Course pages 2011–12

Lab Machine Setup

We STRONGLY encourage you to use revision control. This setup procedure will create a git repository on your nf-test machine; you may wish to orgainize your revision-control a different way at some future date.

Step-by-step instructions to set up your lab account

Note: Using vncserver, generating cores or viewing simulations require an X connection

Log in to one of the (SW02) lab machines (if the machine is running Windows - reboot into Linux).
Collect your groups machine number, ssh key and login password from the TAs. You will wish to add this ssh key to your key-chain
```
 ssh-add id_rsa-nf-testXX
```

Add the following lines to your $HOME/.ssh/config (creating it if necessary)

 $ mkdir .ssh && chmod 0700 .ssh
 $ cat >> .ssh/config
 ForwardAgent yes
 ForwardX11 yes
 ForwardX11trusted yes
 ^D
 $ chmod 0600 .ssh/config

Login to your machine using ssh
```
 ssh root@nf-testXX
```
Create a new git (or subversion) repository. To create a new repository with git:
```
 mkdir ~/netfpga_repo
 cd ~/netfpga_repo
 git init
```

Copy the hardware starter code:

 cp -r /usr/local/netfpga/* ~/netfpga_repo

Add the newly copied files into git:

 git add . 
 git commit -m "NetFPGA starter pack"

Checkout from your git repository the starter pack code
```
 git clone ~/netfpga_repo/ ~/netfpga
```
Verify that you have a direcory /root/netfpga and then logout and then log back in again. (This ensures the environment variables are all set correctly.)
```
 exit 
```
Create the necessary IP cores for the project as follows:
```
 cd netfpga/projects/bir_starter/synth
 make cores
```
Note: this process may be slow and can take 20-30 minutes.
Now synthesis the starter pack code in the same directory (netfpga/projects/bir_starter/synth):
```
 make 
```
Note: this process may be slow and can take 20-30 minutes.

Note also: this process will emit a considerable number of warnings, at this stage these are not of concern.
Verify that you can run the Xilinx synthesis tools:
```
 xst
```
If you are presented with a prompt similar the following then the synthesis tool works. (Type quit to exit):
```
 Release 10.1.03 - xst K.39 (lin)
 Copyright (c) 1995-2008 Xilinx, Inc.  All rights reserved.
 -->
```
Verify that you can run ModelSim:
```
 vsim
```
If ModelSim loads then your environment is set up correctly. Quit ModelSim and proceed with the lab

Warning: Files stored on nf-test machines are not backed up - and may be lost at any time. You must make sure that you regularly copy your files into your REAL home directory as a backed up.

Computer Laboratory

Lab Machine Setup

Step-by-step instructions to set up your lab account