Recommended JTAG adapter for use with Vivado on Linux?

(NOTE: This question is about the MicroZed, not the ZedBoard.)

I'm the proud owner of a new MicroZed kit and planning to install Vivado 2014.1 on my Linux desktop when it releases. I still need to buy a JTAG adapter.

Being new to all of this, I'm confused about my options. I would have assumed JTAG is JTAG is JTAG, but apparently not, and I need a particular type of JTAG adapter to talk to the MicroZed board? (I have no problem rewiring a cable, so differences in connectors and pinouts are no problem.)

I saw that the Digilent cables are recommended. Are these well supported in Vivado under Linux? Will I have to install weirdo binary blobs (apart from Vivado that is) to make them work? Are there other non-Xilinx choices? What about those cheapie Xilinx/Altera cables on Ebay? What about other generic JTAG cables?

Bonus points if:
1) the same JTAG cable can be used for other purposes, i.e. debugging other embedded systems.
2) the JTAG cable is supported by free software like OpenOCD, and not restricted to use with Xilinx tools.

Thanks,

Mark

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

As you mention we recommend the HS2 if you don't already have one. This is the cable that we have been using for board and tutorial development. This cable also works with the MicroZed Carrier Cards.
http://www.em.avnet.com/jtaghs2

I find the flex adapter cable is convenient as well: http://www.em.avnet.com/en-us/design/drc/Pages/HS2-Cable-Adapter.aspx

As to drivers under Linux, one of our forum members, Sven Andersson, has a blog where he goes through the process of building a ZedBoard design. His development platform is Ubuntu running under a virtual machine. He has been successful in installing and using the JTAG drivers in his Ubuntu 13.10 64 bit installation. While he is using the ZedBoard, it has the same Digilent circuit the HS2 does. Here is his post on the forum:

http://www.zedboard.org/content/zynq-design-scratch

And here is a link to his blog: www.zynqfromscratch.com

I can't speak to the generic cables or support for other software. Perhaps other forum members can comment.

-Gary
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Verify Answer

Cancel
0 Former Member over 11 years ago

I'm using the HS2 JTAG with Vivado 2014.1 on Kubuntu 14.04 with no issues. Some minor hassles with a path name for the Digilent installer scripts.
I'm programming the chip, debugging code etc all fine.

I suspect (but am not certain) that the drivers for this are already in Vivado and that the Digilent install script, while adding some libraries, just fixed udev issues (...)

The extra $3.50 for the flex cable well worth it.

Digilent has a SDK for the HS2; libraries to allow you to do Buspirate style stuff. I've not played with it.
At some point I'll try using something else (eg: Buspirate) for curiosities sake if nothing else.
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Verify Answer

Cancel
0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Aside from being cheaper, does the Digilent HS2 have any advantage over the Xilinx Platform USB cable that I already have?
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Verify Answer

Cancel
0 Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

Your Xilinx Platform USB cable should be just as capable. The HS2 is smaller and, depending on the which Platform USB cable you have, it might be faster. Our recommendation is for those that do not have a programming cable.

-Gary
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Verify Answer

Cancel
0 Former Member over 11 years ago

I am using the Digilent HS1 cable together with Ubuntu 13.10. See my "Zynq Design From Scratch" blog for more information:
http://svenand.blogdrive.com/archive/205.html
http://svenand.blogdrive.com/archive/172.html

Sven
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Verify Answer

Cancel
0 Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member

Could you give me the proper path name for Digilent installer scripts. thank you so much
Cancel
Vote Up 0 Vote Down

Sign in to reply

Verify Answer

Cancel