Agilex™ 7 M-Series FPGA Network-on-Chip (NoC) User Guide

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ID 768844
Date 1/27/2025
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
Answers to Top FAQs 1. Network-on-Chip (NoC) Overview 2. Hard Memory NoC in Agilex™ 7 M-Series FPGAs 3. NoC Design Flow in Quartus® Prime Pro Edition 4. NoC Real-time Performance Monitoring 5. Simulating NoC Designs 6. NoC Power Estimation 7. Hard Memory NoC IP Reference 8. Document Revision History of Agilex™ 7 M-Series FPGA Network-on-Chip (NoC) User Guide
1. Network-on-Chip (NoC) Overview x
1.1. Introduction to Agilex™ 7 M-Series FPGAs 1.2. Terminology for Intel Agilex® 7 M-Series FPGAs 1.3. General NoC Architecture and Applications
1.3. General NoC Architecture and Applications x
1.3.1. General NoC Architecture 1.3.2. Example NoC Applications
1.3.2. Example NoC Applications x
1.3.2.1. Parallel Computing NoC Application 1.3.2.2. SmartNIC NoC Application
2. Hard Memory NoC in Agilex™ 7 M-Series FPGAs x
2.1. High-Level Architecture 2.2. NoC Segments 2.3. NoC Switch and Link Detail 2.4. Fabric NoC 2.5. NoC Protocol Support 2.6. NoC Design Considerations
2.2. NoC Segments x
2.2.1. UIB Segments 2.2.2. GPIO-B Segments 2.2.3. GPIO-B and HPS Segment 2.2.4. SDM Segment 2.2.5. PLL and SSM Segment
2.5. NoC Protocol Support x
2.5.1. AXI4 Protocol Support 2.5.2. AXI4 Handshaking Support 2.5.3. Quality of Service (QoS) Support 2.5.4. Transaction Ordering Support 2.5.5. AXI4-Lite Protocol Support
2.6. NoC Design Considerations x
2.6.1. Determining the Number of NoC Targets 2.6.2. Determining the Number of NoC Initiators 2.6.3. Fabric NoC Considerations 2.6.4. Latency Considerations 2.6.5. Initiator and Target Bandwidth Considerations 2.6.6. Horizontal Bandwidth Considerations 2.6.7. Options for Managing NoC Bandwidth 2.6.8. GPIO-B Bypass Mode and Initiators
3. NoC Design Flow in Quartus® Prime Pro Edition x
3.1. Hard Memory NoC Design Flow Overview 3.2. Using NoC Example Designs 3.3. NoC Building Blocks 3.4. Connecting NoC IP 3.5. Making NoC Logical Assignments 3.6. Making NoC Physical Assignments Using Interface Planner 3.7. Compiling the NoC Design
3.1. Hard Memory NoC Design Flow Overview x
3.1.1. NoC Design Flow Options
3.3. NoC Building Blocks x
3.3.1. NoC Initiators for Hard Processor Systems 3.3.2. NoC Targets for Hard Processor Systems 3.3.3. NoC Initiators for Fabric AXI4 Managers 3.3.4. NoC Targets for Fabric AXI4 Managers 3.3.5. NoC Clock Control
3.4. Connecting NoC IP x
3.4.1. General NoC IP Connectivity Guidelines 3.4.2. Connectivity Guidelines: NoC Initiators for Fabric AXI4 Managers 3.4.3. Connectivity Guidelines: NoC Targets for Fabric AXI4 Managers 3.4.4. Connectivity Guidelines: NoC Clock Control 3.4.5. Connectivity Guidelines: NoC Initiators for HPS 3.4.6. Connectivity Guidelines: NoC Targets for HPS
3.4.1. General NoC IP Connectivity Guidelines x
3.4.1.1. Connecting NoC IP and Assigning Base Addresses in the Platform Designer Connection Flow 3.4.1.2. Connecting NoC IP and Assigning Base Addresses in the NoC Assignment Editor Connection Flow
3.5. Making NoC Logical Assignments x
3.5.1. Creating NoC Assignments for Compilation 3.5.2. Using the NoC Assignment Editor 3.5.3. Troubleshooting NoC Assignment Editor 3.5.4. NoC Connection and Addressing Examples
3.5.2. Using the NoC Assignment Editor x
3.5.2.1. Step 1: Make Group Assignments in the NoC Assignment Editor 3.5.2.2. Step 2: Make Connection Assignments in the NoC Assignment Editor 3.5.2.3. Step 3: Make Attribute Assignments in the NoC Assignment Editor 3.5.2.4. Step 4: Validate Logical NoC Assignments and Generate Simulation File
3.5.4. NoC Connection and Addressing Examples x
3.5.4.1. Example 1: External Memory Interface with 1 AXI4 Initiator and 1 AXI4-Lite Initiator 3.5.4.2. Example 2: Two External Memory Interfaces with One AXI4 Initiator and One AXI4-Lite Initiator 3.5.4.3. Example 3: One External Memory Interfaces with Two AXI4 Initiators and One AXI4-Lite Initiator 3.5.4.4. Example 4: Two High-Bandwidth Memory Pseudo-Channels with Two AXI4 Initiators (Crossbar) and Shared AXI4-Lite Initiator 3.5.4.5. Example 5: Hard Processor System with Two External Memory Interfaces
3.5.4.1. Example 1: External Memory Interface with 1 AXI4 Initiator and 1 AXI4-Lite Initiator x
3.5.4.1.1. Example 1: Platform Designer Connection Flow 3.5.4.1.2. Example 1: NoC Assignment Editor Connection Flow
3.5.4.2. Example 2: Two External Memory Interfaces with One AXI4 Initiator and One AXI4-Lite Initiator x
3.5.4.2.1. Example 2: Platform Designer Connection Flow 3.5.4.2.2. Example 2: NoC Assignment Editor Connection Flow
3.5.4.3. Example 3: One External Memory Interfaces with Two AXI4 Initiators and One AXI4-Lite Initiator x
3.5.4.3.1. Example 3: Platform Designer Connection Flow 3.5.4.3.2. Example 3: NoC Assignment Editor Connection Flow
3.5.4.4. Example 4: Two High-Bandwidth Memory Pseudo-Channels with Two AXI4 Initiators (Crossbar) and Shared AXI4-Lite Initiator x
3.5.4.4.1. Example 4: Platform Designer Connection Flow 3.5.4.4.2. Example 4: NoC Assignment Editor Connection Flow
3.5.4.5. Example 5: Hard Processor System with Two External Memory Interfaces x
3.5.4.5.1. Example 5: Platform Designer Connection Flow 3.5.4.5.2. Example 5: NoC Assignment Editor Connection Flow
3.6. Making NoC Physical Assignments Using Interface Planner x
3.6.1. Using Interface Planner 3.6.2. Recommended Placement Order for NoC Elements in Interface Planner 3.6.3. Hard Memory NoC Locations in Interface Planner 3.6.4. NoC Performance Reports in Interface Planner
3.7. Compiling the NoC Design x
3.7.1. Fitter NoC Reports 3.7.2. Viewing NoC Elements in Chip Planner
5. Simulating NoC Designs x
Abstract Simulation Model Accurate Simulation Model 5.1. Using the Abstract NoC Simulation Model 5.2. Using the Accurate NoC Simulation Model
5.1. Using the Abstract NoC Simulation Model x
5.1.1. Generating the Abstract Simulation Include File (Platform Designer Connection Flow) 5.1.2. Generating the Abstract Simulation Include File (NoC Assignment Editor Connection Flow) 5.1.3. Using the Abstract Simulation Include File
5.2. Using the Accurate NoC Simulation Model x
5.2.1. Generating the Accurate Simulation Include File 5.2.2. Using the Accurate Simulation Include File
6. NoC Power Estimation x
6.1. Using the Intel FPGA PTC to Estimate NoC Power
7. Hard Memory NoC IP Reference x
7.1. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP 7.2. NoC Clock Control Intel FPGA IP
7.1. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP x
7.1.1. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP Parameters 7.1.2. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP Interfaces
7.1.2. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP Interfaces x
7.1.2.1. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP AXI4/AXI4-Lite Interfaces 7.1.2.2. NoC Initiator AXI4 User Interface Signals 7.1.2.3. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP AXI4-Lite User Interface Signals 7.1.2.4. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP Clock and Reset Signals 7.1.2.5. NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP Platform Designer-Only Signals
7.2. NoC Clock Control Intel FPGA IP x
7.2.1. NoC Clock Control Intel FPGA IP Parameters 7.2.2. NoC Clock Control Intel FPGA IP Interfaces 7.2.3. NoC Clock Control Intel FPGA IP Platform Designer-only Signals
Answers to Top FAQs
1. Network-on-Chip (NoC) Overview
2. Hard Memory NoC in Agilex™ 7 M-Series FPGAs
3. NoC Design Flow in Quartus® Prime Pro Edition
4. NoC Real-time Performance Monitoring
5. Simulating NoC Designs
6. NoC Power Estimation
7. Hard Memory NoC IP Reference
8. Document Revision History of Agilex™ 7 M-Series FPGA Network-on-Chip (NoC) User Guide

5. Simulating NoC Designs

The NoC in Agilex 7 M-series devices supports both an abstract model and an accurate model for simulation of the NoC. The abstract and accurate models differ in the details modeled in simulation and in the design stage at which you can simulate the models.

Abstract Simulation Model

The NoC abstract simulation model includes design information about initiator-to-target connectivity and address mapping. However, the abstract model does not include NoC initiator and target physical placement data. Therefore, you can use the abstract model to verify connectivity, but not for modeling latency or throughput and traffic congestion affects. You can use the abstract model early in the design process, after generation of your Platform Designer system or after design Analysis & Elaboration.

Accurate Simulation Model

In addition to connectivity and address mapping, the accurate simulation model also includes initiator and target physical placement data. This placement data allows simulation to model the effects of placement on latency, throughput, and traffic congestion. However, the accurate simulation model only supports using the Fabric NoC option with high-bandwidth memory. The accurate model does not support designs using the Fabric NoC option with external memory interfaces. Because the accurate model requires placement data, you can use this model only after the Fitter generates the placement data. The accurate model is available after the Fitter's Place stage, or after the Fitter's Plan stage when not using the Fabric NoC option.

Table 13.  Comparison of Abstract and Accurate NoC Simulation Models
Abstract Model Accurate Model
Includes connectivity and address mapping Yes Yes
Includes placement information No Yes
Can model basic connectivity Yes Yes
Can model traffic latency, throughput, and congestion No Yes
Supports designs using the Fabric NoC option Yes Only with High-Bandwidth Memory
Design stage for use

After Platform Designer netlist generation (Platform Designer Connection flow)

After Analysis & Elaboration (NoC Assignment Editor Connection flow)

After Fitter Place stage (if using Fabric NoC option).

After Fitter Plan stage (if not using Fabric NoC option).
Supported Simulators

Cadence Xcelium

Siemens QuestaSim

Synopsys VCS

Siemens QuestaSim

Synopsys VCS

The abstract and accurate NoC simulation models are both for modeling the NoC itself. The models for the NoC-related IP generate during IP HDL generation. NoC-related IP includes the NoC Initiator Intel FPGA IP, High Bandwidth Memory (HBM2e) Interface Agilex 7 FPGA IP, and External Memory Interfaces (EMIF) IP. Refer to Introduction to Intel FPGA IP Cores for instructions on incorporating these models into your simulation netlist and generating the appropriate simulation scripts.

The NoC supports simulation using only one of these models at a time. To simulate using either model, ensure that your testbench only reads one of the models for a given simulation. You can use a variable to determine which model to read, as the following example shows. The following sections detail the variables to define and files to include for each model. 

`ifdef PERFORMANCE_ACC_NOC_SIM_MODEL_AGILEX
    `include “noc_sim_defparams.inc”    // Accurate NoC Simulation Model
‘else
    `include “<top_module>_noc_sim.inc” // Abstract NoC Simulation Model
`endif

Section Content
Using the Abstract NoC Simulation Model
Using the Accurate NoC Simulation Model

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