmer needs direct control
>of the interface. At least the older versions of FlashPro required
>admin rights for programming over parallel port. I have no experience
>with wine, but expect that wine won't allow that direct access to the
>hardware that FlashPro seems to require.
>
>bye Thomas
>

Hi Thomas,
 >For programming there is only the windows version of the FlashPro.
That is it. There is no native Linux version of Flashpro. :(

Wine will only allow direct access to the hardware if that hardware has a
native linux driver loaded.

Regards
Manish
	   
					
---------------------------------------		
Posted through http://www.FPGARelated.com

shoonya wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
> running the windows Libero IDE under wine.

I tried to install the Linux version of Libero, but gave up when it 
looked as though the tools would not work.

Next I tried Win XP pro under the open source version of O/Sun 
VirtualBox. Install was easy, but screen cramped, and couldn't use USB.

Finally installed the closed source version of VirtualBox. USB 
ports can be forwarded, and screen is larger once the windows and 
linux desktops are combined.

Both USB connections to my Igloo nano board were recognised by 
Windows, and looked usable, but have not yet done any serious 
development.

Jan Coombs

>shoonya wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
>> running the windows Libero IDE under wine.
>
>I tried to install the Linux version of Libero, but gave up when it 
>looked as though the tools would not work.
>
>Next I tried Win XP pro under the open source version of O/Sun 
>VirtualBox. Install was easy, but screen cramped, and couldn't use USB.
>
>Finally installed the closed source version of VirtualBox. USB 
>ports can be forwarded, and screen is larger once the windows and 
>linux desktops are combined.
>
>Both USB connections to my Igloo nano board were recognised by 
>Windows, and looked usable, but have not yet done any serious 
>development.
>
>Jan Coombs
>

Hi Jan,

I don't want to buy a windows license. I'll need it if I have to run it
under virtualbox.

The flaspro3 programmer is implemented in a proasic chip - if only they
provide a native linux driver for it.

So for now I have installed it on an old laptop with windows xp on it which
I have kept around for such situations :(.

Too bad the tools get in the way of developing things.

Regards
Manish

	   
					
---------------------------------------		
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On Jun 22, 9:39=A0am, "shoonya"
<manish.paradkar@n_o_s_p_a_m.n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com> wrote:
> >shoonya wrote:
> >> Hi,
>
> >> I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
> >> running the windows Libero IDE under wine.
>
> >I tried to install the Linux version of Libero, but gave up when it
> >looked as though the tools would not work.
>
> >Next I tried Win XP pro under the open source version of O/Sun
> >VirtualBox. Install was easy, but screen cramped, and couldn't use USB.
>
> >Finally installed the closed source version of VirtualBox. USB
> >ports can be forwarded, and screen is larger once the windows and
> >linux desktops are combined.
>
> >Both USB connections to my Igloo nano board were recognised by
> >Windows, and looked usable, but have not yet done any serious
> >development.
>
> >Jan Coombs
>
> Hi Jan,
>
> I don't want to buy a windows license. I'll need it if I have to run it
> under virtualbox.
>
> The flaspro3 programmer is implemented in a proasic chip - if only they
> provide a native linux driver for it.
>
> So for now I have installed it on an old laptop with windows xp on it whi=
ch
> I have kept around for such situations :(.
>
> Too bad the tools get in the way of developing things.
>
> Regards
> Manish
>

thats YOUR problem that you dont want to buy windows license
you can of course program actel chip under linux, but not with
flashpro, so its your choice, want flashpro, get windows, easy as
that.

windows license doesnt cost that much that it would a be real
problem to use proper FPGA tools (flashpro)

Antti
PS we have our own actel flash tools, and yes they have open
interface so they can be used under linux if anyone interested

shoonya wrote:

> I don't want to buy a windows license. I'll need it if I have to run it
> under virtualbox. 

If you can borrow an XP pro install disk, and get something out of 
a skip with an XP pro sticker on it, then you have done your part 
towards keeping windows alive!

Jan Coombs

On 17 Giu, 15:11, "shoonya" <manish.paradkar@n_o_s_p_a_m.gmail.com>
wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I recently got the Actel Smartfusion eval kit. Since I use Linux, I am
> running the windows Libero IDE under wine.
>
> While the application runs fine under wine, I am not able to program the
> device with the Flashpro software. Seems like it is not able to talk to t=
he
> programmer.
>
> I know this is as much a wine issue, but i wanted to know if there is a
> native software for linux which can be used to just program the device an=
d
> which supports smartfusion fpgas.
>
> And which can work on the free gold license.
>
> Thanks
> Manish
>
> --------------------------------------- =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0
> Posted throughhttp://www.FPGARelated.com


You could try  the 2 other ISP ways, DirectC and STAPL player. Both
shoudl work under linux.
   http://www.actel.com/download/program_debug/directc/default.aspx
   http://www.actel.com/download/program_debug/stapl/default.aspx

Regards, Fabio