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Messages from 109200

Article: 109200
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: Chris Carlen <crcarleRemoveThis@BOGUSsandia.gov>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 17:36:19 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Anonymous wrote:
> I use a dell with docking station for Parallel Cable IV. It works but for
> some reason you can't undock when the parallel port is used for anything. I
> had to manual diasble the parallel port in the bios to get a clean undock.
> So I pitched PC4 and went with a USB cable.
> 
> -Clark


Which Dell model?

That's strange.  What if you just "turn it off?"



-- 
Good day!

________________________________________
Christopher R. Carlen
Principal Laser&Electronics Technologist
Sandia National Laboratories CA USA
crcarleRemoveThis@BOGUSsandia.gov
NOTE, delete texts: "RemoveThis" and
"BOGUS" from email address to reply.

Article: 109201
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:38:08 -0400
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Joerg wrote:
> 
>> I'm considering to buy a Dell Precision M90 laptop to replace a regular
>> PC on a cart that was used to wheel around and program various embedded
>> devices.
>>
>> The new laptops of course don't offer old-fashioned ports like parallel
>> and RS-232.  Well, some have serial, but the M90 doesn't.
>>
... snip ...
> 
> I don't know how their docking stations work but I'd be suspicious.
> Programmers often bit-bang the parallel port directly and that typically
> doesn't work if they chose to simply convert USB-parallel in the dock
> station.
> 
> My suggestion would be to pay a little more and get a laptop with a
> genuine parallel port.

I agree.  When everyone caves in and buys these emasculated
machines, they just encourage the manufacturers to save the few
pennies it takes to make a real system.  Same goes for desktops and
for ECC memory.

Please don't remove attributions for material you quote.

-- 
 Some informative links:
   news:news.announce.newusers
   http://www.geocities.com/nnqweb/
   http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
   http://www.caliburn.nl/topposting.html
   http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html



-- 
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com


Article: 109202
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: Chris Carlen <crcarleRemoveThis@BOGUSsandia.gov>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 17:40:58 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Brad Griffis wrote:[edit]
> A co-worker of mine has the M90 (or maybe M70?) and I know he does work 
> through the comm port on the docking station and I haven't heard him 
> make any complaints.  In fact, he's been quite happy with the 
> performance of his laptop.  It runs Linux through VMware faster than his 
> old desktop could run it natively!

Any chance you could ask your coworker if he's used the parallel port, 
and what for?

> By the way, USB JTAG emulators for TI DSPs have been out for quite a 
> while.  A good low-cost emulator for c2000 DSPs is JTAGjet from Signum. 
>  Spectrum Digital also now sells newer versions of the eZdsp with a USB 
> interface rather than the parallel port interface.


Hmm, I didn't see that yet.  I have about 3 of the parallel port ones :-(.

But I could order some new ones if they have USB.

It seems the cheap $345 one is still parallel.

http://www.spectrumdigital.com/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=137&osCsid=2435023cbd79a909060037c302e5298b

Need to spend $1800 to get a JTAG emulator.  I'll likely do this at some 
point anyway, but I'd still like a working parallel port.

-- 
Good day!

________________________________________
Christopher R. Carlen
Principal Laser&Electronics Technologist
Sandia National Laboratories CA USA
crcarleRemoveThis@BOGUSsandia.gov
NOTE, delete texts: "RemoveThis" and
"BOGUS" from email address to reply.

Article: 109203
Subject: please tell me how to learn testbench?
From: "lzh08" <cppcpldfpga@gmail.com>
Date: 21 Sep 2006 17:50:58 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
thanks, i am a beginner.


Article: 109204
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: Joerg <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 01:07:00 GMT
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Hello Chris,


>> You can get an IBM Thinkpad (I have a P3 1.13Ghz T23, very happy with
>> it). These laptops have very good reputations. The newer models (T60)
>> seems to have dropped the parallel port for the extra vent. But if you
>> don't mind a used/slightly older model you can pick up the Thinkpad T42
>> which has a parallel port. Also considering that my ol' T23 was
>> released in like 2001 and is still working without any defects is
>> amazing! Built like tanks these laptops are.
>> -Isaac
> 
> 
> Unfortunately, my company has a "permitted" set of laptop models.  There 
> are some IBMs and HPs though, so I might take a closer look at those.
> 

And the "permitted" ones aren't always the best deal for the job. Most 
folks in the corporate world spend north of $1500 on laptops, just by 
default. In my lab I am using a low end Inspiron for the same purpose 
you are planning. Ok, no parallel port (the one in the office does have 
it) but it was only around $500. Works fine. I am also using it for the 
occasional email from there, take in pictures, do audio FFTs and other 
stuff. I believe they offered a docking station for it with a (real) 
parallel port but I decided to forego that and switch my programming 
tools to USB so I'd be able to use them on the road.

The only downside with low end laptops is that their enclosures are 
often on the flimsy side.


> I have to do some re-thinking about whether I really want to pay for a 
> large screen and do any real work on it, or if it will be just for 
> transferring hex files from my real desktop PC to targets in various 
> labs in my building.  If I forego the intention of doing real work on 
> the laptop, then I can consider all 3 makers' products.  Hopefully one 
> has a parallel port, but in 2006 I doubt it.
> 

Don't count on it :-(

Cart mounting: I found it advantageous to have a desktop bolted into the 
bottom. Two reasons: It made the cart heavy and lowered the CG so there 
is less chance of tipping. Then, they are pretty modular and sturdy. 
Lots of things can go wrong in labs. If the parallel port gets fried you 
can (on older models) just plop in a new card and be back in business.

-- 
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

Article: 109205
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: Steve Underwood <steveu@dis.org>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 09:33:25 +0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Chris Carlen wrote:
> Hi:
> 
> I'm considering to buy a Dell Precision M90 laptop to replace a regular 
> PC on a cart that was used to wheel around and program various embedded 
> devices.
> 
> The new laptops of course don't offer old-fashioned ports like parallel 
> and RS-232.  Well, some have serial, but the M90 doesn't.
> 
> I will be getting the docking station which *does* have a parallel and 
> serial port though, so it should be just fine.  There is also the option 
> of USB->RS-232 converters.  But the dock's parallel port will be 
> critically important to work correctly.
> 
> I will need to connect to the following devices:
> 
> Atmel STK500 (RS-232) and JTAG-ICE (USB/RS-232)
> 
> Spectrum Digital eZdsp 'F2812 (parallel)
> 
> Xilinx Parallel Cable IV (parallel)
> 
> In the future there will likely be a USB JTAG Emulator for the 'F2812, 
> and perhaps I'll upgrade to a better Xilinx cable.  Also will probably 
> get into some Xilinx FPGAs and 3rd party development boards, but just 
> need to be sure I can work my present tools.
> 
> Anyone have any serious problems with Dell laptops for these or other 
> tools?

I use a Dell M70 for just this kind of thing - I often need a genuine 
parallel port for a development tool that bit bangs the port. The 
docking station for the M90 is exactly the same as for the M70. Some 
notebook docking stations use USB between the computer and the docking 
station. Dell doesn't. The parallel port is the genuine article. Some 
notebooks with genuine parallel ports have rather low drive capability 
(a lot of Thinkpads are like this) and some tools won't work reliably 
plugged into them. The Dells never give this kind of problem.

It would be great to get a genuine parallel port in a modern machine - 
especially a big one like the M90 with plenty of space for the socket. 
However, they seem to have gone completely from the market. Whether you 
like or hate the Dells, the reliability of the parallel port on their 
docking station is a major selling point for a number of engineering users.

Steve

Article: 109206
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: Steve Underwood <steveu@dis.org>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 09:37:56 +0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Isaac Bosompem wrote:
> Joerg wrote:
>> Hello Chris,
>>
>>> I'm considering to buy a Dell Precision M90 laptop to replace a regular
>>> PC on a cart that was used to wheel around and program various embedded
>>> devices.
>>>
>>> The new laptops of course don't offer old-fashioned ports like parallel
>>> and RS-232.  Well, some have serial, but the M90 doesn't.
>>>
>>> I will be getting the docking station which *does* have a parallel and
>>> serial port though, so it should be just fine.  There is also the option
>>> of USB->RS-232 converters.  But the dock's parallel port will be
>>> critically important to work correctly.
>>>
>>> I will need to connect to the following devices:
>>>
>>> Atmel STK500 (RS-232) and JTAG-ICE (USB/RS-232)
>>>
>>> Spectrum Digital eZdsp 'F2812 (parallel)
>>>
>>> Xilinx Parallel Cable IV (parallel)
>>>
>>> In the future there will likely be a USB JTAG Emulator for the 'F2812,
>>> and perhaps I'll upgrade to a better Xilinx cable.  Also will probably
>>> get into some Xilinx FPGAs and 3rd party development boards, but just
>>> need to be sure I can work my present tools.
>>>
>>> Anyone have any serious problems with Dell laptops for these or other
>>> tools?
>>>
>> I don't know how their docking stations work but I'd be suspicious.
>> Programmers often bit-bang the parallel port directly and that typically
>> doesn't work if they chose to simply convert USB-parallel in the dock
>> station.
>>
>> My suggestion would be to pay a little more and get a laptop with a
>> genuine parallel port.
>>
>> --
>> Regards, Joerg
>>
>> http://www.analogconsultants.com
> 
> You can get an IBM Thinkpad (I have a P3 1.13Ghz T23, very happy with
> it). These laptops have very good reputations. The newer models (T60)
> seems to have dropped the parallel port for the extra vent. But if you
> don't mind a used/slightly older model you can pick up the Thinkpad T42
> which has a parallel port. Also considering that my ol' T23 was
> released in like 2001 and is still working without any defects is
> amazing! Built like tanks these laptops are. 
> 
> -Isaac
> 
As a notebook computer, the Thinkpads are head and shoulders above 
anything else in the market. As a parallel port device they have major 
problems. They seem to use a weak driver for the port. A lot of embedded 
and industrial stuff which works fine on any desktop machine, and most 
older notebooks, will not work with a Thinkpad.

Steve

Article: 109207
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: Steve Underwood <steveu@dis.org>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 09:40:19 +0800
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Anonymous wrote:
> I use a dell with docking station for Parallel Cable IV. It works but for
> some reason you can't undock when the parallel port is used for anything. I
> had to manual diasble the parallel port in the bios to get a clean undock.
> So I pitched PC4 and went with a USB cable.
> 
> -Clark
Interesting. I've never had that with my M70. I just sleep, hibernate or 
undock the machine, and all is well. The only thing to watch out for is 
that things have completed before you pop the docking station off the 
computer. Things go horribly wrong if you don't.

Steve

Article: 109208
Subject: Spartan-3E USB for I/O?
From: "Bob" <bob@bogus.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:44:51 -0400
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
I am new to FPGA and I can't find any info on this subject anywhere. Can the
USB on the Spartan-3E be used for I/O at run-time... or is it just for
downloading configs?

If not, I would appreciate any suggestions for a similar device that can use
the USB. The Opal-Kelly XEM3001 seems like a good candidate, but may be
lacking in other things I may need.

Thanks in advance.

-Bob F.



Article: 109209
Subject: Re: please tell me how to learn testbench?
From: David Ashley <dash@nowhere.net.dont.email.me>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:46:36 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
lzh08 wrote:
> thanks, i am a beginner.

LOL

Article: 109210
Subject: Re: iMPACT: Problem in downloading bit file
From: zyan <czinyan1983@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:49:23 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Hi, Thanks.

The error message was: iMPACT:2218 - Error shows in the status register, release done bit is NOT 1.

I am using in bi-directional parallel mode, ISE 8.1i and Windows XP.

Article: 109211
Subject: Re: Spartan-3E USB for I/O?
From: David Ashley <dash@nowhere.net.dont.email.me>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:52:22 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Bob wrote:
> I am new to FPGA and I can't find any info on this subject anywhere. Can the
> USB on the Spartan-3E be used for I/O at run-time... or is it just for
> downloading configs?
> 
> If not, I would appreciate any suggestions for a similar device that can use
> the USB. The Opal-Kelly XEM3001 seems like a good candidate, but may be
> lacking in other things I may need.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> -Bob F.
> 
> 

There is a project mentioned on this newsgroup that replaced the
CPLD code with something else, so an open source driver
could download bitfiles to the spartan-3e board, bypassing
Impact completely. I use it myself.

I think the connections are
USB port -> Cypress 8051 based controller -> CPLD -> FPGA
The Cypress is 100% programmable, you can download code through
the usb port. The CPLD is programmable. So I believe you can
do what you want in theory, but it will take some work.

http://inisyn.org/src/xup/

Start there.

-Dave


-- 
David Ashley                http://www.xdr.com/dash
Embedded linux, device drivers, system architecture

Article: 109212
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: Brad Griffis <bradgriffis@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:17:35 -0500
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Chris Carlen wrote:
> Brad Griffis wrote:[edit]
>> A co-worker of mine has the M90 (or maybe M70?) and I know he does 
>> work through the comm port on the docking station and I haven't heard 
>> him make any complaints.  In fact, he's been quite happy with the 
>> performance of his laptop.  It runs Linux through VMware faster than 
>> his old desktop could run it natively!
> 
> Any chance you could ask your coworker if he's used the parallel port, 
> and what for?

He hasn't used it.  Based on my experience with the parallel port on the 
D400 docking station I would expect it to work well.

>> By the way, USB JTAG emulators for TI DSPs have been out for quite a 
>> while.  A good low-cost emulator for c2000 DSPs is JTAGjet from 
>> Signum.  Spectrum Digital also now sells newer versions of the eZdsp 
>> with a USB interface rather than the parallel port interface.
> 
> 
> Hmm, I didn't see that yet.  I have about 3 of the parallel port ones :-(.
> 
> But I could order some new ones if they have USB.
> 
> It seems the cheap $345 one is still parallel.
> 
> http://www.spectrumdigital.com/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=137&osCsid=2435023cbd79a909060037c302e5298b 

I could swear I've seen an F2812 eZdsp with USB on it.  Perhaps it was 
the socketed R2812 eZdsp with an F2812 in the socket.

> Need to spend $1800 to get a JTAG emulator.  I'll likely do this at some 
> point anyway, but I'd still like a working parallel port.
> 

No, you don't need to spend that much for c2000:

http://www.signum.com/Signum.htm?p=jtagjet.htm

Click on "compare models" near the top and you'll see JTAGjet for c2000 
is only $595 and I bet performance is better than what you see with your 
parallel port emulator.  Note however that this will not work with any 
of the c5000/c6000 DSPs whereas your current PP emulator will.

Article: 109213
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: Dennis <dennis@nowhere.net>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:52:25 -0500
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Isaac Bosompem wrote:

> 
> You can get an IBM Thinkpad (I have a P3 1.13Ghz T23, very happy with
> it). These laptops have very good reputations. The newer models (T60)
> seems to have dropped the parallel port for the extra vent. But if you
> don't mind a used/slightly older model you can pick up the Thinkpad T42
> which has a parallel port. Also considering that my ol' T23 was
> released in like 2001 and is still working without any defects is
> amazing! Built like tanks these laptops are. 
> 
> -Isaac
> 

Go to www.ibm.com and click on IBM Certified Used Equipment in the Shop 
for column. I picked up a T30 with serial and parallel ports that I am 
very happy with for about $500. It looked like new.

Article: 109214
Subject: Re: Spartan-3E USB for I/O?
From: ghelbig@lycos.com
Date: 21 Sep 2006 22:06:04 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
I've been wondering about using the USB port myself.  Looking at the
PCB, there's more connections between the FX2 and the CPLD than are
used by the inisyn programmer.

As mentioned above, you can put anything you want in the FX2.  You may
have to hotwire the driver to make it go, but it can be done.

In that vein, has anyone figured out page 3 of the schematics?

Oh, and is anyone interested in (or doing) a prototype card that would
go on the expansion connector?


Bob wrote:
> I am new to FPGA and I can't find any info on this subject anywhere. Can the
> USB on the Spartan-3E be used for I/O at run-time... or is it just for
> downloading configs?
>
> If not, I would appreciate any suggestions for a similar device that can use
> the USB. The Opal-Kelly XEM3001 seems like a good candidate, but may be
> lacking in other things I may need.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> -Bob F.


Article: 109215
Subject: Re: i2c,ahb,apb
From: "vits" <vittal.patil@gmail.com>
Date: 21 Sep 2006 22:33:20 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Thanks for the reply.
First of all i want to test the i2c bus in verilog.For testing it i
need a model of EEPROM(or anything else ,but i dont know much) to which
i apply stimulus and apply the same stimulus to i2c bus and then
compare the 2 outputs .In i2c rtl given in the opencores.org there are
seperate signals for wishbone and i2c. i want to know why wishbone
signals are there if i want to test only i2c bus.
thanks,
vits
markus wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I've never heard of AHB or APB. I've heard about the Wishbone interface
> for I2C.
>
> Wishbone is basically an open source hardware computer bus intended to
> let the parts of an integrated circuit communicate with each other. The
> aim is to allow the connection of differing cores to each other inside
> of a chip. The Wishbone Bus is used by many designs in the OpenCores
> project.
>
> I'm assuming you got the I2C interface via Opencores.org? I've
> successfuly used the I2C interface from Opencores.org. Let me know what
> you are trying to do. If you have any questions about this particular
> I2C, I'd be more than happy to help you.
>
> -Markus
>
>
> vits wrote:
> > Hi,
> > I came across these buses i2c ,ahb,apb.What is the difference between
> > them.
> > I dont know about the ahb or apb .just started reading about i2c.
> > I have to test the i2c bus in verilog. In i2c bus DUT(design under
> > test) i saw something
> > like wishbone interface or ahb thing.what does it mean .please explain
> > me in detail.
> > or give some links.I am exploring them too.
> > Thanks,
> > Vittal


Article: 109216
Subject: Re: Xilinx MIG fails
From: "=?iso-8859-1?B?R2FMYUt0SWtVc5k=?=" <taileb.mehdi@gmail.com>
Date: 21 Sep 2006 22:49:43 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
MIG runs only on windows, on MIG's page they say that in future
versions Linux will be supported.
I also faced this problem. I use VMWARE only for this!!!!

Cheers
Mehdi

kjhales@catalpatechnology.com wrote:
> I cannot get the MIG to work in Core Generator. I've written Xilinx,
> but hope I can get a faster answer here.
>
> I used the Tools->Updates Installer in coregen to install MIG.
> Help->About now says I have IP updates 1 and MIG 1.6 installed. It also
> says I have MIG 1.5 installed.
>
> Xilinx says to list available cores by function, select
> Memories&Storage Elements, then select MIG. However MIG simply does not
> appear as an option. Does anyone have any idea why the insallation
> (apparantly) failed? I am running under Fedora 4, and using ISE 8.1 sp
> 3.
> 
> Thanks
> kjhales


Article: 109217
Subject: Configuration of Cyclone devices
From: "Nevo" <nevo_n@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 06:06:13 GMT
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Newbie alert here...

I'm trying to design a board that would allow me to configure a Cyclone
device either through the JTAG port or by downloading configuration data to
a serial configuration device. I'm looking at the manual and am trying to
reconcile differences between figures 13-9, "In-System Programming of Serial
Configuration Devices," and figure 13-19, "JTAG Configuration of a Single
Cyclone FPGA."

There are subtle differences in the two diagrams that I could probably guess
correctly on but would appreciate the feedback of the group.

1) 13-9 shows nCE to GND through a 10K resistor. 13-19 shows nCE to GND. I
assume I want to use the resistor?

2) 13-9 says Vcc pins should be connected to 3.3V supply (note 1). 13-19 has
no such indication. Should I tie all VCC on these two diagrams to 3.3V,
including pin 4 of the JTAG connector in 13-19? If I were looking only at
13-19, how would I know that VCC was 3.3V and not VCCINT?

3) Note 3 to 13-19 says VIO is connected to nCE when it is used for Active
Serial configuration with a ByteBlaster II cable. 13-19 shows nCE connected
to GND... <sheepishly> which means I just answered my first question; if I
don't use the resistor and program the device with a ByteBlaster II in
Active Serial mode I'll end up with a dead short between GND and VIO.  Uh...
right?

I guess that more than anything I just want a sanity check from the group
before sending my artwork to the board shop.

Thanks!

-Nevo




Article: 109218
Subject: Re: Verification errors using Xilinx Spartan 3E board
From: "Antti" <Antti.Lukats@xilant.com>
Date: 21 Sep 2006 23:44:52 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
John Williams schrieb:

> Hi Jack,
>
> Jack Zkcmbcyk wrote:
> >     I have been working on a design lately where I use a the Xilinx Spartan
> > 3E starter kit board.  I use a logic analyser to check the output on some
> > signals which are assigned to the boards' J1, J2 and J4 connectors.
> > Sometimes, I get some of the signals to not even be "connected" on the
> > external pins.  When this happens, I find that going in to the VHDL code and
> > adding a few changes that are usually never related to the signals I want to
> > observe in the first palce, fix things for me.
>
> Try setting the FPGA Mode jumpers to JTAG.  By default I think they are in
> master serial (to configure from the platform flash parts).  A few people have
> reported problems to me doing JTAG configurations on these boards when the
> contents of the platform flash PROM does not match the bitstream you are
> downloading.  I also saw this on older V2-1000 boards as well.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> John

John,

non-JTAG mode settings do cause configuration problems -
it happens when SYNC is 'seen' at specific time slot within
the JTAG sequence, it resets the configuration logic.
For early Spartan3E silicon placing a bitststream at low
offset rendered the device non programmable over JTAG
The fix for that required changing mode pins or to use
special programming software from Xilant that placed
the parallel flash into CFI command mode during the
JTAG configuration and allowed the chip to reconfigured
without the need of the mode pin change.

This kind of errors however should yield to Programming error,
not to succesful programming with verification failing.

If a part gets programmed ok, done ok, and then afterwards
gets verification errors, specially when there is different amount of
the errors, then it can be indicator of serious problem with the FPGA.

Antti


Article: 109219
Subject: Re: Xilinx - no secret, you are not to use the PMV primitive
From: "Antti" <Antti.Lukats@xilant.com>
Date: 21 Sep 2006 23:49:13 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Max Baker schrieb:

> Hi Antti,
>
> Antti wrote:
> > I still wish Xilinx FPGAs would have the config Clock accessible again
> > as it was with old Xilinx FPGAs !
>
> A little bit of a late response here, but the STARTUP_VIRTEX5 primitive
> gives you access to both the configuration clock and the internal
> housekeeping clock.
>
> See http://toolbox.xilinx.com/docsan/xilinx82/books/docs/v5ldl/v5ldl.pdf
> for the full usage in HDL.
>
> -m
Thank You Max and Thanks to Xilinx

- I have been jammering about re-gaining the access to configuration
clock for ages, now it has finally come true.

It was there in early Xilinx products, it is there in Altera and
Lattice products, and since Virtex-5 it is again back in Xilinx
products as well. Spartan3A doesnt seem to have it, but lets hope
Spartan4 or upcomig Xilinx non-volatile products will have it in as
standard feature.

Antti


Article: 109220
Subject: Re: MPMC2 and MontaVista Linux
From: eric <erixx@gmx.net>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 08:52:43 +0200
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Hi Antti have you made it working?

Antti schrieb:
> eric schrieb:
> 
>> Hi,
>> how can I make a MPMC2 and a MontaVista Linux on ML403 from Xilinx work
>> together?
>>
>> Is there a howtoguide for that problem or has anybody experiences with
>> that stuff?
>>
>> Thanks a lot :-)
>>
>> Eric
> 
> get it working with normal flow without MPMC2 first then make the MPMC2
> design to much the normal system as much as possible then proceed
> changing the linux kernel to boot on MPMC2 based system
> 
> Antti
> 

Article: 109221
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: "John Adair" <g1@enterpoint.co.uk>
Date: 21 Sep 2006 23:56:43 -0700
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Not a total solution (at least until we write the IP) is our new
Cardbus product Tarfessock1. First out is will be available in about
3-4 weeks time (that is 2 weeks late on our website info) and initially
will offer a Xilinx Cable III lookalike solution as a small part of
it's functionality (Cable IV if we figure what is needed). It also has
a RS232 serial port capabiliy but that might take a couple weeks more
to get into the supporting FPGA builds.

Longer term this board has the capability to act as a full parallel
port and we are designing a connector module to support that as well as
all the other features - RS485, ADC, DAC.

On a more general solution there are parallel port cards available for
Cardbus. I'm not sure if there are any for Expresscard yet. We will
have a solution for Expresscard but not in Q3 and maybe not even Q4.
It's on our roadmap and very likely to happen. Just a question of what
product we bring to market first.

USB to serial adaptors seem work well. Beware of USB to parallel
adaptors. They tend not to work with Xilinx software.

John Adair
Enterpoint Ltd.

Chris Carlen wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I'm considering to buy a Dell Precision M90 laptop to replace a regular
> PC on a cart that was used to wheel around and program various embedded
> devices.
>
> The new laptops of course don't offer old-fashioned ports like parallel
> and RS-232.  Well, some have serial, but the M90 doesn't.
>
> I will be getting the docking station which *does* have a parallel and
> serial port though, so it should be just fine.  There is also the option
> of USB->RS-232 converters.  But the dock's parallel port will be
> critically important to work correctly.
>
> I will need to connect to the following devices:
>
> Atmel STK500 (RS-232) and JTAG-ICE (USB/RS-232)
>
> Spectrum Digital eZdsp 'F2812 (parallel)
>
> Xilinx Parallel Cable IV (parallel)
>
> In the future there will likely be a USB JTAG Emulator for the 'F2812,
> and perhaps I'll upgrade to a better Xilinx cable.  Also will probably
> get into some Xilinx FPGAs and 3rd party development boards, but just
> need to be sure I can work my present tools.
>
> Anyone have any serious problems with Dell laptops for these or other tools?
>
>
> Thanks for input.
>
>
>
> --
> Good day!
>
> ________________________________________
> Christopher R. Carlen
> Principal Laser&Electronics Technologist
> Sandia National Laboratories CA USA
> crcarleRemoveThis@BOGUSsandia.gov
> NOTE, delete texts: "RemoveThis" and
> "BOGUS" from email address to reply.


Article: 109222
Subject: Re: Dell Laptop for Embedded Work
From: pbdelete@spamnuke.ludd.luthdelete.se.invalid
Date: 22 Sep 2006 07:13:29 GMT
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
In comp.arch.fpga Chris Carlen <crcarleRemoveThis@bogussandia.gov> wrote:
>Hi:

>I'm considering to buy a Dell Precision M90 laptop to replace a regular 
>PC on a cart that was used to wheel around and program various embedded 
>devices.

"beware" of the batteries..
  http://www.tomshardware.se/nyheter/news.php?date=1158842777
  http://news.com.com/2100-1005-6115710.html

Seems sony batteries = potential bomb.. ;), due metal dirt inside that cause
spurious shortcircuit.

Anyway I think parallell port is bye-bye. Make a strategy to phase it out.
Problem will just be worse by time. Besides with fpga knowhow you could make
your own hw tools if needed ;)


Article: 109223
Subject: Re: Lattice ispMACH4000 eval boards
From: lb.edc@telenet.be
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 08:02:03 GMT
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
Hi Rick,

There is a site in Germany that has some boards available at low
prices.
The site is www.hardware-design.de. The guy is quite flexible on
shipping. He still might have some boards ready from the shelf.

Good luck,

Luc

On 20 Sep 2006 19:44:16 -0700, "rickman" <gnuarm@gmail.com> wrote:

>I want to do some testing on some of the low power CPLDs and I can't
>find a decent test board for the Lattice ispMACH4000 parts or the XPLA3
>parts.  The XPLA3 parts are hard to find on a good eval board because
>they are a bit long in the tooth and even though they are a good choice
>when you want to use a single supply (or need 5 volt tolerance) support
>for them is starting to wane.  The only good eval board for the XPLA3
>parts that I can find is from India.
>
>The MACH4000 parts are a whole different matter.  Lattice has an eval
>board that uses the LC4032ZC or the LC4064ZC chip, but nothing larger.
>It also has terrible documentation.  Further I believe I am hearing
>that they never intended it to be an eval board, but rather a marketing
>tool to compare their part to an X brand part.  So it was pushed into
>eval service with little documentation and support.  With no third
>party eval board that I can find and the Lattice board with a $500
>price tag and no useful documentation, it looks like I will have to go
>with the XC2C128 part just by default!
>
>Anyone know of eval boards for the ispMACH4000 parts?

Article: 109224
Subject: Re: Fast Platform for ISE?
From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Michael_Sch=F6berl?= <MSchoeberl@mailtonne.de>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 10:24:04 +0200
Links: << >>  << T >>  << A >>
> The only info I have on core2duo by someone who is doing actual
> development (porting/compiling firefox) is that for compiles & links
> it's worse than his athlon 64 machine. I don't know anyone who has run
> ise or synplicity on a core2duo yet.
> http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=13431784

I'm not sure if compiling/linking can be compared to place&route?


I need a new ISE machine and today our "regular PC" would
have a Pentium D 930 @ 3GHz
can I expect any speedup with a core2duo? with Athlon64?


bye,
Michael



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