MCS File Generation and Alveo Card Programming

Alveo X3522PV Adaptable Accelerator Card User Guide (UG1607)
Document ID
UG1607
Release Date
2022-10-18
Revision
1.0 English

This section outlines the steps to generate and program the MCS file.

MCS File Generation

The MCS file represents the PROM image which is loaded onto the Alveo X3522PV adaptable accelerator card at power ON. It is generated using the write_cfgmem tool. This section outlines the steps to generate and program the MCS file.

Prior to generating the MCS file, ensure your project design constraints (XDC) file sets the following properties.

  • CONFIG_VOLTAGE
  • BITSTREAM.CONFIG.CONFIGFALLBACK
  • BITSTREAM.GENERAL.COMPRESS
  • CONFIG_MODE
  • BITSTREAM.CONFIG.SPI_BUSWIDTH
  • BITSTREAM.CONFIG.CONFIGRATE
  • BITSTREAM.CONFIG.EXTMASTERCCLK_EN
  • BITSTREAM.CONFIG.SPI_FALL_EDGE
  • BITSTREAM.CONFIG.UNUSEDPIN
  • BITSTREAM.CONFIG.SPI_32BIT_ADDR

Use the following command line with the parameters outlined in Table 1 to generate the MCS file.

write_cfgmem -force -format mcs -interface <interface_type> -size <size> -loadbit "up <user_config_region_offset> <input_file.bit>" -file "<output_file.mcs>"
Table 1. write_cfgmem Parameter Settings
write_cfgmem Parameter Setting
interface_type spix4
user_config_region_offset 0x01002000
size 256
input_file.bit Filename of the input .bit file
output_file.mcs MCS output filename

For additional details on write_cfgmem, see the UltraScale Architecture Configuration User Guide (UG570).

Program the Alveo Card

After the MCS file has been generated, use the following steps to flash the Alveo X3522PV using the Vivado hardware manager. Detailed steps for programming the FPGA are outlined in the chapter Programming the FPGA Device in the Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Programming and Debugging (UG908).

Recommended: Programming through ADK2 debug connector must be from a separate machine to avoid PCIe download link causing the server to reboot during programming. Alternatively, the PCIe link can be manually disabled through software and rescanned after programming is complete.
  1. Connect to the Alveo X3522PV using the Vivado hardware manager via the ADK2 debug connector. Details on connecting to the Alveo card through the ADK2 debug connector are provided in the Alveo Card Debug Kit User Guide (UG1538).
  2. Select Add Configuration Device and select the mt25qu02g-spi-x1_x2_x4 part.
  3. Right-click the target to select Program the Configuration Memory Device.
    1. Select the MCS file target.
    2. Select Configuration File Only.
    3. Click OK.
  4. After programming has completed, disconnect the card in the hardware manager, and disconnect the JTAG programming cable from the Alveo X3522PV.
  5. Perform a cold reboot on the host machine to complete the card update.