GTS Transceiver PHY User Guide: Agilex™ 3 FPGAs and SoCs

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ID 848344
Date 8/04/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. GTS Transceiver Overview 2. GTS Transceiver Architecture 3. Implementing the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP 4. Implementing the GTS System PLL Clocks IP 5. Implementing the GTS Reset Sequencer IP 6. GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design 7. Design Assistance Tools 8. Debugging GTS Transceiver Links with Transceiver Toolkit 9. Document Revision History for the GTS Transceiver PHY User Guide: Agilex™ 3 FPGAs and SoCs
1. GTS Transceiver Overview x
1.1. GTS Transceiver Design Flow
2. GTS Transceiver Architecture x
2.1. Building Blocks 2.2. Channel Placement Rules and Design Requirements 2.3. PMA Architecture 2.4. PCS Architecture 2.5. Forward Error Correction (FEC) Architecture 2.6. Clock Architecture 2.7. Bonding and Deskew
2.1. Building Blocks x
2.1.1. PMA 2.1.2. FEC 2.1.3. PCS 2.1.4. Ethernet MAC 2.1.5. PCI Express* Hard IP 2.1.6. PLL and Clock Networks 2.1.7. Avalon® Memory-Mapped Interface
2.1.1. PMA x
2.1.1.1. Protocol Support Using PMA Direct Mode
2.1.1.1. Protocol Support Using PMA Direct Mode x
2.1.1.1.1. SDI 2.1.1.1.2. HDMI 2.1.1.1.3. OTN
2.2. Channel Placement Rules and Design Requirements x
2.2.1. Hard IP Rules 2.2.2. Use Scenario Rules 2.2.3. Unused PMA Rules 2.2.4. General Design Requirement
2.2.3. Unused PMA Rules x
2.2.3.1. Unused PMA Not Planned for Use in the Future 2.2.3.2. Unused PMA Planned for Use in the Future
2.3. PMA Architecture x
2.3.1. Transmitter PMA Architecture 2.3.2. Receiver PMA Architecture 2.3.3. PMA Loopback Modes
2.3.1. Transmitter PMA Architecture x
2.3.1.1. Transmitter Buffer 2.3.1.2. Serializer 2.3.1.3. Data Pattern Generator and Verifier
2.3.2. Receiver PMA Architecture x
2.3.2.1. Receiver Buffer and Equalizer 2.3.2.2. Deserializer 2.3.2.3. CDR Block 2.3.2.4. RX PMA Tuning 2.3.2.5. RX PMA Adaptation Modes
2.3.2.1. Receiver Buffer and Equalizer x
2.3.2.1.1. Control Unit
2.3.2.5. RX PMA Adaptation Modes x
2.3.2.5.1. RX Auto Adaptation Mode 2.3.2.5.2. RX Manual Adaptation Mode 2.3.2.5.3. RX Native Adaptation Mode
2.5. Forward Error Correction (FEC) Architecture x
2.5.1. FEC Loopback Mode
2.6. Clock Architecture x
2.6.1. Reference Clock Network 2.6.2. Datapath Clock Network 2.6.3. System PLL 2.6.4. Datapath Clock Cadences 2.6.5. Shared Clocking Resources Between the GTS Transceiver Bank and HVIO Bank
2.6.1. Reference Clock Network x
2.6.1.1. PMA Primary PLL Configuration
2.6.3. System PLL x
2.6.3.1. I/O PLL in HVIO Bank as System PLL 2.6.3.2. System PLL Clock for FPGA Core 2.6.3.3. System PLL with HVIO Reference Clock
2.7. Bonding and Deskew x
2.7.1. Bonding Architecture 2.7.2. TX Deskew Function
3. Implementing the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP x
3.1. IP Overview 3.2. Designing with the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP 3.3. Configuring the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP 3.4. Dynamically Reconfigurable PHY 3.5. Signal and Port Reference 3.6. Bit Mapping for PMA, FEC, and PCS Mode PHY TX and RX Datapath 3.7. Clocking 3.8. Custom Cadence Generation Ports and Logic 3.9. Asserting Reset 3.10. Bonding Implementation 3.11. Configuration Register 3.12. Configuring the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP for Hardware Testing 3.13. Configurable Quartus® Prime Software Settings 3.14. Hardware Configuration Using the Avalon® Memory-Mapped Interface
3.1. IP Overview x
3.1.1. PMA Direct Supported Modes 3.1.2. FEC Direct Supported Modes 3.1.3. PCS Direct Supported Modes 3.1.4. Unsupported PMA/FEC/PCS Modes
3.3. Configuring the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP x
3.3.1. Preset IP Parameter Settings 3.3.2. Mode and Common Datapath Options 3.3.3. TX Datapath Options 3.3.4. RX Datapath Options 3.3.5. PMA Configuration Rules for Specific Protocol Mode Implementations 3.3.6. FEC Options 3.3.7. PCS Options 3.3.8. Avalon® Memory-Mapped Interface Options 3.3.9. Register Map IP-XACT Support 3.3.10. Analog Parameter Options
3.3.2. Mode and Common Datapath Options x
3.3.2.1. Reconfigurable PHY Settings
3.3.3. TX Datapath Options x
3.3.3.1. TX PMA Interface Parameters
3.3.4. RX Datapath Options x
3.3.4.1. RX PMA Interface Parameters
3.3.5. PMA Configuration Rules for Specific Protocol Mode Implementations x
3.3.5.1. PMA Configuration Rules for SDI Mode 3.3.5.2. PMA Configuration Rules for HDMI Mode 3.3.5.3. PMA Configuration Rules for OTN Mode
3.4. Dynamically Reconfigurable PHY x
3.4.1. Clock Generation and Constraints for Multiple Profiles Design
3.5. Signal and Port Reference x
3.5.1. TX and RX Parallel and Serial Interface Signals 3.5.2. TX and RX Reference Clock and Clock Output Interface Signals 3.5.3. Reset Signals 3.5.4. FEC Signals 3.5.5. Custom Cadence Control and Status Signals 3.5.6. RX PMA Status Signals 3.5.7. TX and RX PMA and Core Interface FIFO Signals 3.5.8. Avalon Memory-Mapped Interface Signals
3.7. Clocking x
3.7.1. Clock Ports 3.7.2. Recommended tx/rx_coreclkin Connection and tx/rx_clkout2 Source 3.7.3. Port Widths and Recommended Connections for tx/rx_coreclkin, tx/rx_clkout, and tx/rx_clkout2 3.7.4. PMA Fractional Mode 3.7.5. Input Reference Clock Buffer Protection 3.7.6. Guidelines for Obtaining the Real-Time GTS TX PLL Lock Status
3.7.5. Input Reference Clock Buffer Protection x
3.7.5.1. Reference Clock Buffer Register Information 3.7.5.2. Re-enabling the Reference Clock Buffers
3.8. Custom Cadence Generation Ports and Logic x
3.8.1. Implementing PMA Direct Mode with TX Core FIFO in Elastic Configuration 3.8.2. Enabling the i_tx_cadence_slow_clk_locked Port
3.9. Asserting Reset x
3.9.1. Reset Signal Requirements 3.9.2. Power On Reset Requirements 3.9.3. Reset Signals—Block Level 3.9.4. Run-time Reset Sequence—TX 3.9.5. Run-time Reset Sequence—RX 3.9.6. Run-time Reset Sequence—TX + RX 3.9.7. RX Data Loss/CDR Lock Loss (Auto-Recovery) 3.9.8. TX PLL Lock Loss
3.10. Bonding Implementation x
3.10.1. Bonding Placement Requirements 3.10.2. Multilane RX Simplex Implementation
3.11. Configuration Register x
3.11.1. GTS PMA and FEC Direct PHY Soft CSR Register Map 3.11.2. GTS PMA Register Map 3.11.3. Accessing Configuration Registers
3.11.2. GTS PMA Register Map x
3.11.2.1. Logical Avalon® Memory-Mapped Port Indexing
3.11.3. Accessing Configuration Registers x
3.11.3.1. Accessing GTS PMA and FEC Direct PHY Soft CSR Registers 3.11.3.2. Accessing GTS PMA Registers
3.12. Configuring the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP for Hardware Testing x
3.12.1. Using Debug Endpoint Interface within the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP 3.12.2. Using JTAG to Avalon Master Bridge IP
3.12.1. Using Debug Endpoint Interface within the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP x
3.12.1.1. RTL Connection Example for Debug Endpoint Avalon® Interface
3.12.2. Using JTAG to Avalon Master Bridge IP x
3.12.2.1. RTL Connection Example for JTAG to Avalon Master Bridge IP
3.13. Configurable Quartus® Prime Software Settings x
3.13.1. Configuring the RX Adaptation Mode and PMA Manual Tuning
3.14. Hardware Configuration Using the Avalon® Memory-Mapped Interface x
3.14.1. Direct Register Method 3.14.2. GTS Attribute Access Method
3.14.1. Direct Register Method x
3.14.1.1. Direct Register Method Examples
3.14.2. GTS Attribute Access Method x
3.14.2.1. GTS Attribute Access Method Example 1: Enable or Disable Internal Serial Loopback Mode (RX Auto Adaptation Mode) 3.14.2.2. GTS Attribute Access Method Example 2: Enable or Disable Internal Serial Loopback Mode (RX Manual Adaptation Mode) 3.14.2.3. GTS Attribute Access Method Example 3: Enable or Disable Polarity Inversion of the PMA 3.14.2.4. GTS Attribute Access Method Example 4: Enable PRBS Generator and Checker to Run BER Test
4. Implementing the GTS System PLL Clocks IP x
4.1. IP Parameters 4.2. IP Port List 4.3. Mode of System PLL - System PLL Reference Clock and Output Frequencies 4.4. Guidelines for GTS System PLL Clocks IP Usage 4.5. Guidelines to Indicate System PLL Reference Clock is Ready
4.5. Guidelines to Indicate System PLL Reference Clock is Ready x
4.5.1. Example Flow to Indicate System PLL Reference Clock is Ready
5. Implementing the GTS Reset Sequencer IP x
5.1. IP Requirements 5.2. IP Parameters 5.3. IP Port List 5.4. GTS Reset Sequencer IP General Interface 5.5. GTS Reset Sequencer IP Design Flow 5.6. GTS Reset Sequencer IP Use Cases 5.7. Connecting the Reference Clock Buffer Status to the GTS Reset Sequencer IP
5.6. GTS Reset Sequencer IP Use Cases x
5.6.1. Example Use Case 1 5.6.2. Example Use Case 2
6. GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design x
6.1. Instantiating the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP 6.2. Generating the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design 6.3. GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design Functional Description 6.4. Simulating the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design Testbench 6.5. Compiling the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design 6.6. GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Dynamically Reconfigurable PHY Example Design 6.7. Generating the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Dynamically Reconfigurable Example Design 6.8. GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Dynamically Reconfigurable PHY Example Design Functional Description 6.9. Simulating the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Dynamically Reconfigurable PHY Example Design Testbench 6.10. Compiling the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Dynamically Reconfigurable PHY Example Design
6.2. Generating the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design x
6.2.1. Fast Simulation Support 6.2.2. GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design Directory Structure
6.4. Simulating the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design Testbench x
6.4.1. Modifying the Example Design and Performing Simulation
6.7. Generating the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Dynamically Reconfigurable Example Design x
6.7.1. Fast Simulation Support 6.7.2. GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Reconfigurable PHY Example Design Directory Structure
7. Design Assistance Tools x
7.1. Clocking and Datapath Tool 7.2. TX Equalizer Tool
8. Debugging GTS Transceiver Links with Transceiver Toolkit x
8.1. GTS Transceiver Toolkit Parameter Settings 8.2. GTS Transceiver Toolkit GUI 8.3. GTS Transceiver Debugging Flow Walkthrough
8.2. GTS Transceiver Toolkit GUI x
8.2.1. Collection View
8.3. GTS Transceiver Debugging Flow Walkthrough x
8.3.1. Modifying the Design to Enable GTS Transceiver Debug Toolkit 8.3.2. Programming the Design into an Altera FPGA 8.3.3. Loading the Design to the Transceiver Toolkit 8.3.4. Creating Transceiver Links 8.3.5. Running BER Tests 8.3.6. Running Eye Viewer Tests 8.3.7. Running Link Optimization Tests
1. GTS Transceiver Overview
2. GTS Transceiver Architecture
3. Implementing the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP
4. Implementing the GTS System PLL Clocks IP
5. Implementing the GTS Reset Sequencer IP
6. GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP Example Design
7. Design Assistance Tools
8. Debugging GTS Transceiver Links with Transceiver Toolkit
9. Document Revision History for the GTS Transceiver PHY User Guide: Agilex™ 3 FPGAs and SoCs

3.13.1. Configuring the RX Adaptation Mode and PMA Manual Tuning

The RX adaptation mode is set by default when you configure your RX PMA in the GTS PMA/FEC direct PHY IP, based on the protocol mode and data rate you select. However, you can optionally change the RX adaptation mode from auto to manual and vice versa.

This section explains how you can use the .qsf assignment settings and the syntax to change the adaptation mode for your PMA links; only when required. In all cases, the default RX adaptation mode is the best recommended setting you can use for the protocol and data rate you select in the IP GUI. When you change the adaptation mode from RX auto adaptation mode to RX manual adaptation mode, you must manually configure the RX equalizer settings as explained in the later sections.

Auto Adaptation Mode: 26
If you want to change the RX manual adaptation mode configured in the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP to RX auto adaptation mode for a given PMA lane, you can use the following .qsf settings shown below: 
set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "flux_mode=FLUX_MODE_FLUX_MODE_SNIFFER" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN>  -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "rx_adaptation_mode=RX_ADAPTATION_MODE_FLUX_ADAPTATION" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN>  -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
In addition, if you are changing the RX adaptation mode to auto adaptation mode, you must configure the RX EQ settings to a value of 0 by using the following .qsf settings shown below: 
set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "rx_eq_vga_gain=0" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN> -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "rx_eq_dfe_tap_1=0" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN> -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "rx_eq_hf_boost=0" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN> -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
Note: If you instantiate bonded-lane configuration in the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP and you want to change the RX adaptation mode from RX manual adaptation mode to RX auto adaptation mode, you must provide the .qsf setting for every PMA lane instantiated within the same GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP, as this affects the Soft Reset Controller that is used to set the reset sequence of the bonded lanes.

Manual Adaptation Mode: 26

If you want to change the RX auto adaptation mode for the PMA lane configured in the GTS PMA/FEC Direct PHY IP to RX manual adaptation mode follow the .qsf settings shown below: 
set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "flux_mode=FLUX_MODE_FLUX_MODE_BYPASS" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN> -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "rx_adaptation_mode=RX_ADAPTATION_MODE_MANUAL_ADAPTATION" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN> -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>

RX Manual Tuning:

If you configure the RX link to manual tuning mode (RX adaptation mode is set to manual mode in the IP GUI), you must provide the RX PMA analog settings. You can use the GTS Transceiver Toolkit Parameter Settings to tune the link during manual adaptation mode to find the optimal setting for the RX analog parameters. You can control the VGA gain, High frequency boost, and DFE Tap 1 PMA settings by selecting the value in the Analog Parameters tab or by using the following .qsf settings shown below:

  • VGA gain:
    set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "rx_eq_vga_gain=<parameter_value>" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN> -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
    Valid parameter values (decimal) are 0-63.
  • High frequency boost:
    set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "rx_eq_hf_boost=<parameter_value>" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN> -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
    Valid parameter values (decimal) are 0-63.
  • DFE Tap 1:
    set_instance_assignment -name HSSI_PARAMETER "rx_eq_dfe_tap_1=<parameter_value>" -to <RX_SERIAL_PIN> -entity <TOP_LEVEL_NAME>
    Valid parameter values (decimal) are 0-63.
    Note: If you are using the RX auto adaptation mode, do not configure the VGA gain, High frequency boost, and DFE Tap 1 PMA settings in the .qsf file, as it results in a compilation error.
26 You must program the soft CSR registers 0x10008[10] and 0x10008[17] for the PMA lane that you are changing the adaptation mode for from either auto adaption to manual adaptation or vice versa; to inform the Soft Reset Controller to correctly monitor either the CDR LTD status or auto adaptation ready signal status. This step is crucial to ensure that the correct reset sequence is used when the adaptation mode changes for the PMA lane. For more information, refer to:
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