Using Linaro Linux and programming PL

Hi,

I am relatively new to FPGA programming and I have a really simple question.

I have managed to boot Linaro UBUNTU on ZEDBoard from the SD card using the following guide:

http://svenand.blogdrive.com/archive/199.html#.VGvS3qEZW1E

It looks great! However, I cannot understand how I can have the PL programmed AND at the same time have Linaro UBUNTU running. For example, how can I program the PL side while booting AND run ubuntu on the PS side.

My target: what I want to do is process a signal on the PL side that is fed into the PL logic from a PMOD. Then the PL processes the signal and feeds it to the PS (running ubuntu). Then ubuntu decodes the signal and processes it (example: a video signal that is decoded by gstreamer on the PS and viewed on the monitor).

Thank you in advance,

Nick

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0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Hi,

After reading a few threads in the forum what I understand is that the PL can be programmed from the PS side after PS has boot-ed up.

I found these useful :
http://forums.xilinx.com/t5/Embedded-Linux/Zynq-Loading-bitfile-into-FPGA-from-Linux-xdevcfg/td-p/237850/page/4
http://zedboard.org/content/it-possible-program-pl-linux-running-ps-after-linux-have-booted

Based on the discussions in the above links, one can simply cat the bit file to /dev/xdevcfg to program the PL from the PS side. A couple of questions:

1) Do I need to convert the .bit file to .bin as mentioned in a few of the posts? Is that conversion the 'bit reversing' (why is it needed?) ? Is this the command:
bootgen u2013image bootimage.bif u2013split bin u2013o I boot.bin
(How is the .bif file generated in the first place?)

2) As I understand the design (.bit or .bin file) loaded into the PL should contain the bits and pieces (cores) that support the linux system. For example, display drivers and the processor core. If not then the OS (UBUNTU) system will crash as soon as PL programming finishes. Question:
Where do I find the design used to build up the bitstream used in order to support the Linaro UBUNTU linux OS I downloaded from here:
http://releases.linaro.org/12.09/ubuntu/precise-images/ubuntu-desktop

( linaro-precise-ubuntu-desktop-20120923-436.tar.gz )?
I assume I need to extend this design in order to include my design.

Please do correct me if anything mentioned in this post is wrong. If there is a different way to program the PL at boot up please advise me.

Thank you in advance.
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0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Hi,

After reading a few threads in the forum what I understand is that the PL can be programmed from the PS side after PS has boot-ed up.

I found these useful :
http://forums.xilinx.com/t5/Embedded-Linux/Zynq-Loading-bitfile-into-FPGA-from-Linux-xdevcfg/td-p/237850/page/4
http://zedboard.org/content/it-possible-program-pl-linux-running-ps-after-linux-have-booted

Based on the discussions in the above links, one can simply cat the bit file to /dev/xdevcfg to program the PL from the PS side. A couple of questions:

1) Do I need to convert the .bit file to .bin as mentioned in a few of the posts? Is that conversion the 'bit reversing' (why is it needed?) ? Is this the command:
bootgen u2013image bootimage.bif u2013split bin u2013o I boot.bin
(How is the .bif file generated in the first place?)

2) As I understand the design (.bit or .bin file) loaded into the PL should contain the bits and pieces (cores) that support the linux system. For example, display drivers and the processor core. If not then the OS (UBUNTU) system will crash as soon as PL programming finishes. Question:
Where do I find the design used to build up the bitstream used in order to support the Linaro UBUNTU linux OS I downloaded from here:
http://releases.linaro.org/12.09/ubuntu/precise-images/ubuntu-desktop

( linaro-precise-ubuntu-desktop-20120923-436.tar.gz )?
I assume I need to extend this design in order to include my design.

Please do correct me if anything mentioned in this post is wrong. If there is a different way to program the PL at boot up please advise me.

Thank you in advance.
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