ADM-XRC SDK 2.8.1 User Guide (Linux)
© Copyright 2001-2009 Alpha Data


Flash utility

WARNING

Care should be exercised when using the Flash utility. Storing an invalid bitstream in the Flash memory may cause a card to be damaged when the FPGA loads from Flash on power-up.

Model support

ModelSupported
ADM-XRC
ADM-XRC-P
ADM-XRC-II-Lite 
ADM-XRC-II
ADM-XPL
ADM-XP
ADP-WRC-II
ADP-DRC-II
ADP-XPI
ADM-XRC-4LX
ADM-XRC-4SX
ADM-XRC-4FX
ADPE-XRC-4FX
ADM-XRC-5LX
ADM-XRC-5T1
ADM-XRC-5T2
ADM-XRC-5T2-ADV
ADM-XRC-5TZ
ADM-XRC-5T-DA1

Overview

Flash is a utility that allows programming, verification and erasing of the Flash memory on a reconfigurable computing card. The utility can be used to blank-check the Flash, erase the Flash, program a bitstream into the Flash or verify that a particular bitstream has been programmed into the Flash.

Syntax
flash [options ...] chkblank
flash [options ...] erase
flash [options ...] program <BIT filename>
flash [options ...] verify <BIT filename>
Options

Option Argument type Meaning
-card base 10 integer ID of card to open
-failsafe n/a Command applies to normal image (default, see below)
+failsafe n/a Command applies to failsafe image (see below)
-index base 10 integer Index of card to open

Description

The Flash utility has four commands:

An "image" is defined to be a region of Flash memory designated for holding an FPGA bitstream that is used to configure the target FPGA at power-on. If the image is empty, then the target FPGA is not configured from it at power-on (unless the failsafe image is non-empty - see below).

Some models feature a failsafe image that is automatically loaded at power-on, should the normal image be blank. The failsafe image is a "null bitstream" that does nothing but configure the DCMs in a Virtex-4 device, and on Virtex-4 FX devices, also configures the MGTs. This bitstream is required because of NBTI issues in Virtex-4. On applicable models, Alpha Data programs a factory default "null bitstream" into the failsafe image, and overwriting it is not recommended. For an overview of the NBTI issue in Virtex-4, refer to Xilinx answer 21127. On such models, the normal and failsafe images can be blank-checked, erased, programmed and verified independently of each other. In other words, performing a blank-check, erase, program or verification on one image has no effect on the other image. Therefore, in day-to-day operation, end users should not need to use the +failsafe option.

 


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