FreeBSD_Xilinx [FreeBSD WIKI]

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====== Working with Xilinx FPGAs on FreeBSD ======

This page documents steps necessary to get Xilinx ISE 11.1
IDE running on %%FreeBSD%% 9 system. Please contact [[/WojciechKoszek|WojciechKoszek]]
if information found here didn't let you to get Xilinx FPGA
toolkit working, are inappropriate or obsolete.

Note that the newer Xilinx Vivado Design Suite uses Java, including the xsetup installer.
Unfortunately I ([[/RebeccaCran|RebeccaCran]]) haven't been able to get it to work on %%FreeBSD%% 11.1 since java (%%OpenJRE%% 8) segfaults as the installer starts.

===== Introduction to free Xilinx ISE environment =====

ISE %%WebPack%% is a free variant of ISE Design Suite supporting
most popular FPGA chips manufactured by Xilinx. This version
should be enough for you in most of the cases and its use will
be documented here.

Short theory behind the ISE and %%FreeBSD%% relationship -- Xilinx
delivers ISE binaries compiled for Linux machines. In %%FreeBSD%%,
we're able to get Linux binaries to work with a help of so called
Linuxolator -- Linux emulation layer present in the kernel and
within the base system.

Below, I present steps necessary to get your system prepared to
execute Linux binaries. Later, I show how to unpack, run and install
ISE environment step by step. I outline tasks necessary to get
FPGAs programmed. At the end, procedure of running couple of ISE
tools is documented.

===== System preparation =====

Linux emulation layer can either be enabled permanently in your kernel configuration
file, or be enabled by loading ''%%linux.ko%%'' kernel module:

<code>
# kldload linux.ko
</code>

Typical solution is to enable it through ''%%/boot/loader.conf%%'', to make it work just
after system startup:

<code>
linux_load="YES"
</code>

You can verify whether the module has been properly loaded by inspecting ''%%kldstat%%''
output:

<code>
# kldstat | grep linux
 2    2 0xc0aa1000 2e988    linux.ko
</code>

ISE installation tools require an access to the emulated Linux process file system.
You can mount it with a command:

<code>
mount -t linprocfs linprocfs /compat/linux/proc
</code>

You can verify whether the file system got properly mounted by inspecting ''%%mount%%''
output:

<code>
# mount | grep linprocfs
linprocfs on /compat/linux/proc (linprocfs, local)
</code>

Kernel-related part of Linux emulation enabling procedure should be finished
now. We still have to install Linux libraries necessary by ''%%xsetup%%'', installation
program.

This tutorial is being written with new, fresh %%FreeBSD%% 9-CURRENT system
running next to me. Apart from X11 and %%ViM%%, nothing has been installed.
Installer and command-line utilities as well as "ise" -- graphical frontend
require couple of ports installed:

<code>
(cd /usr/ports/emulators/linux_base-f10 && make install)
(cd /usr/ports/textproc/linux-f10-expat && make install)
(cd /usr/ports/x11-fonts/linux-f10-fontconfig && make install)
(cd /usr/ports/graphics/linux-f10-png && make install)
(cd /usr/ports/x11/linux-f10-xorg-libs && make install)
</code>

After installation, this is how ''%%/var/db/pkg%%'' look like:

<code>
%ls /var/db/pkg/ | grep linux
drwxr-xr-x    2 root  wheel   512 Jan  9 15:48 linux-f10-expat-2.0.1
drwxr-xr-x    2 root  wheel   512 Jan  9 15:48 linux-f10-fontconfig-2.6.0
drwxr-xr-x    2 root  wheel   512 Jan 12 02:09 linux-f10-png-1.2.37
drwxr-xr-x    2 root  wheel   512 Jan  9 15:48 linux-f10-xorg-libs-7.4_1
drwxr-xr-x    2 root  wheel   512 Jan  9 15:47 linux_base-f10-10_2
</code>

You can see full list of packages installed at a time of writing this tutorial here
(while most of ports has been installed as a part of %%ImageMagic%% installation, so
that obtaining screenshots could be possible):

[[[http://freebsd.czest.pl/~wkoszek/fpga/ports_for_xilinx_ise.txt]]]

Moreover, you are supposed to create dynamic link to ''%%/compat/linux/opt%%'' in your
main root directory:

<code>
# ln -s /compat/linux/opt /opt
</code>

**This will prevent you from running into "not enough disk space warning"**.

Basically, this is the end of Linuxolator preparation. Now, we're going to start
installation.

===== Obtaining Xilinx ISE environment =====

In order to obtain Xilinx ISE %%WebPack%%, you must visit this site:

[[http://www.xilinx.com/tools/!WebPack.htm]]

In order to proceed, one needs to have an account on the Xilinx
page. After successful account creation, you have to log in and
download %%WebPack%% package. Successful process should result in
having ''%%.tar%%'' file on your disk:

<code>
wkoszek@laptop:/media/Multimedia$ ls Xilinx_11.1_!WebPack_SFD.tar
-rw-r--r--  1 wkoszek  wkoszek  2868316160  5 paź 17:04 Xilinx_11.1_!WebPack_SFD.tar

</code>

There were numerous of reports about inability to install Xilinx ISE 11.1 on multiple
systems, including Microsoft Windows and GNU/Linux. While writing this tutorial,
several problems appeared as well. Most problems come from inappropriate archive file,
which may get destroyed due to connection interruption. This is checksum of the correct
file:

<code>
# md5 /home/wkoszek/Xilinx_11.1_!WebPack_SFD.tar 
MD5 (/home/wkoszek/Xilinx_11.1_!WebPack_SFD.tar) = 42ce70bd3f78e68295175db2441c8b3a
# sha1 /home/wkoszek/Xilinx_11.1_!WebPack_SFD.tar
SHA1 (/home/wkoszek/Xilinx_11.1_!WebPack_SFD.tar) =2b57b4fb00914e50d1b0a4d0a49e511ca56e85fb

</code>

**While you're logged in your profile on Xilinx page, you need to point a mouse pointer**
**to "File size" section in Download manager -- small window will show up and checksum**
**will be presented**

Most of the problems come from the lack of checksum verification. Remember about it, since
it can save you a lot of time.

Unpack the archive and change the directory:

<code>
# tar xf Xilinx_11.1_!WebPack_SFD.tar
# cd Xilinx_11.1_!WebPack_SFD
</code>

Apart from ''%%xsetup%%'', nice ''%%xinfo%%'' program is available for verifying,
that we can actually start X11 program in emulation, and we can observe
how our configuration actually look like:

<code>
# ./bin/lin/xinfo
</code>

Here's the exported information about my reference system:
[[[http://freebsd.czest.pl/~wkoszek/fpga/xinfo_ref9.txt]]]

===== Installation procedure =====

Having system and libraries prepared should let us to get the installer
running:

<code>
# ./bin/lin/xsetup 
</code>

| {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/1_welcome.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_1_welcome.jpg}}}} | {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/2_agreement2.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_2_agreement2.jpg}}}} |
| {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/3_agreement2.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_3_agreement2.jpg}}}} | {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/4_directory_selection.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_4_directory_selection.jpg}}}} |
| {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/5_products_selection.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_5_products_selection.jpg}}}} | {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/6_install_options.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_6_install_options.jpg}}}} |
| {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/7_install_options2.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_7_install_options2.jpg}}}} | {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/8_summary.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_8_summary.jpg}}}} |
| {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/9_license.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_9_license.jpg}}}} | {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/10_license2.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_10_license2.jpg}}}} |
| {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/11_update.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_11_update.jpg}}}} | As a result, you should have following message displayed at the end. \\  {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/12_success.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_12_success.jpg}}}} |

And basically, ISE installation should be ready.

| On reference system..: \\  {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/13_ise.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_13_ise.jpg}}}} |

In order to let you to work with Xilinx command line tools, you can use preprepared
shell scripts ''%%settings32.csh%%'' (for CSH) and ''%%settings32.sh%%'' (for sh-alike shells)
living in ''%%/compat/linux/opt/Xilinx/11.1%%''. You need to modify a path stating where
to find the tools from:

<code>
set INSTALL_LOC="/opt/Xilinx/11.1"
</code>

to

<code>
set INSTALL_LOC="/compat/linux/opt/Xilinx/11.1/"
</code>

I've put:

<code>
source /compat/linux/opt/Xilinx/11.1/settings32.csh
</code>

Into my ''%%~/.cshrc%%'' script.

===== FPGA processor programming =====

Once you have software tools working it would be quite nice to
see that you can actually upload something to your FPGA board and have
a proof that it actually works.

Due to the popularity of the FPGA development boards we can distinguish
two cases here:

**A**. You're Xilinx Spartan 3e Starter Kit (S3ESK) user

**B**. You're other FPGA board user

//B isn't documented here (yet), because author doesn't have any bigger standalone FPGA board (yet)//

Option A is quite comfortable, since this board is really popular and a lot
of people has been dealing with it in UNIXish systems. You just take
a bitstream targeted against Spartan 3e500 (fg320 variant) and you stream
it through the programming application, that deals with USB communication.
//Option B will be documented in the future//

Anyway, in order to start programming, you have to prepare your JTAG
cable..

==== Xilinx FPGA programming tools: background ====

Xilinx based its programming functionality on FX2 chip (also known as EZ-USB),
nowadays made by Cypress. This chip is a 8051 microcontroller with USB support.
It  supports reenumeration -- processor implements special kind of
protocol that lets a user to submit '51 machine code which is being used to
to program microcontroller. Once done, it detaches from the USB bus and
attaches back as a different, 'target' device. Together with modularity,
some problems exist. You have to have a software for uploading firmware
to the chip.

I brought a support for ''%%libusb%%'' to the latest version of fxload(8) tool.
Testing confirmed that I can program it on GNU/Linux and %%FreeBSD%% after
my changes. Here's a Git command that will let you to synchronize with
a code:

<code>

git clone http://freebsd.czest.pl/~wkoszek/fpga/fxload-multios.git

</code>

You must have ''%%gmake%%'' on your system to build it -- it's pretty straight
forward:

<code>
gmake
</code>

It should compile cleanly on %%FreeBSD%% 8/9. Mail me otherwise.
Once you have ''%%fxload(8)%%'' working, you can reprogram your FX2 chip with
correct firmware. File:

<code>
/compat/linux/opt/Xilinx/11.1/ISE/bin/lin/xusbdfwu.rules
</code>

Has enough information for particular cases. You simply look at ''%%usbconfig%%''
output:

<code>
wkoszek@laptop:/compat/linux/opt/Xilinx/11.1/ISE/bin/lin# usbconfig 
ugen0.1: <OHCI root HUB nVidia> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=FULL (12Mbps) pwr=ON
ugen1.1: <EHCI root HUB nVidia> at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
ugen1.2: <USB2.0 Syntek> at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
ugen0.2: <Optical USB Mouse Logitech> at usbus0, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=LOW (1.5Mbps) pwr=ON
ugen1.3: <product 0x000d vendor 0x03fd> at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON
</code>

As you see, the last line has something in common with following line from
''%%xusbdfwu.rules%%'':

<code>
BUS=="usb", ACTION=="add", SYSFS{idVendor}=="03fd", SYSFS{idProduct}=="000d", RUN+="/sbin/fxload -v -t fx2 -I /usr/share/xusb_emb.hex -D $TEMPNODE"
</code>

Finally, we craft a set of command line options:

<code>
./fxload -v -t fx2 -I /compat/linux/opt/Xilinx/11.1/ISE/bin/lin/xusb_emb.hex -D vid=0x03fd,pid=0x000d
</code>

After successful programming, you should see that USB device detached and that
different device should reappear as:

<code>
ugen1.3: <XILINX XILINX> at usbus1, cfg=0 md=HOST spd=HIGH (480Mbps) pwr=ON        
</code>

If you want to check ''%%fxload%%'' out but you don't have Xilinx ISE installed
yet, you have sample firmware for Spartan 3e Starter Kit here:

<code>
http://freebsd.czest.pl/~wkoszek/fpga/xusb_emb.hex
</code>

Green LED should blink first and get permanently turned on after
that. If something else happens, mail me. LED is basically a sign
of correct programming.

==== Programming from Impact (2010-02-x, WIP: skip for now, please) ====

Starting from 9.2i Alpha release, Xilinx ISE brings native userspace,
libusb-based driver for their cables.

//it has been proven to be possible to get it to work in %%FreeBSD%% 9-CURRENT. We simply compile our ''%%libusb%%'' on Linux and install it in the Linuxolator. It had to be modified to use our ioctl() commands, but conflict within command space exists. There's an ongoing work related with investigating, what's the best way to bring support for Linux USB in the %%FreeBSD%%//

| {{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/ise_after_programming.jpg?linkonly|{{electronics/fpga/freebsd_xilinx/thumb_ise_after_programming.jpg}}}} |

//note about finding out a firmware for FX2 programmer//
//note about searching through the udev configuration to see which file is the right one//

**So basically -- not yet.**

Before Xilinx started to ship , where was a kernel driver that never worked for anyone, until a reverse engineered driver for GNU/Linux for ''%%libusb%%'' appeared here: http://rmdir.de/~michael/xilinx/ //still needs checking--worth//
//for people with parallel cables//

==== Programming without proprietary tools ====

Number of "open" programming tools exist. To save you
some time, I enlist tools known to me with functionality provided
by them:

  * [1] Probably first tool to program S3ESK out-of-IDE was: http://www.rogerstech.force9.co.uk/xc3sprog/index.html, but you won't be really happy with it unless you use parallel JTAG cable.

  * [2] Andrew Rogers' work has been extended by "Inisyn Research" by bringing libUSB support. Project is called XUP: http://inisyn.org/src/xup/. It works (needs some hacks for %%FreeBSD%%).

  * [3] Above projects has been consolidated into one big program by Uwe Bonnes. The project is hosted on %%SourceForge%%: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xc3sprog/ Compiles and works under %%FreeBSD%%.

**WARNING: as you see, name "xc3sprog" has been reused number of times; below, "xc3sprog" only**
**refers to the [3] project by Uwe Bonnes. The other two aren't supported, as I believe no further**
**development happens there.**

So, in order to have ''%%xc3sprog%%'', the best way is to obtain the fresh copy straight from the
Subversion:

<code>
svn co https://xc3sprog.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/xc3sprog xc3sprog
</code>

And build it:

<code>
cd xc3sprog/trunk
mkdir build ; cd build ; cmake .. ; gmake
</code>

=== Quick start with xc3sprog ===

Default behavior of ''%%xc3sprog%%'' is to use parallel cable
and perform JTAG scan.

**Report to Uwe that it's actually wrong nowadays**

Anyway, for Xilinx cables, you can do a JTAG boundary scan
with:

<code>
./xc3sprog -c xpc
</code>

Programming:

<code>
./xc3sprog -c xpc <file.bit>
</code>

For those without Xilinx ISE yet, but willing to test whether everything
works, I have provided sample bitstream for Spartan 3E Starter Kit implementing
LED ruler

<code>
http://freebsd.czest.pl/~wkoszek/fpga/leds.bit
</code>

Checksums, just in case:

  * MD5: 1b58146048ede072c9bca9815587974f
  * SHA1: c675f524ade7bc729772b4850274a10192f95b23

Let me know if something doesn't work for you! I'd like you
to explicitly agree to put your name in a "Success stories".

==== Success stories ====

Programmers:

  * PCIII -- parallel cable III
  * XUSB_EMB -- Startan 3E Starter Kit embedded USB JTAG cable

^ Board ^ Cable ^ Program ^ Command line ^ Contributor ^ Additional notes ^
| [[http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,400,799&Prod=S3BOARD|S3BOARD]] | PCIII | [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/xc3sprog/|xc3sprog]] | ''%%xc3sprog -d /dev/ppi0 -i BIT file.bit -i MCS file.mcs%%'' | Grzegorz Behrens | Removing 'Missing power' block is necessary from ioparallel.cpp |
| S3ESK | XUSB_EMB | [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/xc3sprog/|xc3sprog]] | ''%%xc3sprog -c xpc <file.bit>%%'' | wkoszek@ | Some warnings appear while ''%%xc3sprog%%'' operation. Reported to the author. |

===== Before publishing announcement =====

  * bring fxload to mainstream development branch
    * prepare a port
    * check if ezload provides some more functionality for FX2
  * ''%%devd.conf%%'' rules for cables
  * mark "quick" steps with red background 
  * prepare command line options for ise
  * prepare tar.gzs for cross-checking
  * prepare scripts
  * prepare PROM programming example

==== Ideas ====

* Explore possibilities of %%CableServer%%

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