hi there, I need a solution with fpga for a specific regulation purpose which may need to be updated with new firmware features. I am aware that xilinx zynq platforms provide this feature but the complexity seems high (and costs too). Is anyone aware of a PnPish solution to upgrade firmware in the field without programming adapters? For example I want to access a unit over a bus (Profibus or RS485) and perform a firmware upgrade using NI labview (I am aware of the security issues). Any ideas?
Usually you would provide an interface to the flash PROM from your FPGA and handle the programming of the flash with a simple interface to the FPGA: - erase flash command - write byte/block command - optional: read byte/block command for verify So you just send the erase and then program the bytes(if slow is no problem) or blocks with sequential writes, when the last write is done. If you already have a RS485 connection from a PC to your FPGA this is not too difficult. Just make sure, when designing the PCB, that you have the correct pins connected between FPGA and flash. Some interfaces are bidrectional: you can use the pins for configuration of the FPGA and later on read/write the flash from the FPGA. But that differs from one FPGA/Flash to another.
We use the solutions from http://www.fpga-cores.com for remote programming. However these cores use Ethernet for programming. Don't know if you can control the FPGA Programmer from NI Labview.
If an Altera/Intel is also possible, there is a wonderfully simple possibility: https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/programmable/us/en/pdfs/literature/ug/ug_altremote.pdf Almost as godlike as Trump.
Check for the XTP059 appnote at Xilinx, this also works for Kintex. However I am only aware of Ethernet based solution, not RS485
Hi, I've got a solution implemented on the Xilinx Spartan6 using the ICAP primitive, however it's Ethernet based. It simply acts as a bootloader ('golden' image) which will look for a valid image in the 'alternate bootstrap' flash area. That image can be written over Ethernet, likewise it would work on any other interface, it's just a matter of the protocol. I've got some basic LabVIEW support going, but haven't tested in system upgrade in particular. I'd strongly recommend a setup which features a CPU core. And: it's easy to lock yourself out.
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