TMDXEVMPCI and C6657 EVM - has this been tested? general questions.

Marc,

The C6657 EVM has been tested with the TMDXEVMPCI in a Linux PC.  In this configuration the EVM is powered from the PCIE backplane via the AMC connector.  The EVM was tested with the basic PCIE EP boot demos. 

Regards, Bill

Hi Bill,

Can you give me more information?

For the C6657 EVM with the TMDXEVMPCI, can the Desktop Linux SDK work?

http://software-dl.ti.com/sdoemb/sdoemb_public_sw/desktop_linux_sdk/latest/index_FDS.html

Best regards,

Daisuke

Daisuke,

The production 6657 EVM only uses RBL (NO IBL), due to some DSS clock setting issues in PCIE code, the 6657 EVM can’t be enumerated by a Linux or Windows PC using DSS clock. So the 6657 EVM + AMC-PCIE  adaptor card can't work in a PC enviornment unless the PC can be configured to generate narrow spectrum 100 MHz PCIE reference clock.

Did you have 6657 enumerated in your PC?

Regards, Eric

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your reply.

Our customer uses the C665x in their new product. They have the C6657 EVM and plan to buy the TMDXEVMPCI to evaluate the PCIe with a PC environment.
I am going to get information about their PC environment.

Is there more information about the DSS clock issues?

In the case using the C6678 EVM, are there no issues?

Can the EVM be powered from the PCIe PCB edge finger connector of the TMDXEVMPCI?

Best regards,

Daisuke

The production 6657 EVM boot directly from RBL (Rom boot loader) in PCIE boot mode, there may be some issue in the PCIE serdes setting in RBL code when using with a PC, typically with DSS clock.

For production 6678 EVM, it boots from IBL (intermediate boot loader) when in PCIE boot mode, the IBL code has some PCIE workaround for this DSS clock issue so 6678 EVM works fine with PC environment.  

The EVM is powered from PCIe PCB edge finger connector of the TMDXEVMPCI, no external power supply required.

Regards, Eric

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your reply.

When the C6657EVM boot by RBL from I2C EEPROM or SPI NOR Flash, can the user boot loader code have workaround for this issue? Can it work fine with PC environment?

Best regards,

Daisuke

Daisuke,

The RBL boot directly from ROM, not from EEPROM or NAND or NOR. In earlier PG of 6657, we have some FPGA code to re-direct the boot from IBL (not RBL) regardless of the boot pin setting. The IBL code is flashed to EEPROM, which has some workaround for PCIE in DSS enviornment. Later we moved those IBL code into the RBL and this FPGA approach was obsolete. For some issues in RBL code, the 6657 PCIE can't link up in DSS enviornment. I don't know if a way user boot loader code can resolve this.

Regards, Eric

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your reply.

I understand the RBL boot directly from ROM. Sorry for my poor English.
The C6657EVM has one I2C EEPROM and can use it for the I2C master mode. Similarly it has one SPI NOR Flash and can use it for the SPI boot mode.
For I2C and SPI boot the main PLL stays in bypass mode then the PCIE serdes setting should be left.
Therefore, if the 2nd stage boot code has some PCIE workaround for the DSS clock issue the C6657EVM should work fine with PC environment.

Where is the workaround found? Is there the IBL source code having the workaround?

Best regards,

Daisuke

Daisuke,

Using IBL on 6657 production EVM is NOT recommended. The IBL code has PCIE workaround, you need program IBL to I2C EEPROM and a special FPGA image to re-direct the boot through IBL. This is the procedure we used for some pre-production EVM card. We can't guarantee what may happen if you pursue this way and it is not supported.

Regards, Eric  

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your reply.

For I2C and SPI boot mode, is the special FPGA image needed? Can the Boot Switch Settings not support those boot modes without changing the current FPGA image?
I guess that it should be supported if the IBL code is changed. Can you provide the IBL source code having the workaround?

Our customer wants to get a evaluation environment for C665x PCIe with PC. Are there other solutions?

Best regards,

Daisuke

Daisuke,

"For I2C and SPI boot mode, is the special FPGA image needed? Can the Boot Switch Settings not support those boot modes without changing the current FPGA image?
I guess that it should be supported if the IBL code is changed. Can you provide the IBL source code having the workaround?"

A special FPGA image is required in this case. It will divert the boot to IBL first then re-entry boot rom. Without this FPGA image, the IBL code with PCIE workaround can't be executed.

Regards, Eric 

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your reply.

I contacted to the einfochips support team.

Here is the special FPGA image: https://www.einfochips.com/tms320c6657-lite-evm-support

"C6657 Gauss EVM_FPGA_v02.bit" is the special FPGA image file and has PCIe workaround. This bit file forcefully directs the boot process to the IBL from RBL and does work around for DSS environment, then redirects boot process to the RBL again.
This bit file can be used with all versions of boards and doesn't need any special IBL.

"C6657 Gauss EVM_FPGA_v03.bit " is the bit file flashed in all the production version of boards and doesn't have PCIe workaround. This bit file boots directly from RBL.

I am going to suggest to our customer using the C6657EVM with TMDXEVMPCI.

Best regards,

Daisuke

Hello Daisuke,

Can you try this?

1) report your evm version. just for me to confirm if it is the production evm.

2) if it is, select I2C bootmode so it will boot the IBL,not RBL. You would need to program the EEPROM. The IBL in BIOS MCSDK 2.1. 2.6 already supports PCIE workaround.

http://software-dl.ti.com/sdoemb/sdoemb_public_sw/bios_mcsdk/latest/index_FDS.html

The binary is here:

C:\ti\mcsdk_2_01_02_06\tools\program_evm\binaries\evm6657l

I don't have a production version to try with yet. Please test it and let me know the results. Thanks.

best regards,

David Zhou

Daisuke,

I am sorry but what I proposed will not work with existing IBL since it is I2C boot , IBL is not aware it will go to PCIe boot route. I will keep you posted on solutions.

regards,

David

Daisuke,

I am in the middle of ordering a production EVM for testing so this is not confirmed but I believe will work:

Downgrade your v0.3 FPGA image to v0.2 image by following the TMDSEVM665xL_FPGA_Upgrade_User_Guide.pdf in FPGA_Update.zip in this link:

https://www.einfochips.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&catid=13&Itemid=846

Then test it to see if it works or not. Note you wil be using the PCIe boot mode.

Best regards,

David Zhou

Hi David,

Thank you for your information.
Sorry for my late reply.

Probably our evm is the production evm. The serial number is written here: Prod-1237-246.

I cannot try the PCIe boot with PC environment because we don't have the TMDXEVMPCI. However our customer wants to use it to work with PC environment.

For flashing the bit file in FPGA, the einfochips support team said that one must has Xilinx FPGA programmer. The tools in FPGA_Update.zip may have some risk.

Best regards,

Daisuke

Hi Lali,

Thank you for your information.
Sorry for my late reply.

Best regards,

Daisuke

Hi Lali,

Our customer wants to test the PCIe boot with PC environment, but they do not know the detailed test method.

Lalindra Jayatilleke said:

Thereafter, PCIe boot worked fine when tested on an ATX chassis.

Please tell me your test environment.

 - What is the OS used on PC?

 - What is the PCIe device driver for C6657 used on PC?

 - What is the application software for PCIe boot used on PC?

 - What is the target program for C6657 used as boot image?

Best regards,

Daisuke

Hi Lali,

Daisuke Maeda said:

Please tell me your test environment.

 - What is the OS used on PC?

 - What is the PCIe device driver for C6657 used on PC?

 - What is the application software for PCIe boot used on PC?

 - What is the target program for C6657 used as boot image?

Some questions are added as follows:

 - How are the configuration switches SW3, SW5 and SW9 configured?

 - For the reference clock PCIECLKP/N, which clock of the onboard clock source CDCE62005 or the AMC connector is used?

Best regards,

Daisuke

Please check ti\mcsdk_2_01_02_06\tools\boot_loader\examples\pcie, all the info can be found there.

Regards, Eric

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your reply.

Best regards,

Daisuke