This page provides information about running Nios II Linux on Altera MAX10 10M50 Rev B dev kit.

Note:

• This package will work only on Linux. You will need a virtual Linux to run it on Windows.
• This package has been tested with the CentOS 6.3 distribution.

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Demonstrate Usage

Setting up board to program Quad SPI

Error: (3) can't find VTAP.png?t=1430361487 in Documentation

This setup is for Altera Max10 10m50 rev B dev kit. Setup SW2 switch to follow the diagram above. Make sure VTAP Bypass is in ON position and leave the rest in OFF position.

Program POF (linux image)on Quad SPI Flash

Download max10_qpfl.sof from attachment and program sof file to MAX10 device with Quartus Programmer (Tools >> Programmer)

Click on "Auto Detect" after max10_qpfl.sof was successful. A new QSPI flash device will be shown on screen as below:

Error: (3) can't find detectnew.jpg?t=1430382010 in Documentation

Download vmlinux_rootfs.pof from attachment and program pof file to Quad SPI flash with Quartus Programmer (Tools >> Programmer).

Program GHRD POF on Max10

Download ghrd_10m50daf484c6ges_top.pof from attachment and program pof file to MAX10 device with Quartus Programmer (Tools >> Programmer).

Booting MAX10 dev kit with Linux

Power off dev kit after pof files are programmed. Swap USB cable from J12 (USB) to J11 (UART). Open UART terminal on PC to connect UART. Power on dev kit and message from kernel is displayed on UART terminal. Default baudrate is 115200.

It takes few seconds before kernel message displays on terminal. Login with root when prompt is ready.

Error: (3) can't find console.png?t=1430703608 in Documentation

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Building SOF

Compile GHRD design with Quartus

Download " ghrd_10m50daf484c6ges_top.zip" from attachment. Unzip the project, open ghrd_10m50daf484c6ges_top.qpf with Quartus, compile Qsys, and compile the project. Use the POF files generated to program into MAX10 device.

Compile qpfl design with Quartus

Download " max10_gpfl.qar" from attachment, restore archived project, and compile. Use the SOF file generated to program into MAX10 device.

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Building POF with Nios II Linux MMU kernel image

Setting up toolchain

Go to link below, select Altera Nios II Processor GNU/Linux release, download and install Sourcery CodeBench Lite , you may need to refer to Sourcery CodeBenchGettingStartedGuide.

v2013.05-43 version is worked with non-generic syscall ABI compatible kernel, v2014.05.47 or above is worked with generic syscall ABI campatible kernel.

Sourcery CodeBench Lite 2013.05-43
This toolchain is with non generic syscall ABI
Example supported kernel: socfpga-3.18 and version prior 3.18 in linux-socfpga.git

$ /bin/sh <Nios II Linux GNU installer>.bin

The toolchain is located in the CodeSourcery folder, add the toolchain to your PATH.

$ export PATH=/<your path>/CodeSourcery/Sourcery_CodeBench_Lite_for_Nios_II_GNU_Linux/bin/:$PATH
$ export ARCH=nios2
$ export CROSS_COMPILE=nios2-linux-gnu-

To confirm the toolchain is added properly , type echo $PATH.

Building root filesystem

Buildroot is used to build the root filesystem for Nios II Linux. Download Buildroot source files from Buildroot GIT.

$ git clone http://git.buildroot.net/git/buildroot.git
$ cd buildroot
$ git checkout -t -b 2015.02 tags/2015.02

Download Nios II config file for Buildroot: nios2_config file for Buildroot. Add this file to <buildroot_top_directory>/configs.

Go to Buildroot top directory and configure Buildroot for Nios II:

$ make nios2_defconfig

To build:

• You need to be connected to the network before make as the script must download and install packages.

$ make

Output file name : rootfs.jffs2, rootfs.cpio, rootfs.tar

Output directory : <Buildroot_top_directory>/output/images

Building Nios II Linux kernel

Max10 design is using kernel version: socfpga-3.10-ltsi.

Download the latest Linux kernel source files from https://github.com/altera-opensource using git.

Download 3 kernel patches [patch #1] [patch #2] [patch #3] from attachment and apply patch.

$ git clone https://github.com/altera-opensource/linux-socfpga.git
$ cd linux-socfpga
$ git checkout 55fdf0eb86584d48100f2c718f6fb4a7d03a70b7
$ git apply 0001-FogBugz-291165-TSE-MSGMDA-linux-driver-fix.patch
$ git apply 0001-FogBugz-251539-1-Add-Altera-Quad-SPI-Driver.patch
$ git apply 0001-FogBugz-251539-2-dts-Add-Altera-Quad-SPI-Driver-Devi.patch 

Go to Linux top directory and configure Linux kernel for Nios II.

For 10m50 design, download 10m50_defconfig and store in <Linux_kernel_top_directory>/arch/nios2/configs.

install patch

$ make 10m50_defconfig

10m50 design is using static device tree, download 10m50_devboard.dts from attachment below and store in <Linux_kernel_top_directory>/arch/nios2/boot/dts.

To build:

$ make vmlinux

Output file name : vmlinux

Output directory : <Linux_kernel_top_directory>

Generate POF with Linux image

Before proceeding this step, please make sure Quartus 15.0 is installed and path is setup properly to access nios2eds/bin folder to access command elf2flash and nios2-elf-objcopy.

This procedure is to generate a POF file to be programmed into Quad SPI with linux image embedded inside. POF is generated with Quartus Convert Programming File GUI (File >> Convert Programming File) and this application only accept hex image.

Linux image generated from "building Nios II Linux kernel" above has to be converted to hex format. This is a 2-step procedure.

First, at Linux_kernel_top_directory, create Linux SREC in flash format (vmlinux.flash) from Linux ELF (vmlinux) and inject boot copier in front of Linux image. vmlinux.flash is generated in the same folder.

$ elf2flash --base=0x0 --input=vmlinux --end=0xfffffff --reset=0x0 --boot=$SOPC_KIT_NIOS2/components/altera_nios2/boot_loader_cfi.srec

Then convert Linux SREC to HEX format

$ nios2-elf-objcopy -O ihex vmlinux.flash vmlinux.hex

Root filesystem generated from "building root filesystem" above also has to be converted to hex format.

at Buildroot_top_directory>/output/images, converted JFFS2 to HEX format.

$ nios2-elf-objcopy -O ihex -I binary rootfs.jffs2 rootfs.hex

Next step is converted hex files to POF using Quartus Convert Programming File GUI (File >> Convert Programming File)

NOTE: quartus.ini is needed to programm Quad SPI. Please download this file from attachment and copy to Quartus II tool directory or project directory. Without this ini file, incompatible POF will be generated.

• Configuration device, select CFI_512 Mb.
• Remove the SOF page_0..
• Adding ROOTFS HEX. Click on "Add Hex Data", choose "rootfs.hex" generated above, select relative addressing and set starting address at 0x02000000.
  • 0x2000000 is half of the flash size available. Partitioning root filesystem at bottom half of flash device.
• Adding LINUX HEX. Click on "Add Hex Data", choose "vmlinux.hex" generated above and select absolute addressing.
  • kernel is at top half of the flash device.
• Click "Generate" button to generate POF file.

Error: (3) can't find cpfnew.jpg?t=1430382010 in Documentation

Follow the procudure in usage demonstation above to program POF and boot linux on MAX10 dev kit.

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Known Issues

• Setup and Hold time violation paths report in Time Quest on DDR3 ports are known issue and there is an ERRATA for this. The device is functioning ok with time violation paths.

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