XUP-V2Pro HOWTO 1

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The XUP-V2Pro includes an on-board PROM that can be used as a source to configure the FPGA. The XUP-V2Pro User Guide provides details on programming the PROM but is specific to an out of date version of iMPACT. This HOWTO provides a similar procedure but is more up to date.

• Creating a PROM File
• Configuring the PROM
• Settings for Configuring from the PROM

Note: This HOWTO uses Xilinx ISE version 8.2i

• Creating a PROM File

The first stage is to create a PROM file from the FPGA configuration bit stream file. Make sure you have your finished bit file ready.

Note: The PROM can hold multiple bit streams, called revisions. As delivered, revision 0 holds a 'Golden' design that can be loaded for testing the board. However, the slot for revision 1 is free for your own design. This is the slot you'll load your design into.

Stage 1

Start iMPACT, if you get a warning about Access Permissions, just click OK. Also, if prompted to load or create a project, click Cancel.

To start the creation of the PROM file, double click PROM File Formatter.

Stage 2

• Select PROM Supporting Multiple Design Versions.
• Select XCFP PROM with Design Revisioning from the drop down box.
• Make sure the PROM file format is set to MCS.
• Choose a name for the PROM File that will be generated.

Stage 3

• Set Number of Revisions to 2.
• Set the PROM type to XCFP - xcf32p.
• Click the ADD button.

Stage 4

This dialog just summerises your options, just click Finish.

Stage 5

You'll now start assigning device files to the different revision slots. It seems you have to specify a file for Slot 0, even if you don't want to load anything into that location. However, when you come to configure the PROM you can deselect the writing of that slot.

Stage 6

Navigate to and select your design bit file, then click Open.

Stage 7

Depending on the startup clock you specified when you created your design, you may be issued with the adjacent warning. You can safely ignore the warning.

Stage 8

Answer no to adding more files for slot 0.

Stage 9

You will now be prompted to add files for the revision 1 slot. Follow the same stages as before:

• Navigate to and select your design bit file for the revision 1 slot, then click Open.
• Select No to adding more design files to Revision 1.

Stage 10

You've now finished speicifying the source files for your PROM file. Just click OK

Stage 11

The final stage is actually create the PROM file. Select Operations->Generate File.

Stage 12

Answer No to compressing the file.

• Configuring the PROM

Having created the PROM file, you now have to load it into the PROM IC.

Stage 1

To start the PROM configuration process:

• Double click Boundary Scan.
• Right click on the chain window and select Initialize Chain.

Hopefully the display will show the three devices that make up the contents of XUP-V2Pro's JTAG chain.

Stage 2

You will now be prompted for devices files for each device on the chain. The PROM is first, so select the .mcs file and click Open. When prompted for the next two devices, click Bypass.

Stage 3

To start the program process, right click on the PROM image (the first in the chain) and select Program.

Stage 4

The final stage is to setup the Programming Options. Make sure that Parallel Mode is selected.

Stage 5

Make sure PROM is slave is selected.

Stage 6

Select the Rev 1 slot. Also, select the erase option to remove the slot's previous contents. Click OK when all the settings have been made.

Stage 7

The PROM will now be programmed.

• Settings for Configuring from the PROM

The last stage is to set the board to configure the FPGA using the configuration stored in the PROM.

• Switch the board off.
• Select the User PROM setting by switching bit 1 of SW9 on (up).
• Switch the board on, the configuration should load.