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FIL Simulation with HDL Workflow Advisor for MATLAB

Step 1: Start HDL Workflow Advisor

Follow instructions for invoking the HDL Workflow Advisor in MATLAB®. See Getting Started with the HDL Workflow Advisor (HDL Coder).

Note

You must have an HDL Coder™ license to generate HDL code using the HDL Workflow Advisor.

Step 2: Select Target

Under Select Code Generation Target, make sure Workflow is set to Generic ASIC/FPGA.

Step 3: Select Workflow

Under HDL Verification, select Verify with FPGA-in-the-Loop.

Step 4: Select FPGA-in-the-Loop Options

  1. Generate FPGA-in-the-Loop test bench: Select this option to generate a testbench for simulation with FPGA-in-the-loop.

  2. Log outputs for comparison plots: This optional selection lets you log and plot the outputs of the reference design function and the FPGA.

  3. Board Name: Select one of the FPGA development boards. If you have not yet downloaded an HDL Verifier™ FPGA board support package, select Get more boards. Then return to this step after you have downloaded an FPGA board support package.

  4. FPGA-in-the-Loop Connection: Select the FIL simulation connection method. The options in the drop-down menu update depend on the connection methods supported for the target board you selected. If the target board and HDL Verifier support the connection, you can choose Ethernet, JTAG, PCI Express, or USB Ethernet.

  5. Board IP Address and Board MAC Address:

    When you select an Ethernet connection for an FPGA board, you can adjust the board IP and MAC addresses, if necessary. If the board includes a processing unit, use the Guided Hardware Setup to configure the SD card.

    OptionInstructions
    Board IP address

    Use this option for setting the IP address of the board if it is not the default IP address (192.168.0.2).

    If the default board IP address (192.168.0.2) is in use by another device, or you need a different subnet, change the Board IP address according to the following guidelines:

    • The subnet address, typically the first three bytes of board IP address, must be the same as the subnet of the host IP address.

    • The last byte of the board IP address must be different from the last byte of the host IP address.

    • The board IP address must not conflict with the IP addresses of other computers.

      For example, if the host IP address is 192.168.8.2, then you can use 192.168.8.3, if available.

    Board MAC address

    Under most circumstances, you do not need to change the board MAC address. If you connect more than one FPGA development board to a single host computer, change the board MAC address for any additional boards so that each address is unique. You must have a separate NIC for each board.

    To change the Board MAC address, click in the Board MAC address field. Specify an address that is different from that belonging to any other device attached to your computer. To obtain the Board MAC address for a specific FPGA development board, refer to the label affixed to the board or consult the product documentation.

  6. Additional files

    Enter the names of any additional source files for the DUT. If you have more than one additional source file, use the ... button to add more.

  7. FPGA-in-the-Loop Test Bench Simulation Settings:

    If you want the HDL Workflow Advisor to open the FIL simulation, check the box for Simulate generated FPGA-in-the-Loop test bench.

FIL Over Ethernet

FIL Over JTAG

FIL Over PCI Express

Step 5: Generate FPGA Programming File and Run Simulation

If you have not yet run the previous steps, right-click Verify with FPGA-in-the-Loop and select Run to Selected Task. Otherwise, click Run.

This step generates a custom hdlverifier.FILSimulation System object™ that provides an interface to your design running on the FPGA board, and generates a testbench that uses this object to connect to the FPGA board.

If you selected Simulate generated FPGA-in-the-Loop test bench, this step loads the FPGA programming file onto the FPGA, and runs the automatically generated testbench with FPGA-in-the-loop.

If you did not select Simulate generated FPGA-in-the-Loop test bench, you must load the FPGA programming file manually, using either the customized toplevel_programFPGA function, or the programFPGA method of the generated object. Reminder: if you have not yet performed the Guided Hardware Setup or Set Up FPGA Design Software Tools, do so now before loading the programming files.

  • Generated toplevel_programFPGA function:

    ./toplevel_fil/toplevel_programFPGA

  • programFPGA object function:

    MYFIL.programFPGA

To run your design on the FPGA board, run the generated testbench, or use the generated object in your own MATLAB code. The first call to the object establishes communication with the FPGA board.