EDK quick start guide
This is very simple step-by-step tutorial how to start with the Xilinx EDK. In this example I have used the Webpack edition 10.1 of the EDK and Digilent Spartan-3 Starter Board.
The example is very simple and uses software test applications generated by the tool.
1. Launch the EDK and use the Base System Builder (BSB) wizzard to create a new project.
2. You need to select new project folder. The file has to be named system.xmp.
3. Select an option to create new design.
4. It is very convenient option in the EDK if you are using one of the Xilinx boards. Otherwise you need to specify your own peripherals. I am using Spartan-3 Starter Board in version E. The tool knows all peripherals available on the board and it simplifies the whole process.
5. I am using MicroBlaze processor. It is the only option for Spartan-3 devices.
6. The board has 50MHz clock so this is the frequency used for the processor clock. Other options are left as default – hardware debug module and the amount of Block RAM.
7. You can include or not specific IP blocks for your design. It uses RS232 for serial communication with the PC with 9600 bps speed, 8 bits and no parity. The board has also 8 LEDs, 4 sections of the 7-segmant LED display and several push-buttons.
8. This settings are left as default.
9. If you want to use any custom peripheral they can be added here.
10. In am using RS232 as the Standard In/Out device. It can be the JTAG UART block if the mdm IP is used or disabled. Select the two test applications to be created to test the system.
11. Here you can select memory options for the memory test.
12. Here you can select memory device options.
13. See the summary and generate the system.
14. Click finish.
15. This is system assembly view. The system has two separate data and instruction LMB buses and a peripheral PLB bus.
16. Download bitstream to the board. The tool will run through the synthesis, placement and routing. It will also invoke the IMPACT to tool to download the bitstream to the FPGA.
17. Successful summary should be similar to this.
18. Althogh it is possible to initialise Block RAMs (BRAMs) to contain a built application, but it is not good solution as usually there is not enough BRAM space. It is better to keep the executable file in external memory. Click on Build Project.
19. Click on XMD Debug Option in the debug panel and make sure options like below are selected.
20. Launch the XMD.
21. Download the TestApp_Peripheral application by writing command:
dow TestApp_Peripheral/executable.elf
22. Run the application by writing command:
run
23. Launch the HyperTerminal or similar program and choose port settings.
The TestApp_Peripheral application tests LEDs and sends some debug information through the RS232 port. It should look like this.