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[partial-reconfig] FPGAs Demystifying
Misters,
I will be rude with you, but this is definitely truth : there no FPGA
expert on the place , even worse for partial reconfiguration. So, please
be nice, do your homeworks and let's go the basics : to hack the
bitstream format, then develop a Linux Device Driver for Reconfigurable
Computing , instead of smoky publications => "OS for dynamically
reconfigurable hardware" , "intrinsic evolution" : all this stuff are
definitely buzzwords.
*Let's do the real people, do real code*
*To quote * :
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.arch.fpga/browse_thread/thread/fda609f68c199c55/2c33ce4ced68b3bc?lnk=st&q=What+would+you+say%2C+if+a+CPU+manufacturer+doesn%27t+make+available%0D%0Athe+processor+documentation+(instruction+set%2C+instruction+encoding).%0D%0AHe+only+gives+you+a+C+compiler+to+design+your+software+and%0D%0Aanything+below+is+the+secret+of+the+company.+Nobody+would+buy+such%0D%0Aa+processor%2C+but+that%27s+exactly+the+situation+with+FPGA%27s.+&rnum=1#2c33ce4ced68b3bc
What would you say, if a CPU manufacturer doesn't make available
the processor documentation (instruction set, instruction encoding).
He only gives you a C compiler to design your software and
anything below is the secret of the company. Nobody would buy such
a processor, but that's exactly the situation with FPGA's.
http://xwt.org/research/megacz-fccm07.pdf
In the world of FPGAs, the situation is quite dif-
ferent. Since the discontinuation of the XC6200 series
in 1998[17], the trend has been overwhelmingly in the
direction of bitstream secrecy. Currently no major vendor
discloses the bitstream format of their device. This has
had the effect of stunting research in several areas, in-
cluding partial reconfiguration, evolvable hardware, and
fault recovery. Additionally, alternative design method-
ologies such as self-timed circuitry or pausible clocks[18]
become difficult to implement properly if the manufac-
turer’s tools do not support them
So here is my starting point : A common philosophy ( OpenFlightLinux ),
An Open Source hardware kit ( Elphel ) and a Linux Kernel Driver for
Reconfigurable Hardware ( KAD )
http://openflightlinux.org/helpforum/index.php?topic=65.0
I look forward to your answer,
Best Regards,
Guillaume
--
"I consider life itself instinct for growth, for durability, for accumulation of forces, for power : where the will to power is lacking there is decline"
Friedrich Nietzsche
"Knowledge is Power."
Sir Francis Bacon
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