This quick start guide describes the fastest possible path to a running operating system on a w11 on current Series-7 based boards. It leaves out legacy Spartan-3 and Spartan-6 designs, verification, test benches, test designs, and many other aspects. For all this consult the full INSTALL, the guide to boot operating systems, and the READMEs in doc. This write-up focuses on the steps prepare, build and boot, and gives one concrete example. For a quick look at the source code see doxygen source viewer.
First all required software must be installed
-
clone the w11 project, essentially
git clone https://github.com/wfjm/w11
for details see INSTALL#download.
-
ensure the packages required for the backend software are installed, see INSTALL#sysreq, and that Xilinx Vivado is installed.
-
set up the shell environment, see INSTALL#envvar,
export RETROBASE=<install-dir> export PATH=$PATH:$RETROBASE/tools/bin:. export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:$RETROBASE/tools/lib export TCLINC=/usr/include/tcl8.6 export TCLLIBNAME=tcl8.6 export XTWV_PATH=<install-path-of-vivado>
set up the TCL environment, see INSTALL#build-tcl
cd $HOME ln -s $RETROBASE/tools/tcl/.tclshrc . ln -s $RETROBASE/tools/tcl/.wishrc .
and ensure that USB
udev
rules for access and latency are set up, see tools/sys/README. -
compile the backend software tools
cd $RETROBASE/tools/src time make -j 4 cd $RETROBASE/tools/tcl setup_packages
see INSTALL#build-tools.
All details of the Vivado implementation flow are encapsulated by the
build system in a simple make
command
cd $RETROBASE/rtl/sys_gen/w11a/<board>
time make sys_w11a_<btype>.bit
with the currently supported combinations
board btype memory Comment
arty arty 3840 kB Digilent Arty A7-35 board
basys3 b3 176 kB Digilent Basys3 board
cmoda7 c7 672 kB Digilent Cmod A7 board
nexys4 n4 3840 kB Digilent Nexys4 board (cellular RAM)
nexys4d n4d 3840 kB Digilent Nexys A7-100 board (DDR2)
The FPGA is configured via the Vivado hardware server with
make sys_w11a_<btype>.vconfig
A variety of oskits is provided under tools/oskit. The quick start guide describes only how to boot plain 2.11BSD. The full-featured 211bsd_rp can be used when more than 1024 kB memory is available, for systems with 512 to 1024 kB memory use the pruned down 211bsd_rpmin. For 2.11BSD with Ethernet, other OS, and more details consult w11a_os_guide.
Key steps are
-
consult the README in the oskit directory and download the disk image files, typically with a
wget
andtar
command -
set up
vt100
emulator windowscd $RETROBASE/tools/oskit/<oskit-name> console_starter -d DL0 & console_starter -d DL1 &
-
configure the board switches (important!!) and start the backend software with the options as described in w11a_os_guide#rlink, typically
cd $RETROBASE/tools/oskit/<oskit-name> ti_w11 <options> @<oskit-name>_boot.tcl
Hit
<ENTER>
in theDL0vt100
console window to connect, than follow the expected startup sequence on the consoleDL0vt100
is described in the README in the oskit directory.
The recipe was tested
-
system environment
- Kubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) with gcc 9.4.0
- Vivado 2020.1
- on 2022-04-29
-
after commit 7ec5be2a
cd $RETROBASE/tools/src time make -j 4 # real 3m5.530s user 5m9.533s sys 0m22.052s
-
for design
nexys4d
for Nexys4 DDR or Nexys A7-100 boards.cd $RETROBASE/rtl/sys_gen/w11a/nexys4d time make sys_w11a_n4d.bit # real 21m40.918s user 10m39.529s sys 1m17.014s time make sys_w11a_n4d.vconfig # real 0m35.288s user 0m21.578s sys 0m2.369s
-
for oskit
211bsd_rp
-
in Linux terminal
cd $RETROBASE/tools/oskit/211bsd_rp 211bsd_rp_setup console_starter -d DL0 & console_starter -d DL1 & # set board switches to SWI = 00000000 00101000 ti_w11 -tuD,12M,break,cts @211bsd_rp_boot.tcl
-
in window
DL0 vt100
hit<ENTER>
to connect to backend, than see output and do required inputs as written in the README:70Boot from xp(0,0,0) at 0176700 : {<CR>} : xp(0,0,0)unix Boot: bootdev=05000 bootcsr=0176700 ... # ^D ... login: {root}
-
feel free to explore also the second console in window
DL1 vt100
, hit<ENTER>
and start a 2nd session on the 2.11BSD system. -
when done with exploring 2.11BSD do proper system shutdown
- in 211bsd session type
shutdown -h now
- in
ti_w11
session wait forCPU attention
andH:cpu0
prompt, than exit with^D
.
- in 211bsd session type
-