Xilinx Partial Reconfiguration Tools and Techniques

Course Description

This course demonstrates how to use the ISE®, PlanAhead™, and Embedded Development Kit (EDK) software tools to construct, implement, and download a Partially Reconfigurable (PR) FPGA design. You will gain a firm understanding of PR technology and learn how successful PR designs are completed. You will also identify best design practices and understand the subtleties of the PR design flow.

This course covers both the tool flow and mechanics of successfully creating a PR design. It also describes several techniques focusing on appropriate coding styles for a PR system as well as system-level design considerations and practical applications.

Release Date

March 2011

Training Duration

2 days

Who should attend?

Digital designers who have a working knowledge of HDL (VHDL or Verilog) and the Xilinx design methodology and who have need of partial reconfiguration techniques

Prerequisites

• Essentials of FPGA Design course
• Designing for Performance course
• Advanced FPGA Implementation course
• Working HDL knowledge (VHDL or Verilog)
• Essential Design with the PlanAhead Analysis and Design Tool course

Recommended Courses

• Embedded Systems Development course
• Essential Design with the PlanAhead Analysis and Design Tool course
• Advanced Design with the PlanAhead Analysis and Design Tool

Software Tools

• Xilinx ISE® Design Suite: Logic or System Edition 13.1 with PR license

Skills Gained

After completing this comprehensive training, you will know how to:

• Build and assemble a Partially Reconfigurable system
• Define PR regions and reconfigurable modules with the PlanAhead software
• Generate the appropriate bitstreams targeting Platform Flash and System ACE™ interface tool files to support on-board partial bitstream storage
• Use the ChipScope™ Pro tool to monitor/debug the ICAP component
• Identify how Partial Reconfiguration affects various silicon resources, including block RAM, IOBs, fabric, and MGTs
• Implement a PR system using the following techniques:
• Direct JTAG connection
• HDL state machines
• Timing constraints and analysis
• Microprocessor-based designs

Course Outline

Day 1

• Course Introduction
• Partial Reconfiguration Methodology
• Lab 1: Partial Reconfiguration Flow
• Partial Reconfiguration Design Recommendations
• Partial Reconfiguration Tool Flow
• (Optional) FPGA Configuration Overview
• Partial Reconfiguration Bitstreams
• Lab 2: Building an HDL ICAP Controller

Day 2

• Managing Clock Resources
• Managing Timing
• Lab 3: Partial Reconfiguration Timing Analysis and Constraints
• Embedded Environment (EDK)
• Lab 4: EDK Partial Reconfiguration
• Partial Reconfiguration Debugging
• Lab 5: ChipScope Pro Tool Partial Reconfiguration Monitoring
• PCIe Core and Partial Reconfiguration
• (Optional) Lab 6: Building a Fast Configuring PCIe System
• Course Summary

Lab Descriptions

• Lab 1: Partial Reconfiguration Flow – Illustrates the basic PlanAhead tool Partial Reconfiguration flow. At the completion of this lab, you will download partial bitstream to the ML605 board via the JTAG connection.
• Lab 2: Building an HDL ICAP State Machine – Illustrates how Platform Flash can be used to store both the initial full bitstream as well as a number of partial bitstreams and how a simple HDL state machine can load the partial bitstreams on command.
• Lab 3: Partial Reconfiguration Timing Analysis and Constraints – Shows how area groups and reconfigurable partitions affect design performance. TPSYNC is used to reduce the impact of partitioning on timing.
• Lab 4: EDK Partial Reconfiguration – Demonstrates how an embedded MicroBlaze™ processor can control a custom ICAP loader. All aspects of completing a full embedded PR design are covered, including the embedded hardware design, software development, and implementing reconfigurable partitions. This design leverages the System ACE interface to store partial bitstreams.
• Lab 5: ChipScope Pro Tool Partial Reconfiguration Monitoring –Use the ChipScope Pro tool to monitor the input and output of the ICAP peripheral and control which partial bitstream is loaded into the FPGA.
• Lab 6: Building a Fast Configuring PCIe System – Configure even the largest FPGA using PR-based techniques.