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Altera

HPC and Data for Lattice QCD

Altera

Programming of the Alteras of the PB (for RootBoard see HOWTO-rootboard)

01/01/17

File Types:

  .sof	-- Altera configuration for loading via serial port (connectors)
  .pof	-- Altera configuration for programming PROMs (or loading via
           parallel port by cable???)
  .jcf	-- JTAG configuration
  .acf	-- pin-out (may be useful for HW measurements)
  .hif	-- irrelevant

Alteras on the PB:

1) PCI Interface (Flex)

The Flex is usually loaded from the PROM (for permanent configuration) but can also be programmed (volatile, via cable to the connector)

2) Clock Controller (Max)

The Max keeps its configuration permanently and is loaded via the serial connector.

Programming the PCI Interface (Flex) on the PB

Programming via cable:

Files: The object files are under /zroot/maxplus/ in directories named Flex10k50_<ID>/ , where <ID> is a date or version/date combination. The file to use there is scratch.pof. (see MaxPlus section below for starting MaxPlusII)

PROM Versions:

	Label "28F"   (until 8.5.00 ): 
		Uses buggy PLDA core 2.12
		(Problem of lost/wrong data in big IO)


	Label "2.14"  (since 8.5.00) : dubious
		Uses dubious PLDA core 2.14
		(Problem of died refresh)

	Label "Piero" (since 18.5.00):
		Uses again PLDA core 2.12 
		(with APE-side work-arounds)

Programmation of PROMs:

	- switch on programmer
	- programms --> OPTIMA PAL (not PROM!!!)
	- device: Altera
	- type: EPC1
	- file: ...

Programming the Clock Controller (Max) on the PB

Files: The object files are under apemaster:/zroot/maxplus/ in directories named Max_<ID>/ , where <ID> is a date or version/date combination. The file to use there is topcc.pof. (see MaxPlus section below for starting MaxPlusII)

Using MaxPlusII

     - power down the crate
     - unplug board
     - unmount Tz piggy-back

     - unplug temperature sensors from parallel port of apemaster (if there)
       this should be autodetected by the temp-monitor. No problem.


     - connect parallel port of PC with the correct connector using the special 
       programmer cable.

       ======================
       |  Alt        conn1  | <---- connector for Flex
       |       Tz    conn2  | <---- connector for Max
       |                    |
       |                    |

     - insert PB and power up

     - on the linux desktop , click on the 'NT + MaxPLus' icon.
       This will start a virtual WindowsNT. 
       If it was 'suspended' after the last use, there is no need to boot and
       MaxPlus might already be running.
       If NT makes a complete boot, then login as 'root' (same password as
       on apemaster) and start MaxPlus manually.
       MaxPlus seems to "hang" for a while after startup. Be patient!

       (for non VMware users : If the mouse cursor is locked inside the NT
        window you can unlock it via Ctrl-Alt-Esc)

       If the 'NT + MaxPlus' icon is missing for some reason, execute the
       following manually:
          /usr/bin/VMware -x  -q /usr1/vmware/nt40/nt4.cfg

     - load the .pof file.  The apemaster:/zroot disk is usually seen as 
       disk E:/zroot/ under NT.

     - 'Suspend' the virtual NT (don't do a 'Shutdown').


     - reverse above HW manipulations ...