Xilinx Tools (2021.2) (Ubuntu) (Main OS, as VM guest, or as WSL2/Windows)

NOTE: DON’T forget to replace .x or <#> for the proper version of the tools when running the commands <#> is used so an error will be generated when running the command. This is a general guide to download 202x.x versions.

You need a Xilinx account to download the tools, they are free and the registration process is easy. The Spartan-7 are supported on the free license.

You can download the full unified installer or the web installer. Try first the Web Installer as it will save you some download time, but if your internet connection does not like it, get the full unified installer (you can use a downloader manager)

I have not tried 2022.1 yet, the 2021.2 is working fine for me on Ubuntu 20.4

The windows version is easier to deal with, as the drivers for programming the boards are installed with the tools, on Linux you have to do an extra step (not documented here)

You don't need a powerfull machine to do Spartan-7 designs, a decent computer would suffice. By decent I mean an Intel Core (i3, i5) or equivalent AMD, with ~4GB of RAM (8GB recommended) (https://www.xilinx.com/products/design-tools/vivado/vivado-ml.html#memory)

All tools version MUST match:

• Vitis/Vivado

Vitis (+Vivado)

• Vitis is the software platform
• Vivado is the hardware platform

NOTE: Download Vitis installer, it covers Vivado. You will need Vitis if you plan to use Microblaze.

Prerequisites

# Dependencies
sudo apt install -y libcanberra-gtk-module libcanberra-gtk-module:i386

Install (as user, local)

# Download installer
# -> I prefer to download the Unified Installer ~80GB
firefox --new-window https://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.html/content/xilinx/en/downloadNav/vitis.html

# Untar file
cd dir_download_location
tar -xvzf Xilinx_Unified_2021.<#>_1021_0703.tar.gz
cd Xilinx_Unified_2021.<#>_1021_0703/

# Launch Installer
# you can run xsetup as sudo if you want a global installation
# if it is just you, do a user installation
mkdir ~/tools # -> for local installations

./xsetup
# Select your target devices (Spartan-7)
# Select DocNav (not required)
# Install under your home directory
# -> /home/user_name/tools/Xilinx
...
# After installation is complete, DO NOT FORGET:
sudo ~/tools/Xilinx/Vitis/2021.<#>/scripts/installLibs.sh

! Don't forget at the end to run installLibs.sh

To launch the applications from the command line:

# Vivado
source ~/tools/Xilinx/Vitis/2021.<#>/settings64.sh
cd ~/dev/xilinx/2021.x/vivado
vivado

# Vitis
cd ~/dev/xilinx/2021.x/vitis
source ~/tools/Xilinx/Vitis/2021.<#>/settings64.sh
vitis

This is great! I already use Ubuntu on WSL1 and love it. I guess it's time to upgrade to WSL2!

This is great! I already use Ubuntu on WSL1 and love it. I guess it's time to upgrade to WSL2!