Current Server Time: 06:21 (Central Europe)

#apertus IRC Channel Logs

2013/07/17

Timezone: UTC

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aombk
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aombk
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aombk
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dmj_nova
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dmj_nova
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dmj_nova
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dmj_nova
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08:54
dmj_nova
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08:54
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12:08
Bertl
morning everyone!
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12:36
Bertl
okay, I updated the adapter designs to 0.8.3, the optional power supply is almost complete, the other stuff should be complete by now ...
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12:36
Bertl
there is a zip/tar containing PDFs for those who do not want to install eagle but still would like to take a look
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14:08
FergusL
oh, great
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14:08
FergusL
cool addition
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14:08
FergusL
I'm tempted to show it to some people, so a pdf is great
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14:10
Bertl
well, the PDFs contain the schematic and the layers .. not a rendering or similar of the actual adapter
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14:14
FergusL
that's how I understood it, yes
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14:14
FergusL
hint: link to github repo in topic ?
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14:16
Bertl
sorry, I'm not a channel administrator ...
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14:17
Bertl
http://vserver.13thfloor.at/Stuff/AXIOM/qad-center-v0.8.3.tar.xz
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14:17
Bertl
here is the tar (zip in the same location, just with .zip), .sch and .brd ditto
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16:32
jucar2
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16:39
jucar1
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16:43
dmj_nova
Bertl: possibly stupid question but how do I load PL into the zedboard
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16:58
dmj_nova
I'm trying to avoid the graphical tools
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18:24
dmj_nova
Bertl: ping me when you're around :)
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18:53
Bertl
I'm here now ... dmj_nova: ping!
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18:53
dmj_nova
:)
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18:53
Bertl
there are basically 3 options:
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18:53
Bertl
a) you can download it via xmd (the .bit file)
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18:54
Bertl
b) you can put it on the tftp server and fetch it from there (.bin)
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18:55
Bertl
c) you can update the PL contents from Linux via /dev/xdevcfg
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18:56
Bertl
uploading via xmd is done by fpga -f <path>
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18:57
Bertl
(you need to be attached to the DAP (cpu stopped or running doesn't matter)
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18:57
dmj_nova
DAP?
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18:58
Bertl
Debug Access Port
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18:58
Bertl
the interface you are talking to via jtag
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18:59
Bertl
for the tftp to work, you have to use the bootload (u-boot), either manually or in your currently configured automated boot
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19:00
Bertl
and last but not least, for updating it via xdevcfg, you have to have Linux running on the board (with xdevcfg enabled) and transfer the file somehow to the board (scp, rsync, ...)
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19:03
Bertl
each of the three methods has it advantages and disadvantages
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19:04
dmj_nova
okay, and what tools do I use to compile the HDL to be loaded on the board?
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19:04
Bertl
*its
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19:04
Bertl
you know my numerous examples? :)
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19:04
Bertl
they all have the commands listed in the comment section at the top of each (main) file
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19:05
Bertl
http://vserver.13thfloor.at/Stuff/AXIOM/blink.vhd
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19:05
Bertl
for example, has two xflow commands and a promgen
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19:05
dmj_nova
haha, my eyes just glazed over that
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19:06
Bertl
(note that the more recent examples use the -wd (working dir) to avoid cluttering the current dir)
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19:06
dmj_nova
okay, now to try uploading one of those
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19:07
Bertl
so adding '-wd build' to each xflow run helps for those older examples
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19:07
Bertl
(and you need to cd into build for the promgen part)
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19:26
dmj_nova
hmm
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19:27
dmj_nova
for some reason my system isn't finding xflow or xmd right now
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19:28
Bertl
did you source the settings64.sh (or settings32.sh script)?
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19:29
Bertl
(it comes with the xilinx install)
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19:31
dmj_nova
haha, no I didn't
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19:34
dmj_nova
Bertl: any clue why the second xflow in blink.vhd would throw a licensing error?
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19:36
Bertl
maybe because you didn't install your license file?
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19:37
Bertl
should be in ~/.Xilinx/Xilinx.lic
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19:38
dmj_nova
hmm
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19:38
dmj_nova
would have thought the ISE install would do that
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19:38
dmj_nova
where does one find this file otherwise?
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19:38
Bertl
IIRC, on the first GUI start, you get the annoying license manager
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19:39
dmj_nova
yeah, I got that way back
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19:39
Bertl
which prompts you to do the necessary steps to acquire a license
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19:39
Bertl
if you already registered at xilinx, you can let them send it to you via email
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19:50
dmj_nova
oh...I see the problem
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19:51
dmj_nova
the license manager tried to load firefox (for some reason) and somehow fucking up libstdc++
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19:54
dmj_nova
ah, it's the wrong libstdc++ version that it's trying to make firefox use
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19:57
Bertl
yeah, the xilinx tools brin an ancient version with them
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19:57
Bertl
*bring
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19:58
dmj_nova
I just renamed them then symlinked in the system version
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19:58
Bertl
not sure that will work for the tools though
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19:59
Bertl
i.e. be prepared for strange results :)
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19:59
dmj_nova
works enough to make it open firefox
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19:59
dmj_nova
I suspect they assume that all linux users use ancient versions of Red Hat
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19:59
Bertl
yes, or open suse
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20:00
dmj_nova
which is really, really not the case
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20:00
Bertl
here neither, but it wasn't a problem so far
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20:00
Bertl
tools are happy with their own libraries and I do not mind having them around
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20:01
dmj_nova
well, was only a problem here because they require the use of the system's browser and didn't account for the fact that the browser might need newer libraries
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20:04
dmj_nova
side note: RHEL is annoying and crufty
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20:05
dmj_nova
way less nice to use than modern Ubuntu (at least based on experience with lab machines)
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20:06
Bertl
well, I don't like ubuntu either
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20:07
Bertl
but that is a matter of personal taste and doesn't really matter, as long as it is Linux, it's fine
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20:09
dmj_nova
Well, being modern is important
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20:09
dmj_nova
Fedora user?
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20:09
Bertl
nope, mageia
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20:11
dmj_nova
haven't ever used mageia (or mandriva)
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20:12
dmj_nova
not sure what it's strengths are
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20:13
dmj_nova
seems like it follows about a yearly cadence
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20:13
Bertl
back then, I didn't like to wait for ages for yum or apt to search (and not find) something I needed installed
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20:13
Bertl
so for me, the main advantage was the packe manager (urpm)
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20:18
dmj_nova
fair enough
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20:18
dmj_nova
package managers seem to be a big deciding point for developers
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20:20
dmj_nova
for me it's the focus on user-facing details, release cycle reliability, wide package support, and launchpad/ppa system
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20:46
dmj_nova
Bertl: aha, blinking light
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20:52
Bertl
\o/
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20:55
dmj_nova
now to figure out how to use the Pmods safely
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20:55
dmj_nova
Bertl: have you looked at that at all?
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20:55
dmj_nova
I'm a little afraid to ruin the board that way
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21:00
Bertl
well, I'm using the PMODs for all kind of stuff
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21:00
Bertl
i.e. I have a temperature sensor attached to one (for the i2c testing I did)
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21:01
Bertl
and a logic analyzer attached to the other, for probes
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21:01
Bertl
and the test setup for the pmod debug on the third one
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21:02
Bertl
basically you should not use voltages over 3.3V (or less if you configure the ports for less)
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21:02
Bertl
anything with internal pullups and open collector as input will be fine, for outputs, do not pull up to higher voltages
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21:06
Bertl
if you're really worried or unsure what your other end does, add a level shifter like the GTL2003
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21:13
dmj_nova
okay, so nothing above 3.3v and it'll be fine...sounds reasonable
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21:29
dmj_nova
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21:34
Bertl
in general, adding a series current limiting resistor should protect the I/O buffers
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21:34
Bertl
e.g. use a 100 or 220 Ohm resistor in series if you are using the PMOD as input
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21:43
dmj_nova
ah, okay