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The Xilinx EDK Toolset: Xilinx Platform Studio (XPS) : Building A Base System Platform

The document discusses the Xilinx EDK Toolset and Xilinx Platform Studio (XPS) which are used to build embedded processing systems on FPGAs. XPS allows the user to design the hardware platform by selecting a processor, peripherals, and connecting them. It then allows the creation of software to run on the platform. The user can iterate on both the hardware and software design. The document provides steps to get started with a basic design in XPS including selecting a board and processor, adding peripherals, and how to compile and run a simple application to test the system. It also describes how to monitor software execution and create new applications.

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Srinivas Cheruku
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128 views9 pages

The Xilinx EDK Toolset: Xilinx Platform Studio (XPS) : Building A Base System Platform

The document discusses the Xilinx EDK Toolset and Xilinx Platform Studio (XPS) which are used to build embedded processing systems on FPGAs. XPS allows the user to design the hardware platform by selecting a processor, peripherals, and connecting them. It then allows the creation of software to run on the platform. The user can iterate on both the hardware and software design. The document provides steps to get started with a basic design in XPS including selecting a board and processor, adding peripherals, and how to compile and run a simple application to test the system. It also describes how to monitor software execution and create new applications.

Uploaded by

Srinivas Cheruku
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Xilinx EDK Toolset: Xilinx Platform Studio (XPS)

Building a base system platform

What Is Xilinx EDK?

EDK = Embedded Development Kit. It is a set of tools used for building embedded processing systems. I.E. Systems-On-Chip (SoCs)

Processors (PowerPC, MicroBlaze) Interconnect (PLB, OPB, FSL, etc.) Memories (BRAM, DDR) Peripherals (UART, Ethernet, Custom cores)

Running processes to implement a design.


Simulation Synthesis Compilation

How Do I Use Xilinx EDK?

Xilinx Platform Studio (XPS) - the actual tool.


Design

flow

First, create the hardware platform Select all of the peripherals Connect peripherals Second, create the software for the platform Write software to make things work

Iterate

if needed

The FPGA has a malleable fabric

So both hardware and software are flexible and can be changed


At compile-time At run-time (dynamic reconfiguration)

How To Get Started

Open up XPS Create a new project.


Select File, New Project Select Base System Builder

Provides a wizard to help get the basic parts of the system established.

Click OK

Building The Base System


Set the project file name.

Make sure the absolute path doesnt have any spaces. Do not use a .BSB file. Xilinx, Spartan-3 Starter Board (E)

Create a new design from scratch.

Select the development board.

Select the processor unit.


MicroBlaze. Use all of the default settings EXCEPT

Enable the cache link.

Select which peripherals to include.

Use all of the defaults. Make both instructions and data cacheable (iCache & dCache). Use all of the defaults.

Cache setup.

Software setup.

Base System Assembly View

How To Run An Application

Select the TestApp_Memory application.


Compile

the sources for the application

Right click on it and select Build Application

Execute the test on the base system platform.


This

requires the following to be combined

Hardware bitstream (.bit) Software executable (.elf)

This

is done by selecting Device Configuration.

Update Bitstream - combines HW/SW (.bit + .elf). Download Bitstream - downloads the configuration to the board.

Monitoring Software Execution On The FPGA

How do you see what is happening on the FPGA?


Normally

in software you use print() statements. The output goes to the screen.

In this system, STDIN/STDOUT are routed to the serial port.


We

must monitor the serial port from an external host to see what is happening.

In order to see what is executing


Open

up a terminal window

Minicom (Linux) Hyperterminal (Windows)

Setup

the correct communication parameters (baud rate = 9600).

Creating New Software Applications


Select Software
Click

on Add Software Application Project. choose which CPU to run the application on (MicroBlaze).

Enter the new project name.


Also,

Now a new application tab entry will appear.


You

can add/create sources for this new application.

In order to run this new application


Right

click on it Select Mark to initialize BRAMs

Instructs the tool that this application is to be added to the bitstream.

Now,

when updating the bitstream, this application will be added.

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