Configuration & Testing
Partial Reconfiguration
The enhanced PLLs within the Stratix GX device family support partial
reconfiguration of their multiply, divide, and time delay 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. See the
Stratix GX Architecture chapter of the Stratix GX Device Handbook,
Volume 1 for more information on Stratix GX PLLs.
Remote Update Configuration Modes
Stratix GX devices also support remote configuration using an Altera
enhanced configuration device (for example, EPC16, EPC8, and EPC4
devices) with page mode selection. Factory configuration data is stored in
the default page of the configuration device. This is the default
configuration which contains the design required to control remote
updates and handle or recover from errors. You write the factory
configuration once into the flash memory or configuration device.
Remote update data can update any of the remaining pages of the
configuration device. If there is an error or corruption in a remote update
configuration, the configuration device reverts back to the factory
configuration information.
There are two remote configuration modes: remote and local
configuration. You can use the remote update configuration mode for all
three configuration modes: serial, parallel synchronous, and parallel
asynchronous. Configuration devices (for example, EPC16 devices) only
support serial and parallel synchronous modes. Asynchronous parallel
mode allows remote updates when an intelligent host is used to configure
the Stratix GX device. This host must support page mode settings similar
to an EPC16 device.
Remote Update Mode
When the Stratix GX device is first powered-up in remote update
programming mode, it loads the configuration located at page
address 000. The factory configuration should always be located at page
address 000, and should never be remotely updated. The factory
configuration contains the required logic to perform the following
operations:
■
■
Determine the page address/load location for the next application’s
configuration data
Recover from a previous configuration error
Altera Corporation
February 2005
5–3
Stratix GX Device Handbook, Volume 1
ALTERA [ ALTERA CORPORATION ]
