Nios® V Processor Software Developer Handbook

ID 743810
Date 7/08/2024
Public
Document Table of Contents

5.8.2. Boot from Flash Configuration

The reset address points to a bootloader in a flash memory. The bootloader initializes the instruction cache, copies each memory section to its virtual memory address (VMA), and then jumps to _start.

This boot configuration has the following characteristics:
  • alt_load() not called

  • No code at reset in executable file

The default Tcl script chooses this configuration when the memory associated with the processor reset address is a flash memory and the .text section is mapped to a different memory (for example, SDRAM).

Intel provides example bootloaders for QSPI flash memory in the <Intel Quartus Prime software installation directory>/niosv/components/bootloader folder, precompiled to Motorola S-record Files (.srec). You can use the Intel-provided bootloader or provide your own.

Table 23.   Intel-provided Bootloader
Intel-provided Bootloader Description Target Processor Core File Location
GSFI bootloader Nios® V processor boot copier that supports QSPI flash memory connected through Generic Serial Flash Interface Intel® FPGA IP. Nios® V/m processor <Intel Quartus Installation Directory>/niosv/components/bootloader/niosv_m_bootloader.srec
Nios® V/g processor <Intel Quartus Installation Directory>/niosv/components/bootloader/niosv_g_bootloader.srec