Working with IP Sources - 2023.2 English

In the Vivado IDE, you can add and manage the following types of IP cores in an RTL project:

• Vivado Design Suite AMD Core Instance files (XCI)

  XCI format IP cores are native to the Vivado Design Suite and can be added to the design or project by customizing the IP core from the AMD IP catalog, or by using the File > Add Sources command to directly add the files. The XCI file stores the configuration and constraint options for an IP core that you specify, or customize, when you add the IP to a design.

  Important: When using IP in either Project Mode or Non-Project Mode, always add the XCI file to the design; not a synthesized DCP file. The use of the XCI file ensures that the output products of the IP core that are needed by the tool are generated and used consistently throughout the design flow.
• Vivado Design Suite Core Container files (XCIX)

  The Core Container feature simplifies working with revision control systems by providing a single file representation of an IP. The IP configuration and all generated output files are contained in one compressed binary file with an extension of XCIX. This extension is similar to the XCI file used for the IP customization file and works in a similar way. When adding or reading an IP, you can specify the XCIX file. For more information, see the Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Designing with IP (UG896).

• User IP packaged with Vivado IP packager (XCI)

  The Vivado Design Suite User Guide: Creating and Packaging Custom IP (UG1118) describes how to package user-defined IP for use in the AMD IP catalog. User IP repositories can be added to the catalog using the IP_REPO_PATHS property, which defines the path for one or more directories containing third-party or user-defined IP. Refer to the IP_REPO_PATHS property in Vivado Design Suite Properties Reference Guide (UG912) for more information.

• CORE Generator™ IP cores (XCO)

  Legacy IP from the CORE Generator tool are supported by the Vivado Design Suite. These legacy IP are locked when imported into a design, and require a corresponding NGC (netlist) file to support implementation of the IP into a design. Otherwise, if an XCI upgrade for the IP is available, you can right-click the IP core, and select Upgrade IP from the right-click menu.

• Third-party IP Netlists

  In some cases, third-party providers offer IP as synthesized NGC or EDIF netlists. You can load these files into a project or design as hierarchical design sources using the Add Sources command. For information, see Creating and Adding Design Sources.