HMPSoC-MORTEZA-SINNEN-ZORAN

Development of heterogeneous multiprocessor system on chip - Made in collaboration with BIGLARI-ABHARI

Getting Started

The first thing that needs to be done after cloning this repo is to initialise the submodules, using

git submodule update --init

Important

Before attempting any synthesis or simulation, you need to generate the correct file paths. To do this you need to run the python configuration scripts.

After cloning the repo, and updating the submodules, you need to configure the absolute file paths to point to the right location on your machine. This is done through running a python script from a terminal of your choice:

• run python generate_file_paths.py
• run py generate_file_paths.py (if using Windows Store managed Python Distribution)

Warning

If the above does not work, you should navigate to src/vhdl/Constants/FilePaths.vhd and ASPs/VHDL-ADC/src/vhdl/FilePaths.vhd replace the constants with the absolute path.

Repository structure

• ASPs

  • Contains all the source folders derived using git submodules of the ASPs developed in the IP for each indivdual member

• ip

  • Contains altera IP cores

• ReCOPs

  • Contains the ReCOP used in the HMPSoC, designed by wolf and chode and sinnen

• quartus

  • garbage
    • Contains the .qpf file which should be used to synthesise the project for programming the DE1-SOC board and checking resource usage.
  • Has all the files generated by platform designer such as the NIOS II core (the .qsys file is included).
  • software
    • Contains the BSPs and required C code to run on KNEEOS II

• src

  • Contains all of the new sources files developed for the integration of the ReCOP and individual ASPs.
  • MIPS
    • Contains the MIPS assembly code used to program the ReCOP with.
  • recop_programs
    • Contains the .MIF files generated from assembling the code written in the MIPS folder
  • vhdl
    • Contains all the source files used for synthesis of the HMPSoC
    • constants
      • Created to store files that reduce code duplication
    • custom_instructions
      • Has the custom instructions made for the KNEEOS II processor used in the HMPSoC
    • TdmaMin
      • Contains ZORAN SALCIC's implementation of the TDMA-MIN NOC architecture

• test

  • Has all of the source code for the testbenches
  • Also contains the .do scripts used to automate running the testbenches

Running the testbenches

Note

To get this up and running it is recommended that you have python installed. If you do not, you will have to follow the manual steps outlined in the troubleshooting section

Warning

All commands specified here must be run from the directory that this README.md is located in.

1. py open_modelsim.py

• This will compile all required files for the HMPSoC

2. In the modelsim console you may now run testbenches with the command test/run_testbench_<testbench_name>.do. The available ones are as follows

• run_testbench_asp_integration.do Shows the operation of all the ASPs enabled and with their default configs
• run_testbench_environment_integration.do Shows operation of the ASPs with basic configs coming in from the switches (only a small subset of the available configurations are included)
• run_testbench_valued_switches.do Shows the operation of the HMPSoC NoC with different values on the switches - meaning in some periods the ASPs are configured to different modes such as passthrough etc

Programming onto an FPGA

The program the HMPSoC onto an FPGA, you must first compile the HMPSoC project in quartus.

After doing this, you need to program your FPGA with the HMPSoC. This is done by opening the Quartus programmer and programming your FPGA with the output file of the compilation process.

Setting up Nios II Eclipse Build Tools

Once the FPGA has been loaded with the HDL bitstream, you need to load the NIOS II code onto the NIOS II processor. To do this, you must first open The Eclipse Build Tools by clicking Tools > Nios II Software Build Tools for Eclipse. Then after eclipse opens, you need to select your workspace. This workspace does not have to be inside the repository. Then, in Eclipse - with your workspace open - you can click File > Import, and select the General > Exsting Projects into Workspace option. In the next dialog menu, choose the root directory as the root directory of this repository - 2 two project should show up after select the directory. You can then click Finish. Lastly, you need to regenerate the BSP of your Nios II code. To do this, right click on the BSP project, and click Nios II > Generate BSP. You can now fully build your Nios II code.

Building Nios II Code in Eclipse

Hit Ctrl-B to build your code in Eclipse. Then, once built, click Run > Run configurations, and then double click on Nios II Hardware. This should create a new run configuration. On the first page, select the current project name, and in the Target Connections page, make sure you can see a target connection. Note that the FPGA must be plugged in and programmed at this point in time.

You can then click Run to load the code onto the Nios II Core!

Troubleshooting

Important

If you do not have python installed you will need to follow the outlined steps.

1. Open modelsim manually
2. Change directory to the folder this README.md is located
3. Run do compile.do in the Modelsim console
4. You may now run the testbenches using the scripts defined in the section running the testbenches. This is using the format test/run_testbench_<testbench_name>.do.