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FPGA Express Interface - Getting Started

Installing Foundation Express
Installing the Alliance version of FPGA Express
F1.5i/2.1i Setup with Foundation Express
Licensing and FPGA Express
Installing and Setting up XACT 6.0.x with FPGA Express in Windows 95


Installing Foundation Express


Foundation Express 1.5i/2.1i is installed with the Foundation 1.5i/2.1i toolsets. See the
Getting Started page within the Foundation Expert Journal for details.

Follow these instructions to install Foundation Express F1.5i/2.1i:

  1. Insert the Foundation Express CD into your CDROM drive. The install program will Auto-start if your computer has Auto-start enabled. If so, skip to Step 5.
  2. Right-click on the 'Start' button, which is on the gray Windows Taskbar, and select 'Explore'.
  3. Double-click on the CDROM in the Windows Explorer. The contents of the Foundation Express CD should now appear in the right-hand window of the Explorer.
  4. Double-click on the 'Setup' icon, which has 'Type' Application. This will start the install.
  5. Follow the instructions in the setup windows that appear. In the "Setup Type" window, select "Typical". We recommend using the default Destination Directory (C:\FNDTN), as this will place the Express software with the rest of the Foundation software.
  6. 'Install of Foundation Express Software' will take place first. The software will be located in the "synth" subdirectory of the Destination Directory


F1.5i/2.1i Setup with Foundation Express


In this example, the Xilinx Foundation tools have been installed for Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0. Foundation Express has also been installed under Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0. All the software has been installed to its default location in C:\FNDTN. The following settings must be placed in the autoexec.bat (Windows 95), or in the System Environment Control Panel (Windows 98 or NT 4.0)
SET XILINX=C:\FNDTN
SET PATH=C:\FNDTN\BIN\NT;%PATH%
SET LM_LICENSE_FILE=C:\FLEXLM\LICENSE.DAT


Licensing and FPGA Express


FPGA Express licensing is based on the Globetrotter FLEXlm licensing software. Software which uses FLEXlm must have an environment variable called LM_LICENSE_FILE set to the location of the license.dat file.

For Express that was purchased from Xilinx with the Foundation Series software, the license.dat will be the same as that for the Xilinx Implementation software. To upgrade your license.dat to support all the features of Foundation Express 2.1i (or earlier), see Xilinx Solution 6475.

For Express that was purchased from Synopsys, you will need a Synopsys hardware key and a Synopsys license.dat. Use the LM_LICENSE_FILE variable to point to both the Synopsys and Xilinx licenses. Use a semi-colon (;) to separate paths.

Since FPGA Express licensing was developed with Globetrotter FLEXlm software, FLEXlm troubleshooting software (like lmutil, lmstat, lmcksum, etc.) can be used to troubleshoot licensing problems with FPGA Express.


Installing and Setting up XACT 6.0.x with FPGA Express in Windows 95

These instructions have been written so you can use the Alliance version of FPGA Express with XACTstep 6.0.1 software.
  1. Install FPGA Express under Windows '95. (Remember, XACTstep 6.0.1 does not support Windows NT)
  2. Right-click on the 'Start' button , which is on the gray Windows '95 Taskbar, and select 'Explore'.
  3. Double-click on the CDROM icon in the Windows '95 Explorer. The contents of the XACT 5.2.x/6.0.x CD will appear in the right-hand window of the Explorer.
  4. Double-click on the 'Wn1' folder. A 'Install' folder will appear below the 'Wn1' folder.
  5. Double-click on 'Install'. Inside 'Install' a 'Winstall' icon will appear.
  6. Double-click on the 'Winstall' icon. The XACT 6.0.x install will now start.
  7. When the 'Main Window' window appears, click the 'Custom' button.
  8. The 'Custom Install' window appears next. There are three sections in this window.
  9. In the 'Packages' drop-down box, select 'DS-XXX-PC1 V6.0.1 Individual Products'
  10. In the 'Products' section, which is below 'Packages', select 'ds502 V6.0.1 FPGA Core Tools', and then click on the 'Sel/Desel' button.
  11. When the 'Sel/Desel' button is clicked, the 'Options in ds502' will list all the items that can be installed. Any of these items can be chosen not to install.
  12. Click on the 'Set path' button and verify where XACT 6.0.x will be installed.
  13. Click the 'continue' button and finish the install.
  14. Install the Xilinx Key. See page 2-5 of the Getting Started & Installation Guide, available from your Xilinx Distributor.
  15. After the XACT 6.0.x software has been installed and before rebooting your PC, check the XACT environment variable and path in your autoexec.bat file. In this example, the Xilinx software has been installed to C:\XACT. Substitute the appropriate directory paths that apply to your system:
    SET XACT=C:\XACT
    SET PATH=C:\XACT;%PATH%
    
  16. Reboot your system.

 
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