Test Engine FPGA IP User Guide: Agilex™ 5 and Agilex™ 7 FPGAs

ID 817758
Date 7/08/2024
Public

A newer version of this document is available. Customers should click here to go to the newest version.

Document Table of Contents

5.1. Overview

The software package for Test Engine IP allows you to describe traffic programs and interact with live hardware.

User Flow

Get the software package from IP-generation for a configured Test Engine IP. Generating the IP outputs the following software modules in the specified file hierarchy:
  • Python library
    • <ip_instance_name>/hydra_software_100/synth/sw/pyhydra

  • User programs
    • <ip_instance_name>/hydra_software_100/synth/sw/main.py

    • <ip_instance_name>/hydra_software_100/synth/sw/traffic_patterns.py

  • System Console library
    • <ip_instance_name>/hydra_software_100/synth/sw/testengine_library.tcl

NOTE: <ip_instance_name> refers to the name of your Test Engine IP instance.

NOTE: You might find another set of software files under <ip_instance_name>/hydra_software_100/sim. These are equivalent to the "synth" files; you need to use only one of them.

Use the software package after the IP is generated. Preserve some project files (.ip, .qsys files) because the software uses these files to discover the hardware configuration. The software package can output files needed for compilation or simulation in the Quartus Prime Software, for example HEX files containing the traffic program.

Getting Started

Explore the following software modules:
  • Python library—provides the compiler and APIs to describe traffic programs
    • User programs—sample software programs utilizing the Python library

  • System Console library—provides functions to interact with Test Engine IP on a device, and a default test sequence

Disclaimers

Altera provides Test Engine IP as a beta version where its functionality and software APIs are subject to change in future releases.

You must update any scripts using this library if the function names and behaviors change in future releases.