Device Configuration User Guide: Agilex™ 5 FPGAs and SoCs

ID 813773
Date 4/01/2024
Public

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5.1.6. Updates with the Factory Update Image

In rare instances you may need to update flash memory with a new factory image and the associated decision firmware and decision firmware data.

An update may be required for the following reasons:

  • If there are vulnerabilities in the firmware
  • If there are errors in the firmware or in the factory image

Intel provides a safe solution for you to update the factory image and the associated decision firmware and decision firmware data remotely. The update process stores multiple copies of critical data so that if power is lost or the update is disrupted, the device is still able to restart and continue the update. The update continues automatically when power is restored. Here are the steps to perform the update:

  1. Generate the factory update image using the Programming File Generator. The image contains the new factory Image, decision firmware, and decision firmware data.
  2. Program the factory update image, (*.rpd) to an empty partition slot starting from a new sector boundary in the flash device.
  3. Trigger reconfiguration to load the update image from the starting address using one of the following methods:
    • Trigger reconfiguration using the RSU_IMAGE_UPDATE command. This method does not require you to update CPB0 and CPB1.
    • Trigger reconfiguration by pulsing the nCONFIG signal or power cycling the device. This method requires you to write the factory update image start address in both CPB0 and CPB1. After factory image updates, the SDM automatically removes the address from CPB0 and CPB1.
  4. The updated image performs the following operations:
    1. Erases and replaces the previous decision firmware and decision firmware data in the flash device.
    2. Reprograms the new factory image in the flash device.
    3. After the update completes, the update image removes itself from the flash and its address pointer from the CPB, then the SDM loads the updated decision firmware followed by the application image or the factory image if an application image is not available.
  5. If the update process used an application slot, you must restore the application image by writing the application image .rpd to the application slot and the CPB.