Guide to update CT60/CTPCI

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There are two ways to update the CPLD of the CT60.
You can either use a PC or the Falcon to flash the CDPL firmware. This short procedure documented here uses the Windows PC for this task.

Things you need

Fig 1: JTAG parallel cable from eBay
  1. You'll need a PC with a parallel port (true parallel port, no USB adapters) running Windows XP or above.
  2. Download and install the Xilinx ISE Webpack from www.xilinx.com
    This is a big 4GB software package, you only need iMPACT app within it. But you have to download the entire 4GB package.
  3. Get/buy/build the Xilinx Parallel cable III programming adapter
    You can get from major stores or a cheap JTAG Cable from ebay. Search "xilinx parallel" in eBay (Fig 1).
  4. Download the latest CDPL firmware for the CT60 and/or CTPCI from PowerPhenix website.
    You can update either CT60 & CTPCI individually or do both at once.
    For CT60, you need to obtain the correct pairs to use, otherwise you get instability. The CT60 firmware page is here.
    For CTPCI, there is only one file, The CTPCI firmware page is here.


Preparation on the PC side

  1. Install the XilinX ISE Webpack on your PC if you have not done so. You need an activation key for this software.
    You can easily get this by filling in a simple questionaire about the usage of this software. An activation key will be issued to you almost immediately.
  2. Get ready the CPLD firmware that you want to flash into your CT60 and/or CTPCI.
  3. Power off your PC.
  4. Plug in the JTAG cable to the PC parallel port.
  5. Keep the PC power off for now.


Flashing the CT60

Connecting up the cable on CT60

Fig 2: JTAG pins at right rear of CT60

Connecting the cable from your PC parallel port to the CT60 should take you 2-3 minutes.

  1. Power off the Falcon.
  2. Open up your Falcon and expose the CT60. The CT60 must be mounted in your Falcon to do this programming. If you have a CTPCI, you can also leave it mounted on the CT60 or have it removed, there is no difference.
  3. Locate the JTAG pins (6 pins + 1 key) at the right hand rear of the CT60 board. These are labeled as RESERVED (Fig 2).
  4. Connect the JTAG wires onto these pins, making sure of the names are correctly aligned to that of your cable.
    • The board pin names are listed below. The JTAG pins are highlighted in RED.
    • Wrong alignment between the board pins and your cable wires will be disastrous, needless to say.
  5. Keep your Falcon powered off.
CT63 connector pinout (pin #1 at left) :
1 = ATX POWER Switch
2 = ATX POWER Switch Ground
3 = CT63 ON/OFF Switch
4 = CT63 ON/OFF Switch Ground
5 = IDE LED +
6 = IDE LED -
7 = RESET Switch
8 = RESET Switch Ground
9 = POWER LED +
10 = POWER LED -
11 = POWER LED - 
12 = JTAG_VCC
13 = JTAG_GND
14 = Key
15 = JTAG_TCK
16 = JTAG_TDO
17 = JTAG_TDI
18 = JTAG_TMS

Programming the CPLD

  1. Power up your PC.
  2. Run the iMPACT Software
    It's located at START > Xilinx ISE Design Suite 13.3 > ISE DEsign Tool > Tools > iMPACT
  3. The app will load and you will see the following welcome screen (Fig 3). Leave it as it is and move over to your Falcon.
  4. Turn on your Falcon now.
    It will boot up as per normal but as you proceed to the next few steps it will hang. This is normal.
  5. Back to the PC, click the OK on the iMPACT Welcome screen.
  6. The iMPACT will detect your CPLD devices on the CT60.
  7. It will then ask you to load the jed files for each CPLD found.
    1. These are the jed files which you already downloaded from PowerPhenix site earlier.
    2. The first file will be for the ABE, so select the latest ABE file that you want to flash. Note the 1st GREEN device on the screen (Fig 4).
    3. The second file will be for the SDR, so select the latest SDR file that you want to flash. Note the 2nd GREEN device on the screen (Fig 5).
  8. It will now ask you for programming properties for each of the devices (Fig 6)
    1. Select the 1st device and click APPLY.
    2. Select the 2nd device and click APPLY.
    3. Click OK to complete and close the programming properties window.
  9. You are now ready to do the Erase, Check Blank, Program and Verify for the ABE (Fig 7)
    1. Right click on the ABE icon and select Erase.
    2. Right click on the ABE icon and select Check Blank.
    3. Right click on the ABE icon and select Program. (Fig 8)
    4. Right click on the ABE icon and select Verify.
    None of these should give you an error. If it does, check your connections.
    The entire process should not take more than 2 minutes (it's done in seconds !!)
  10. Once completed ABE programming, do the same 4 steps for the SDR icon.
    1. Right click on the SDR icon and select Erase.
    2. Right click on the SDR icon and select Check Blank.
    3. Right click on the SDR icon and select Program.
    4. Right click on the SDR icon and select Verify.
  • Screenshot of iMPACT during CT60 CDLP programming
  • Fig 3: iMPACT welcome screen

    Fig 3: iMPACT welcome screen

  • Fig 4: Selecting ABE jed file

    Fig 4: Selecting ABE jed file

  • Fig 5: Selecting SDR jed file

    Fig 5: Selecting SDR jed file

  • Fig 6: Programming properties

    Fig 6: Programming properties

  • Fig 7: Selecting device task

    Fig 7: Selecting device task

  • Fig 8: Programming status

    Fig 8: Programming status

Completing the process

  1. Power off your Falcon.
  2. Close the iMPACT software on the PC and shutdown the PC.
  3. Remove the JTAG cable from the pins of the CT60.
  4. Assemble your Falcon case.
  5. Power on the Falcon and check that it is working and the new firmware is loaded.
    Note that it is near to impossible to see that new firmware as the firmware version will still be reported as the old version before you do the upgrade.
    This is due to the inability of the iMPACT to update the version on the CT60.

You have completed the update of the firmware for your CT60.


Flashing the CTPCI

Connect up the cable on CTPCI

Fig 9: JTAG pins at right front of CTPCI

Connecting the cable from your PC parallel port to the CTPCI should take you 2-3 minutes.

  1. Power off the Falcon.
  2. Open up your Falcon and expose the CTPCI. The CT60 & CTPCI must be mounted in your Falcon to do this programming.
  3. Locate the JTAG pins (6 pins + 1 key) at the right hand front of the CTPCI board. These are labeled as J6 (Fig 9) below the CTPCI word.
  4. Connect the JTAG wires onto these pins, making sure of the sequence are correctly aligned to that of your cable (Fig 10).
    • The board pin are listed below. There is no name on them, so align them correctly.
    • Wrong alignment between the board pins and your cable wires will be disastrous, needless to say.
  5. Keep your Falcon powered off.
Fig 10: Connected JTAG pins of CTPCI
1 = JTAG_VCC
2 = JTAG_GND
3 = Key
4 = JTAG_TCK
5 = JTAG_TDO
6 = JTAG_TDI
7 = JTAG_TMS

Programming the CPLD

  1. Power up your PC.
  2. Run the iMPACT Software
    It's located at START > Xilinx ISE Design Suite 13.3 > ISE DEsign Tool > Tools > iMPACT
  3. The app will load and you will see the welcome screen. Leave it as it is and move over to your Falcon.
  4. Turn on your Falcon now.
    It will boot up as per normal but as you proceed to the next few steps it will hang. This is normal.
  5. Back to the PC, click the OK on the iMPACT Welcome screen.
  6. The iMPACT will detect your CPLD devices on the CTPCI.
  7. It will then ask you to load the jed file for the CTPCI CPLD found. Note the only GREEN device on the screen (Fig 11).
  8. It will now ask you for programming properties for the device, click OK to apply and close the properties window (Fig 12).
  9. You are now ready to do the Erase, Check Blank, Program and Verify for the CTPCI CPLD (Fig 13)
    1. Right click on the CTPCI icon and select Erase.
    2. Right click on the CTPCI icon and select Check Blank.
    3. Right click on the CTPCI icon and select Program.
    4. Right click on the CTPCI icon and select Verify.
    None of these should give you an error. If it does, check your connections.
    The entire process should not take more than 2 minutes (it's done in seconds !!)
  • Screenshot of iMPACT during CTPCI CDLP programming
  • Fig 11: Selecting CTPCI jed file

    Fig 11: Selecting CTPCI jed file

  • Fig 12: CTPCI Programming properties

    Fig 12: CTPCI Programming properties

  • Fig 13: Selecting device task

    Fig 13: Selecting device task

Completing the process

  1. Power off your Falcon.
  2. Close the iMPACT software on the PC and shutdown the PC.
  3. Remove the JTAG cable from the pins of the CTPCI.
  4. Assemble your Falcon case.
  5. Power on the Falcon and check that it is working and the new firmware is loaded.
    Note that it is near to impossible to see that new firmware as the firmware version will still be reported as the old version before you do the upgrade.
    This is due to the inability of the iMPACT to update the version on the CTPCI.

You have completed the update of the firmware for your CTPCI.




Back to CT60


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