Search code examples
fpgahdlintel-fpgapci-e

Testing PCI Interface on FPGA

My boss has given a code for testing PCI express on an Altera board. The code consist of several c code files having instructions such as reading Bios, setting some registers, writing to buffers etc. My job at present is to see the functionality of the code by running it. I am new to FPGA and I am unable to understand what tools, compilers etc will I use for compiling it for the FPGA.

Since it is a C code so I am sure I cannot use the same environment as that of Verilog/VHDL. Can I get some hints as to what compilers are available for compiling C code for testing various interfaces of an FPGA?

Thanks and regards

H

Solution

  • If the FPGA board is just connected through a standard PCIexpress interface, it isn't that hard to create a Linux driver to simply access a couple of registers. This might even be easier to do than getting some old DOS-based drivers to work.

    I did some work on this in a pre-project to my masters thesis some years ago - if you're interested, it's available here: http://loejer.dk/files/FORK,%20pdf.zip