Uploading an FPGA Image to the Flash Memory

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

About this task

The process of uploading a new FPGA image is described in this table:

Procedure

  1. The SmartNIC must be in the NEUTRAL state before a new image can be uploaded (see NEUTRAL state).
  2. Executing a --program command will upload the new FPGA image. The image is always uploaded to the secondary image bank to ensure the reliability of the SmartNIC.
    Note: The imgctrl tool will not allow you to upload corrupted images or images meant for a different SmartNIC. It verifies the uploaded image by reading back the bank, comparing and computing cyclic redundancy to ensure the image is fully valid.

Results

Programming a new image does not forward the image state to IMAGE SWITCH EVENT ARMED. You must use the --switch command to arm the switching sequencer (see Switching the Image in a SmartNIC).

Note: Two different images can be uploaded in one command by also using the --ntimg2 argument.