User Guide

Nios II Processor Application Copied from EPCS Flash to RAM Using Boot Copier
e EPCS address space is not mapped into the Altera Avalon EPCS Flash Controller’s Avalon MM slave
interface. Instead, read or write accesses are done through CSRs. Upon system reset, the EPCS device
needs to be initialized before usage.
For these reasons, the EPCS controller-based boot copier is required for initializing the EPCS device and
copying the Nios II application to RAM for execution.
e EPCS controller instantiates a block of boot ROM internally at its base address (oset 0x0, just before
EPCS controller’s CSRs) for storing the boot copier. Nios II reset vector oset must set to EPCS controller
base address, such that upon system reset the boot copier is executed rst to initialize the EPCS controller
and device.
Nios II Booting Elements
Nios II SBT Makele "mem_init_generate" Target
e Nios II SBT application makele “mem_init_generate” target is responsible for generating memory
initialization les using various le conversion tools. e les generated include a HEX le for the UFM
data, a HEX le for initialization of the on chip RAM in the SOF and a DAT le for initializing the on chip
ash model for simulation.
When required, the Nios II SBT tool automatically adds the Nios II processor default boot copier to the
system when the executable le (.elf) is converted to memory initialization le (.hex). is operation takes
place whenever the .text section is located in a dierent memory that the reset vector points to, which
indicates a code copy is required. e le conversion happens during execution of “make
mem_init_generate” command. e "make mem_init_generate" command generates dierent HEX le
content based on the specied boot options.
e mem_init_generate target also generates a Quartus Prime IP le (meminit.qip). Quartus Prime
soware refers to the .qip le for the location of the initialization le. is .qip le has to be added into
Quartus Prime project if "Initialize ash content" is enabled in Altera On-chip Flash (UFM) or Altera On-
chip Memory (OCRAM) IP.
is makele target is an important element for Quartus Prime programming ow method.
Convert Programming Files Option
Convert Programming Files option in Quartus Prime soware is used to convert programming les from
one le format to another. is tool is used for combining a *.sof and a *.hex le into a single *.pof or *.jic
le for programming into the conguration or booting device.
is tool is important for Quartus Prime programming ow method.
Related Information
Quartus Prime Handbook, Volume 3: Verication
For more information about the convert programming les option, refer to the "Quartus Prime
Programmer" chapter in volume 3 of the Quartus Prime Handbook.
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Nios II Processor Application Copied from EPCS Flash to RAM Using Boot Copier
UG-20001
2016.05.24
Altera Corporation
Generic Nios II Booting Methods User Guide
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