How to program QSPI

In the u201CZedboard_boot_guide_IDS141_1_v1_1.pdfu201D it says that SDK does not work for programming QSPI and it provides a workaround to use u-boot. In the workaround it copies the BOOT.BIN from SD card to DDR3 then to QSPI flash.

In my production design there will be no SD card for cost reduction. Is there a working tool to directly program the boot image to QSPI from laptop?

Thank you.
Zack

0 zedhed over 12 years ago

Hi zack,

I believe that you can still reuse some of what is discussed in the "ZedBoard Configuration and Booting Guide v14.1" to download U-Boot via JTAG and execute it. Once U-Boot is running, I believe that you can also use XMD to download your QSPI image into DDR3 memory via JTAG as well. Once your QSPI image is in memory, then you can use U-Boot to program the QSPI using the same procedure found in the above document.

Another option that may be viable with higher volume products is to have your Flash memory parts pre-programmed before they go to your CM. Avnet actually has one of the largest programming centers in North America and this could save you technician time costs incurred during the programming stage on the factory floor.

Regards,

-Kevin
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0 zedhed over 12 years ago

Hi zack,

I also was able to download the Xilinx 14.3 tools and using the SDK menu item Xilinx Tools-->Program Flash I was able to successfully program the golden boot MCS image to QSPI using only my Platform II USB cable. For some reason, this programming option did not work with the on-board USB-JTAG though.

This could be another option for you to avoid using the SD card in order to program your production design.

Regards,

-Kevin
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0 zedhed over 12 years ago

Hi zack,

Of course, it is always helpful to actually plug in the on-board USB-JTAG cable in order for it to work properly. After doing this, I was able to program the QSPI flash properly using the same SDK option and the ZedBoard Digilent USB-JTAG device.

Regards,

-Kevin
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0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Thank you Kevin. Here's my report back.

Using a Platform Cable USB model DLC9G, I can program the QSPI from SDK menu Xilinx Tools-->Program Flash , both V14p2 and V14p3.

By setting the JTAG option to auto detect I do not see plug in the on-board one helps. I actually leave it unplugged.

The on-board JTAG still can not load flash in V14p3.

Thanks again.

-Zack
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0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Hey
I want programme my zedboard with hte files .bit and .elf I want load this files use the spi flash do have an idea ?
Best Regards.
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0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Hi tibacou
At zedboard.org, check the "Zynq Concepts, Tools, and Techniques on ZedBoard" under Projects -> Reference Designs/Tutorials.

There are examples for all boot options on Zedboard.
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0 Former Member over 11 years ago

As per title, has this been fixed in vivado so one can program the qspi directly
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0 Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

Acctually, base on my experience, From 2013.1, vivado could already succefully program qspi using sdk. I have test vivado 2013.1, 2013.2, 2013.3.

Please try it.

But the bad thing is that using sf write command from u-boot, could not succesfully write the image file to qspi.
I used sf read and md command to verify the image that have been writen into the flash, the result show that the data are completely wrong, I am not sure what wrong with the u-boot.
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0 zedhed over 11 years ago

Hi doonny,

I looked through my notes from 14.1 tools and we were able to read/write/erase the QSPI only from U-boot back then before there was tools support.

Looking at your sequence of instructions, have you erased the QSPI flash before performing the sf write command?

Here are my notes from 14.1 days:

; Initialize SD card and QSPI
mmcinfo
sf probe 0 0 0

; Copy boot image from SD card into RAM
fatload mmc 0 0x8000 BOOT.BIN

; Store U-Boot image to QSPI
sf erase 0 0x100000
sf write 0x8000 0 0x100000

Regards,

-Kevin
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0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Glad to find this thread as I was thinking I was either doing something wrong or there was an issue in general.

I flash using the Xilinx SDK 14.6 tool and the on-board JTAG; however, the board has to be up and running booted from the SD card as others have observed.

I'll give it a try with my Platform cable and from Vivado 2013.4
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