FPGA Image Overview

Handling FPGA Images

Platform
Napatech SmartNIC
Content Type
User Guide
Capture Software Version
Link™ Capture Software 12.11

FPGA images

The main headlines for the FPGA images are:

  • An important part of the functionality of an NT SmartNIC resides in the FPGA.
  • The FPGA is programmed on a power cycle event by inspecting flash memory on board the SmartNIC for valid FPGA binary images.
  • An NT SmartNIC has two flash image banks.
  • These two banks contain identical FPGA images at manufacturing for single-image SmartNICs and different FPGA images for multi-image SmartNICs.
  • It is possible for the user to update the FPGA images in the flash memory.
  • One bank is defined to contain the primary image; the other is defined to contain the secondary image.
  • It is possible for the user to configure which of the two banks contains the primary image.
  • The two banks are numbered 0 (zero) and 1 (one) and commonly referred to as bank 0 or bank 1.
  • Under normal operation the FPGA will boot using the primary image bank.
  • FPGA images are distributed in .ntimg container packages that are named according to the target product and FPGA version and are obtained from supportportal.napatech.com (the Napatech Support Portal).