© April 2010 Altera Corporation Remote Configuration Over Ethernet with the Nios II Processor
Preliminary
AN-429-3.0
© April 2010
Remote Configuration Over Ethernet with
the Nios II Processor
Introduction
Firmware in embedded hardware systems is frequently updated over the Ethernet. For
embedded systems that comprise a discrete microprocessor and the devices it controls, the
firmware is the software image run by the microprocessor. When the embedded system
includes an FPGA, firmware updates include updates of the hardware image on the FPGA. If
the FPGA includes a Nios
®
II soft processor, you can upgrade both the Nios II processor—as
part of the FPGA image—and the software that the Nios II processor runs, in a single remote
configuration session.
This application note presents a methodology for implementing remote configuration in
Nios II-based systems. The Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) is used to upload images—
software, hardware, or binary data—to the system and to trigger reconfiguration. The web
server provided with the Nios II Embedded Development System (EDS) and the web server
that accompanies the Nios Embedded Evaluation Kit (NEEK) provide additional remote
configuration functionality. Providing yet another web-based method to upload images and
trigger reconfiguration, the Embedded Systems Development Kit, Cyclone
®
III Edition
(EDK) includes software that enables access to a Board Update Portal (BUP).
This application note contains the following sections:
■ “Assumptions and Requirements”
■ “High-Level Description” on page 3
■ “Software Example Explanation” on page 5
■ “Software Example Walkthrough” on page 9
■ “Additional Information” on page 15
■ “Summary” on page 17
Assumptions and Requirements
This document targets the systems engineer who wants to design a system for remote
configuration. It provides a simple application that implements basic remote configuration
features for the Nios II system.
The following sections describe the knowledge and experience assumed for the instructions
in this application note, and the hardware and software required to run the software
example.
Knowledge Requirements
This discussion of remote configuration assumes that you have the indicated level of
knowledge or experience in the following areas:
■ Knowledge of network programming, preferably sockets-based programming.
Knowledge of the TFTP protocol is not required; this application note provides a brief
description of the protocol as implemented in the remote configuration example.
剩余17页未读，继续阅读
资源评论
