• 4 - Exporting the Hardware

    jlbrian703/17/2019 at 20:09 0 comments

    Picking up where the last log entry left off, when I went on to the next tutorial on element14 and tried to export the hardware I was given this prompt:

    So click 'OK' and click the link on the left that says 'Generate Block Design' that will generate a pop-up.  I just clicked 'Generate' and kept the default settings.

    Once that task is complete you should see this dialog:

    Now the hardware can be exported.  More in the next log entry...

  • 3 - Clearing the Warnings

    jlbrian703/17/2019 at 20:02 0 comments

    The necessary file to download can be found here: https://www.micron.com/~/media/documents/products/sim-model/nor-flash/serial/bfm/n25q/n25q128a13e_3v_micronxip_vg12,-d-,tar.gz

    Once this file has been downloaded a folder named 'Micron_N25Q128A13E' should be created in <top_level>\hardware\m3_for_arty_a7\testbench, and the contents unzipped into the newly created folder.


    After the file has been unzipped navigate to <top_level>\hardware\m3_for_arty_a7\testbench\Micron_N25Q128A13E\sim and copy sfdp.vmf to  <top_level>\hardware\m3_for_arty_a7\testbench\ and restart Vivado, and load the project.

    The message dialog upon project load should now look like this:

    If you have the this board https://www.digikey.in/short/jv13rj then you will want to download this file: https://www.cypress.com/file/260026/download and extract it into <top_level>\hardware\m3_for_arty_a7\testbench and restart Vivado and reload the project.  If you do not have that board then you can just ignore the message.

    Now when the project is loaded and the Board diagram opened there should be no errors or warnings.  

  • 2 - Clearing the Errors

    jlbrian703/17/2019 at 19:15 0 comments

    The errors that were seen previously are because I did not have the board files loaded for the Arty board.  You can follow through the contents of this link and add the board files to Vivado: https://reference.digilentinc.com/reference/software/vivado/board-files?redirect=1

    Now starting back at square 1.  

    Delete the M3 top level folder, and unpack a fresh copy from the downloaded zip file in order to clear out any previously auto-generated files.

    Open Vivado, and open the M3 project again (you don't have to add the 'IP Repository Search Path' again.  This is retained.

    You will be greeted with the same warnings as before, but this is ok.

    Now, the 'Project Summary' should show a new section:

    Now the project summary shows the board is the target, whereas previously we were only targeting the chip.

    Now, click 'Open Block Design'.

    There should not be an error dialog, and you should see this diagram:

    no more floating pins.

  • 1 - Hello World

    jlbrian703/17/2019 at 19:02 0 comments

    I had read this tutorial, ordered my Arty board, and downloaded the Vivado Suite that the order gave me access to.  Then everything set there for 3 months untouched.  Today I came back to it, and this is my experience.

    Having done nothing other than download Vivado, and then following the tutorial I downloaded the Arm Cortex-M3 processor, and started Vivado. Under the 'Default IP Repository Search Path' Box I added the top level of the directory containing everything from the M3 download, it is looking for <top_level>\vivado\Arm_ipi_repository, but it seems to find it if you just point to the top level folder.

    Then click 'Open Project' and navigate to <top_level>/m3_for_arty_a7/m3_for_arty_a7/ and select and open 'm3_for_arty_a7.xpr'

    The following dialog box popped up upon loading the project:

    This can be safely ignored for now.

    What should be noted is the project summary, I am putting it here for reference, and will come back to its significance later:

    Now because I wanted to see what was in the tutorial I started clicking around to familiarize myself with the IDE.  The 'Open Block Design' link was what I was looking for.

    I was greeted with this dialog box:

    Upon Oking this dialog you will see the Diagram:

    Notice at the top right these pins are floating:

    This isn't of concern right now.  Upon completing the tutorial the 'Hello_World' program works fine.