Chapter 3: Configuration and Testing
3–7
Configuration
Configuring Arria GX FPGAs with JRunner
The JRunner software driver configures Altera FPGAs, including Arria GX FPGAs,
through the ByteBlaster™ II or ByteBlasterMV cables in JTAG mode. The
programming input file supported is in Raw Binary File (.rbf) format. JRunner also
requires a Chain Description File (.cdf) generated by the Quartus II software. JRunner
is targeted for embedded JTAG configuration. The source code is developed for the
Windows NT operating system (OS), but can be customized to run on other platforms.
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For more information about the JRunner software driver, refer to the AN414: JRunner
Software Driver: An Embedded Solution for PLD JTAG Configuration and the source files
on the Altera website.
Programming Serial Configuration Devices with SRunner
You can program a serial configuration device in-system by an external
microprocessor using SRunnerTM. SRunner is a software driver developed for
embedded serial configuration device programming that can be easily customized to
fit into different embedded systems. SRunner software driver reads a raw
programming data file (.rpd) and writes to serial configuration devices. The serial
configuration device programming time using SRunner software driver is comparable
to the programming time when using the Quartus II software.
f
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For more information about SRunner, refer to the AN418: SRunner: An Embedded
Solution for Serial Configuration Device Programming and the source code on the Altera
website.
For more information about programming serial configuration devices, refer to the
Serial Configuration Devices (EPCS1, EPCS4, EPCS64, and EPCS128) Data Sheet in the
Configuration Handbook.
Configuring Arria GX FPGAs with the MicroBlaster Driver
The MicroBlaster™ software driver supports a raw binary file (RBF) programming
input file and is ideal for embedded FPP or PS configuration. The source code is
developed for the Windows NT operating system, although it can be customized to
run on other operating systems.
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For more information about the MicroBlaster software driver, refer to the Configuring
the MicroBlaster Fast Passive Parallel Software Driver White Paper or the AN423:
Configuring the MicroBlaster Passive Serial Software Driver.
PLL Reconfiguration
The phase-locked loops (PLLs) in the Arria GX device family support reconfiguration
of their multiply, divide, VCO-phase selection, and bandwidth selection settings
without reconfiguring the entire device. You can use either serial data from the logic
array or regular I/O pins to program the PLL’s counter settings in a serial chain. This
option provides considerable flexibility for frequency synthesis, allowing real-time
variation of the PLL frequency and delay. The rest of the device is functional while
reconfiguring the PLL.
© December 2009 Altera Corporation
Arria GX Device Handbook, Volume 1
ALTERA [ ALTERA CORPORATION ]
