Intel® Agilex™ Configuration User Guide

ID 683673
Date 1/14/2022
Public

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5.5.2. Generating an Application Image

You can generate the RSU image from the command line directly, by running the quartus_pfg with the following arguments:
quartus_pfg -c fpga.sof application.rpd -o mode=ASX4 -o start_address=<address> -o bitswap=ON
Note: If you selected to use relative address option, skip the start_address argument in your command line.
Note: The rsu1.tcl script that Intel provides performs the bit swap operation. Consequently, if you are using this script, set bitswap=OFF in the command above.

Alternatively, you can use the Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Programming File Generator to generate the .rpd image by completing the following procedure:

  1. On the File menu, click Programming File Generator.
  2. Select Intel® Agilex™ from the Device family drop-down list.
  3. Select the configuration mode from the Configuration mode drop-down list. The current Intel® Quartus® Prime only supports remote system update feature in Active Serial x4.
  4. On the Output Files tab, assign the output directory and file name.
  5. Select the output file type.
    • Raw Programming File (.rpd)
  6. In Intel® Quartus® Prime software version 20.4 or earlier, click the Edit… button and assign the Start address for the image in flash memory. This Start address must match the starting address of the target partition in flash memory. If the address is incorrect, the image does not load successfully when you trigger an update with this image.

    In Intel® Quartus® Prime software version 21.1 or later, a Use relative address option is the default option to generate a single application bitstream. You do not have to specify the start address since you may program the image to any available location in the QSPI flash memory. To load the image, you must correctly point to the starting address of the stored image in flash memory.

    If you choose to disable this option, unselect the Use relative address checkbox. You must provide the Start address for the image in flash memory.

    Figure 72. Specifying Parameters for an Application .rpd Stored in Flash Memory
  7. By default, the .rpd file type is little-endian, if you are using a third-party programmer that does not support the little-endian format. Set the Bit swap to On to generate the .rpd file in big endian format.
    Note: The rsu1.tcl script that Intel provides performs the bit swap operation. Consequently, if you are using this script, set Bit swap to Off.
  8. On the Input Files tab, click Add Bitstream. Change the Files of type to SRAM Object File (*.sof). Then, select application image .sof file and click Open.
    Figure 73. Specify the .sof File
  9. Click Generate to generate the remote system update programming files. You can now program the flash memory. You can save the configuration in a .pfg file for later use.