Simple PCIe developer question

[jmonteiro-dme]

Hi,

Can i change my design - reprogram the FPGA - while the board (ML605 in my case) is connected to the PCIe slot? Will windows automatically detect my new design if, for instance, i change from 2 BARS to only one BAR?

Best,

JM

[martink]

Hello JM,

simple answer: yes, no. ;o)

You for sure can reprogamm the board, e.g. using iMPACT, however Windows will not recognise that. In the best case you will get you board simply ignored, worst case you get a blue screen.

If you were to reprogramm "anything" apart from the PCIe-interface you could achieve that using Partial Reconfiguration, however if you want to change the PCIe-interface you will need to reboot your Windows-PC.

Cheers,

Martin

[jmonteiro-dme]

Mabe the best is to program the PROM, hope not to get a blue screen as the FPGA is automatically programmed, and reboot. I have done this in the past with a PCI (not PCIe) board and if i remember correctly i have not had blue screens.

What's your advice?

Best,

JM

[kattice]

You can program the PCIe board while it's up and running.  After you programmed, go to control panel and update the driver again.  By doing that you can save time on rebooting PC.