AN 806: Hierarchical Partial Reconfiguration Tutorial for Intel Arria 10 GX FPGA Development Board

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AN-806 | 2018.05.07

Hierarchical Partial Reconfiguration Tutorial for Arria 10 GX FPGA Development Board

This application note demonstrates transforming a simple design into a hierarchically partially reconfigurable design, and implementing the design on the Arria^® 10 GX FPGA development board.

Hierarchical partial reconfiguration (HPR) is an extension of the traditional partial reconfiguration (PR), where you contain a PR region within another PR region. You can create multiple personas for both the child and parent partitions. You nest the child partitions within their parent partitions. Reconfiguring a parent partition does not impact the operation in the static region, but replaces the child partitions of the parent region with default child partition personas. This methodology is effective in systems where multiple functions time-share the same FPGA device resources.

Partial reconfiguration provides the following advancements to a flat design:

Allows run-time design reconfiguration
Increases scalability of the design
Reduces system down-time
Supports dynamic time-multiplexing functions in the design
Lowers cost and power consumption through efficient use of board space

The current version of the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Pro Edition software introduces a new and simplified compilation flow for partial reconfiguration.

Implementation of this reference design requires basic familiarity with the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime FPGA implementation flow and knowledge of the primary Intel^® Quartus^® Prime project files. This tutorial uses the Arria^® 10 GX FPGA development board on the bench, outside of the PCIe^® slot in your workstation.

Reference Design Requirements

This reference design requires the following:

Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Pro Edition software version 18.0 for the design implementation.
Arria^® 10 GX FPGA development kit for the FPGA implementation.

Reference Design Overview

This reference design consists of one 32-bit counter. At the board level, the design connects the clock to a 50MHz source, and connects the output to four LEDs on the FPGA. Selecting the output from the counter bits in a specific sequence causes the LEDs to blink at a specific frequency.

Figure 1. Flat Reference Design without PR Partitioning

Reference Design Files

The partial reconfiguration tutorial is available in the following location:

https://github.com/intel/fpga-partial-reconfig

To download the tutorial:

Click Clone or download.
Click Download ZIP. Unzip the fpga-partial-reconfig-master.zip file.
Navigate to the tutorials/a10_pcie_devkit_blinking_led_hpr sub-folder to access the reference design.

The flat folder consists of the following files:

Table 1. Reference Design Files
File Name	Description
top.sv	Top-level file containing the flat implementation of the design. This module instantiates the `blinking_led` sub-partition and the `top_counter` module.
top_counter.sv	Top-level 32-bit counter that controls `LED[1]` directly. The registered output of the counter controls `LED[0]`, and also powers `LED[2]` and `LED[3]` via the `blinking_led` module.
blinking_led.sdc	Defines the timing constraints for the project.
blinking_led.sv	In this tutorial, you convert this module into a parent PR partition. The module receives the registered output of `top_counter` module, which controls `LED[2]` and `LED[3]`.
blinking_led.qpf	Intel^® Quartus^® Prime project file containing the list of all the revisions in the project.
blinking_led.qsf	Intel^® Quartus^® Prime settings file containing the assignments and settings for the project.
prpof_id_mif_gen.tcl	Script file to enable bitstream compatibility checks for child PR regions.

Note: The hpr folder contains the complete set of files you create using this application note. Reference these files at any point during the walkthrough.

Figure 2. Reference Design Files

Reference Design Walkthrough

The following steps describe the application of partial reconfiguration to a flat design. The tutorial uses the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Pro Edition software for the Arria^® 10 GX FPGA development board:

Step 1: Getting Started
Step 2: Creating a Child Level Sub-module
Step 3: Creating Design Partitions
Step 4: Allocating Placement and Routing Region for PR Partitions
Step 5: Adding the Arria 10 Partial Reconfiguration Controller IP Core
Step 6: Defining Personas
Step 7: Creating Revisions
Step 8: Compiling the Base Revision and Exporting the Static Region
Step 9: Preparing the PR Implementation Revisions for Parent PR Partition
Step 10: Preparing the PR Implementation Revisions for Child PR Partitions
Step 11: Programming the Board

Step 1: Getting Started

To copy the reference design files to your working environment and compile the blinking_led flat design:

Create a directory in your working environment, a10_pcie_devkit_blinking_led_hpr.
Copy the downloaded tutorials/a10_pcie_devkit_blinking_led_hpr/flat sub-folder to the directory, a10_pcie_devkit_blinking_led_hpr.
In the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Pro Edition software, click File > Open Project and select blinking_led.qpf.
To compile the flat design, click Processing > Start Compilation.

Step 2: Creating a Child Level Sub-module

To convert this flat design into a hierarchical PR design, you must create a child sub-module (blinking_led_child.sv) that is nested within the parent sub-module (blinking_led.sv).

Create a new design file, blinking_led_child.sv, and add the following lines of code to this file:

`timescale 1 ps / 1 ps
`default_nettype none

module blinking_led_child (

   // clock
   input wire clock,
   input wire [31:0] counter,


   // Control signals for the LEDs
   output wire led_three_on

);
   localparam COUNTER_TAP = 23;
   reg led_three_on_r;


   assign led_three_on   = led_three_on_r;
   
   always_ff @(posedge clock) begin
      led_three_on_r   <= counter[COUNTER_TAP];
   end

endmodule

Modify the blinking_led.sv file to connect the led_two_on to bit 23 of the counter from the static region, and instantiate the blinking_led_child module. After modifications, your blinking_led.sv file must appear as follows:

`timescale 1 ps / 1 ps
`default_nettype none

module blinking_led(
   // clock
   input wire clock,
   input wire [31:0] counter,
   // Control signals for the LEDs
   output wire led_two_on,
   output wire led_three_on
);


   localparam COUNTER_TAP = 23;

   reg led_two_on_r;
   assign  led_two_on    = led_two_on_r;
   
   // The counter:
   always_ff @(posedge clock) begin
         led_two_on_r <= counter[COUNTER_TAP];
   end


   blinking_led_child u_blinking_led_child (
         .led_three_on           (led_three_on),
         .counter                (counter),
         .clock                  (clock)
   );

endmodule

On modifying all the design files, recompile the project by clicking Processing > Start Compilation

Step 3: Creating Design Partitions

You must create design partitions for each PR region that you want to partially reconfigure. You can create any number of independent partitions or PR regions in your design. This tutorial creates two design partitions for the u_blinking_led_child and u_blinking_led instances.

To create design partitions for hierarchical partial reconfiguration:

Right-click the u_blinking_led_child instance in the Project Navigator and click Design Partition > Set as Design Partition. A design partition icon appears next to each instance that is set as a partition.
Figure 3. Creating Design Partitions from Project Navigator
To define the partition Type, right-click the u_blinking_led_child instance in the Hierarchy tab, click Design Partition > Reconfigurable. You can only define the partition Type after setting the instance as a partition.
The design partition appears on the Assignments View tab of the Design Partitions Window.
Figure 4. Design Partitions Window
Edit the partition name in the Design Partitions Window by double-clicking the name. For this reference design, rename the partition name to pr_partition.
Note: When you create a partition, the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime software automatically generates a partition name, based on the instance name and hierarchy path. This default partition name can vary with each instance.

Verify that the blinking_led.qsf contains the following assignments, corresponding to your reconfigurable design partitions:

set_instance_assignment -name PARTITION pr_partition -to \
        u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child
set_instance_assignment -name PARTIAL_RECONFIGURATION_PARTITION ON -to \
        u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child

set_instance_assignment -name PARTITION pr_parent_partition -to u_blinking_led
set_instance_assignment -name PARTIAL_RECONFIGURATION_PARTITION ON -to \
        u_blinking_led

Step 4: Allocating Placement and Routing Region for PR Partitions

When you create the base revision, the PR design flow uses your PR partition region allocation to place the corresponding persona core in the reserved region. To locate and assign the PR region in the device floorplan for your base revision:

Right-click the u_blinking_led_child instance in the Project Navigator and click Logic Lock Region > Create New Logic Lock Region. The region appears on the Logic Lock Regions Window.
Your placement region must enclose the blinking_led_child logic. Select the placement region by locating the node in Chip Planner. Right-click the u_blinking_led_child region name in the Project Navigator and click Locate Node > Locate in Chip Planner.
Figure 5. Chip Planner Node Location for blinking_led
In the Logic Lock Regions window, specify the placement region co-ordinates in the Origin column. The origin corresponds to the lower-left corner of the region. For example, to set a placement region with (X1 Y1) co-ordinates as (69 10), specify the Origin asX69_Y10. The Intel^® Quartus^® Prime software automatically calculates the (X2 Y2) co-ordinates (top-right) for the placement region, based on the height and width you specify.
Note: This tutorial uses the (X1 Y1) co-ordinates - (69 10), and a height and width of 20 for the placement region. Define any value for the placement region, provided that the region covers the blinking_led_child logic.
Enable the Reserved and Core-Only options.
Double-click the Routing Region option. The Logic Lock Routing Region Settings dialog box appears.
Select Fixed with expansion for the Routing type. Selecting this option automatically assigns an expansion length of 1.
Note: The routing region must be larger than the placement region, to provide extra flexibility for the Fitter when the engine routes different personas.
Repeat steps 1 -6 for the u_blinking_led instance. The parent-level placement region must fully enclose the corresponding child-level placement and routing regions, while allowing sufficient space for the parent-level logic placement. This tutorial uses the (X1 Y1) co-ordinates - (66 7), a height of 47, and width of 26 for the placement region of the u_blinking_led instance.

Figure 6. Logic Lock Regions Window

Verify that the blinking_led.qsf contains the following assignments, corresponding to your floorplanning:

set_instance_assignment -name PLACE_REGION "69 10 88 29" -to \
        u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child
set_instance_assignment -name RESERVE_PLACE_REGION ON -to \
        u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child
set_instance_assignment -name CORE_ONLY_PLACE_REGION ON -to \
        u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child
set_instance_assignment -name ROUTE_REGION "68 9 89 30" -to \
        u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child

set_instance_assignment -name PLACE_REGION "66 7 112 32" -to u_blinking_led 
set_instance_assignment -name RESERVE_PLACE_REGION ON -to u_blinking_led 
set_instance_assignment -name CORE_ONLY_PLACE_REGION ON -to u_blinking_led 
set_instance_assignment -name ROUTE_REGION "65 6 113 33" -to u_blinking_led

Step 5: Adding the Arria 10 Partial Reconfiguration Controller IP Core

Use the Arria^® 10 Partial Reconfiguration Controller IP core to reconfigure the PR partition. This IP core uses JTAG to reconfigure the PR partition. To add the Arria^® 10 Partial Reconfiguration Controller IP core to your Intel^® Quartus^® Prime project:

Type Partial Reconfiguration in the IP catalog.
To launch the IP Parameter Editor Pro window, select the Arria^® 10 Partial Reconfiguration Controller IP core from the IP library, and click Add.
In the New IP Variant dialog box, type pr_ip as the file name and click Create. Use the default parameterization for pr_ip. Ensure that the Enable JTAG debug mode and Enable freeze interface options are turned on, Enable Avalon-MM slave interface option is turned off, Enable hierarchical PR support option is turned on, and Enable bitstream compatibility check option is turned on .
Figure 7. Arria^® 10 Partial Reconfiguration Controller IP Core Parameters
Click Finish, and exit the parameter editor without generating the system. Intel^® Quartus^® Prime software creates the pr_ip.ip IP variation file, and adds the file to the blinking_led project.

Note:

If you are copying the pr_ip.ip file from the hpr folder, manually edit the blinking_led.qsf file to include the following line:
```
set_global_assignment -name IP_FILE pr_ip.ip
```
Place the IP_FILE assignment after the SDC_FILE assignments (jtag.sdc and blinking_led.sdc) in your blinking_led.qsf file. This ordering ensures appropriate constraining of the Partial Reconfiguration IP core.
Note: To detect the clocks, the SDC file for the PR IP must follow any SDC that creates the clocks that the IP core uses. You facilitate this order by ensuring the .ip file for the PR IP core comes after any .ip files or SDC files used to create these clocks in the QSF file for your Intel^® Quartus^® Prime project revision. For more information, refer to Timing Constraints section in the Partial Reconfiguration IP Core User Guide.

Updating the Top-Level Design

To update the top.sv file with the PR_IP instance:

To add the PR_IP instance to the top-level design, uncomment the following code block in top.sv file:

pr_ip u_pr_ip
    (
        .clk           (clock),
        .nreset        (1'b1),
        .freeze        (freeze),
        .pr_start      (1'b0),            // ignored for JTAG
        .status        (pr_ip_status),
        .data          (16'b0),
        .data_valid    (1'b0),
        .data_ready    ()
    );

To force the output ports to logic 1 during reconfiguration, use the freeze control signal output from PR_IP. However, to observe the LED continue blinking from the parent PR partition while PR programming the child partition, the freeze control signal does not turn off the led_two_on. Ensure that the pr_led_two_on is directly assigned to led_two_on_w. led_three_on_w must choose between logic 1 and pr_led_three_on, based on the freeze signal. Uncomment the following lines of code:
```
assign led_two_on_w = pr_led_two_on;
assign led_three_on_w = freeze ? 1'b1 : pr_led_three_on;
```

To assign an instance of the default parent persona (blinking_led), update the top.sv file with the following block of code:

blinking_led u_blinking_led
   (
      .clock         (clock),
      .counter       (count_d),
      .led_two_on    (pr_led_two_on),
      .led_three_on  (pr_led_three_on)

   );

Figure 8. Partial Reconfiguration IP Core Integration

Step 6: Defining Personas

This reference design defines five separate personas for the parent and child PR partitions. To define and include the personas in your project:

Create four SystemVerilog files, blinking_led_child.sv, blinking_led_child_slow.sv, blinking_led_child_empty.sv, and blinking_led_slow.sv in your working directory for the five personas.

Note: If you create the SystemVerilog files from the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Text Editor, disable the Add file to current project option, when saving the files.

Table 2. Reference Design Personas
File Name	Description	Code
blinking_led_child.sv	Default persona for the child-level design	`timescale 1 ps / 1 ps `default_nettype none module blinking_led_child ( // clock input wire clock, input wire [31:0] counter, // Control signals for the LEDs output wire led_three_on ); localparam COUNTER_TAP = 23; reg led_three_on_r; assign led_three_on = led_three_on_r; always_ff @(posedge clock) begin led_three_on_r <= counter[COUNTER_TAP]; end endmodule
blinking_led_child_slow.sv	The `LED_THREE` blinks slower	`timescale 1 ps / 1 ps `default_nettype none module blinking_led_child_slow ( // clock input wire clock, input wire [31:0] counter, // Control signals for the LEDs output wire led_three_on ); localparam COUNTER_TAP = 27; reg led_three_on_r; assign led_three_on = led_three_on_r; always_ff @(posedge clock) begin led_three_on_r <= counter[COUNTER_TAP]; end endmodule
blinking_led_child_empty.sv	The `LED_THREE` stays ON	`timescale 1 ps / 1 ps `default_nettype none module blinking_led_child_empty ( // clock input wire clock, input wire [31:0] counter, // Control signals for the LEDs output wire led_three_on ); // LED is active low assign led_three_on = 1'b0; endmodule
blinking_led_slow.sv	The `LED_TWO` blinks slower.	`timescale 1 ps / 1 ps `default_nettype none module blinking_led_slow( // clock input wire clock, input wire [31:0] counter, // Control signals for the LEDs output wire led_two_on, output wire led_three_on ); localparam COUNTER_TAP = 27; reg led_two_on_r; assign led_two_on = led_two_on_r; // The counter: always_ff @(posedge clock) begin led_two_on_r <= counter[COUNTER_TAP]; end blinking_led_child u_blinking_led_child( .led_three_on (led_three_on), .counter (counter), .clock (clock) ); endmodule

Step 7: Creating Revisions

The PR design flow uses the project revisions feature in the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime software. Your initial design is the base revision, where you define the static region boundaries and reconfigurable regions on the FPGA.

From the base revision, you create multiple revisions. These revisions contain the different implementations for the PR regions. However, all PR implementation revisions use the same top-level placement and routing results from the base revision.

To compile a PR design, you must create a PR implementation revision for each persona. In addition, you must assign revision types for each of the revisions. There are the following revision types:

Partial Reconfiguration - Base
Partial Reconfiguration - Persona Implementation

Note: The new simplified PR flow introduced in the current version of the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Pro Edition software does not require a separate synthesis and implementation revision for additional PR personas.

The following table lists the revision name and the revision type for each of the revisions:

Table 3. Revision Names and Types
Revision Name	Revision Type
`blinking_led.qsf`	Partial Reconfiguration - Base
`hpr_child_default.qsf`	Partial Reconfiguration - Persona Implementation
`hpr_child_slow.qsf`	Partial Reconfiguration - Persona Implementation
`hpr_child_empty.qsf`	Partial Reconfiguration - Persona Implementation
`hpr_parent_slow_child_default.qsf`	Partial Reconfiguration - Persona Implementation
`hpr_parent_slow_child_slow.qsf`	Partial Reconfiguration - Persona Implementation

Table 4. Parent and Child Persona Revisions
Revision Name	Parent Persona Behavior	Child Persona Behavior
`hpr_child_default.qsf`	Fast blinking	Fast blinking
`hpr_child_slow.qsf`	Fast blinking	Slow blinking
`hpr_child_empty.qsf`	Fast Blinking	No blinking (always ON)
`hpr_parent_slow_child_default.qsf`	Slow blinking	Fast blinking
`hpr_parent_slow_child_slow.qsf`	Slow blinking	Slow blinking

Setting the Base Revision Type

Click Project > Revisions.
In Revision Name, select the blinking_led revision, and then click Set Current.
Click Apply. The blinking_led revision displays as the current revision.
To set the Revision Type for blinking_led, click Assignments > Settings > General.
For Revision Type, select Partial Reconfiguration - Base, and then click OK.

Verify that the blinking_led.qsf now contains the following assignment:

##blinking_led.qsf
set_global_assignment -name REVISION_TYPE PR_BASE

Creating Implementation Revisions

To open the Revisions dialog box, click Project > Revisions.
To create a new revision, double-click <<new revision>>.
In Revision name, specify hpr_child_default and select blinking_led for Based on revision.
For the Revision type, select Partial Reconfiguration - Persona Implementation.
Enable This project uses a Partition Database (.qdb) file for the root partition. You do not need to specify the Root Partition Database file at this point. You can input this name at a later stage from the Design Partitions Window.

Figure 9. Creating Revisions
Similarly, set the Revision type for the other revisions:
- hpr_child_slow
- hpr_child_empty
- hpr_parent_slow_child_default
- hpr_parent_slow_child_slow
Note: Do not specify the above revisions as current revision.
Verify that each .qsf file now contains the following assignment:
```
set_global_assignment -name REVISION_TYPE PR_IMPL
```

Step 8: Compiling the Base Revision and Exporting the Static Region

Before you begin:

Run the PR bitstream ID init script using the following command:
```
quartus_sh -t prpof_id_mif_gen.tcl init
```
This command allows the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime software to assign bitstream IDs to child PR regions, for bitstream compatibility check.
Ensure the blinking_led.qsf contains the following assignments:
```
set_global_assignment -name GENERATE_PR_RBF_FILE ON
set_global_assignment -name ON_CHIP_BITSTREAM_DECOMPRESSION OFF
```
These assignments allow the assembler to automatically generate the required PR bitstreams.

To compile the base revision and export the static region:

To compile the base revision, click Processing > Start Compilation. Alternatively, the following command compiles the base revision:
```
quartus_sh --flow compile  blinking_led -c blinking_led
```
To regenerate the base .sof file with the proper bitstream IDs for the child PR regions, run the PR bitstream ID update script using the following command:
```
quartus_sh -t prpof_id_mif_gen.tcl update
```

To export the root partition, click Project > Export Design Partition, and then specify the following options for the partition:

Option	Setting
Partition name	root_partition
Partition database file	<project>/blinking_led_static.qdb
Include entity-bound SDC files	Enable
Snapshot	Final

Figure 10. Exporting the Static Region

Alternatively, the following command exports the root partition:

quartus_cdb -r  blinking_led -c blinking led --export_block \
	root_partition --snapshot final --file blinking_led_static.qdb

To export the parent PR partition, click Project > Export Design Partition, and then specify the following options for the partition:

Option	Setting
Partition name	pr_parent_partition
Partition database file	<project>/pr_parent_partition_default_final.qdb
Include entity-bound SDC files	Enable
Snapshot	Final

Figure 11. Exporting the Parent PR Region

Alternatively, the following command exports the parent PR region:

quartus_cdb -r  blinking_led -c blinking led --export_block \
	root_partition --snapshot final --file pr_parent_partition_default_final.qdb

Inspect the bitstream files generated to the output_files directory.

Table 5. Generated Bitstream Files
Name	Type	Description
blinking_led.sof	Base programming file	Used to program the FPGA with the static logic, along with the default personas for the parent and child PR regions.
blinking_led.pr_parent_partition.rbf	PR bitstream file for parent PR partition	Used to program the default persona for the parent PR region.
blinking_led.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf	PR bitstream file for child PR partition	Used to program the default persona for the child PR region.

Step 9: Preparing the PR Implementation Revisions for Parent PR Partition

You must prepare the parent and child PR implementation revisions before you can generate the PR bitstream for device programming. This setup includes mapping the new PR logic to the preexisting parent PR partition.

To set the current revision, click Project > Revisions, select hpr_parent_slow_child_default as the Revision name, and then click Set Current.
To verify the correct source for each implementation revision, click Project > Add/Remove Files in Project. The blinking_led_child.sv file appears in the file list.
To specify the .qdb file associated with the static region, click Assignments > Design Partitions Window. Double-click the Partition Database File cell and navigating to the blinking_led_static.qdb file.
Alternatively, the following command assigns this file:
```
set_instance_assignment -name QDB_FILE_PARTITION \
	blinking_led_static.qdb -to |
```
In the Entity cell, specify the entity name the PR parent partition. For this implementation revision, the entity name is blinking_led_slow. blinking_led_slow is the name of the entity that you are partially reconfiguring. u_blinking_led is the name of the instance that your entity overwrites during PR. Verify that the following line now exists in the .qsf:
```
#hpr_parent_slow_child_default.qsf
set_instance_assignment -name ENTITY_REBINDING blinking_led_slow -to u_blinking_led
```
Note: Because the child PR logic is already defined by the parent PR partition, whose entity name is rebound, do not use an entity rebinding assignment for the child PR partition.
Before compiling the implementation revision, ensure the corresponding .qsf file contains the following assignments:
```
set_global_assignment -name GENERATE_PR_RBF_FILE ON
set_global_assignment -name ON_CHIP_BITSTREAM_DECOMPRESSION OFF
```
These assignments allow the assembler to automatically generate the required PR bitstreams.
To compile the design, click Processing > Start Compilation. Alternatively, the following command compiles this project:
```
quartus_sh --flow compile blinking_led –c hpr_parent_slow_child_default
```

To export this new parent PR partition as a finalized .qdb, click Project > Export Design Partition, and then specify the following options for the partition:

Option	Setting
Partition name	pr_parent_partition
Partition database file	<project>/pr_parent_partition_slow_final.qdb
Include entity-bound SDC files	Enable
Snapshot	Final

Figure 12. Exporting the Modified Parent PR Region

Alternatively, the following command exports the parent PR region:

quartus_cdb -r  blinking_led -c blinking led --export_block \
	root_partition --snapshot final --file pr_parent_partition_slow_final.qdb

Inspect the bitstream files generated to the output_files directory.

Table 6. Generated Bitstream Files
Name	Type	Description
hpr_parent_slow_child_default.pr_parent_partition.rbf	PR bitstream file for parent PR partition	Used to program the default persona for the parent PR region. Causes the `led_two_on` to blink at a lower rate.
hpr_parent_slow_child_default.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf	PR bitstream file for child PR partition	Used to program the default persona for the child PR region. Causes the `led_three_on` to blink at the default rate.

Step 10: Preparing the PR Implementation Revisions for Child PR Partitions

This setup includes adding the static region .qdb file as the source file for each implementation revision. In addition, you must import the parent PR partition .qdb file and specify the corresponding entity of the PR region.

To set the current revision, click Project > Revisions, select hpr_child_default as the Revision name, and then click Set Current.
To verify the correct source for each implementation revision, click Project > Add/Remove Files in Project. The blinking_led_child.sv file appears in the file list.

Repeat steps 1 through 2 to verify the other implementation revision source files:

Implementation Revision Name	Child Persona Source File
`hpr_child_default`	blinking_led_child.sv
`hpr_child_slow`	blinking_led_child_slow.sv
`hpr_child_empty`	blinking_led_child_empty.sv
`hpr_parent_slow_child_slow`	blinking_led_child_slow.sv

To verify the .qdb file associated with the root partition, click Assignments > Design Partitions Window. Specify the .qdb file associated with the static region by double-clicking the Partition Database File cell and navigating to the blinking_led_static.qdb file.
Alternatively, the following command assigns this file:
```
set_instance_assignment -name QDB_FILE_PARTITION \
						blinking_led_static.qdb -to |
```

To specify the parent PR partition .qdb file, click Assignments > Design Partitions Window. Double-click the Partition Database File for the parent_pr_partition and specify the respective .qdb file.

Implementation Revision Name	Parent Persona .qdb File
`hpr_child_default`	pr_parent_partition_default_final.qdb
`hpr_child_slow`	pr_parent_partition_default_final.qdb
`hpr_child_empty`	pr_parent_partition_default_final.qdb
`hpr_parent_slow_child_slow`	pr_parent_partition_slow_final.qdb

verify the following line exists in the .qsf:

# To use the default parent PR persona:
set_instance_assignment -name QDB_FILE_PARTITION \
      pr_parent_partition_default_final.qdb -to u_blinking_led

# To use the slow parent PR persona:
set_instance_assignment -name QDB_FILE_PARTITION \
      pr_parent_partition_slow_final.qdb -to u_blinking_led

In the Entity Re-binding cell, specify the entity name of the child PR partition. For the default persona, the entity name is blinking_led. For this implementation revision, blinking_led_child is the name of the entity that you are partially reconfiguring. u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child is the name of the instance that your entity overwrites during PR. Verify that the following line now exists in the .qsf:

#hpr_child_default.qsf
set_instance_assignment -name ENTITY_REBINDING \
      blinking_led_child -to u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child

#hpr_child_slow.qsf and hpr_parent_slow_child_slow.qsf
set_instance_assignment -name ENTITY_REBINDING \
      blinking_led_child_slow -to u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child

#hpr_child_empty.qsf
set_instance_assignment -name ENTITY_REBINDING \
      blinking_led_child_empty -to u_blinking_led|u_blinking_led_child

Before compiling the implementation revision, ensure the corresponding .qsf file contains the following assignments:
```
set_global_assignment -name GENERATE_PR_RBF_FILE ON
set_global_assignment -name ON_CHIP_BITSTREAM_DECOMPRESSION OFF
```
These assignments allow the assembler to automatically generate the required PR bitstreams.
To compile the design, click Processing > Start Compilation. Alternatively, the following command compiles this project:
```
quartus_sh --flow compile blinking_led –c hpr_child_default
```
Repeat the above steps to prepare hpr_child_slow, hpr_child_empty, and hpr_parent_slow_child_slow revisions.

Note: You can specify any Fitter specific settings that you want to apply during the PR implementation compilation. Fitter specific settings impact only the fit of the persona, without affecting the imported static region.
Inspect the bitstream files generated to the output_files directory.
Verify that the output_files directory contains the following generated .rbf files after compiling all the implementation revisions:
- hpr_child_default.pr_parent_partition.rbf
- hpr_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.rbf
- hpr_child_empty.pr_parent_partition.rbf
- hpr_parent_slow_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.rbf
- hpr_child_default.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf
- hpr_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf
- hpr_child_empty.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf
- hpr_parent_slow_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf

Step 11: Programming the Board

Before you begin:

Connect the power supply to the Arria^® 10 GX FPGA development board.
Connect the USB Blaster cable between your PC USB port and the USB Blaster port on the development board.

Note: This tutorial utilizes the Arria^® 10 GX FPGA development board on the bench, outside of the PCIe^® slot in your host machine.

To run the design on the Arria^® 10 GX FPGA development board:

Open the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime software and click Tools > Programmer.
In the Programmer, click Hardware Setup and select USB-Blaster.
Click Auto Detect and select the device, 10AX115S2.
Click OK. The Intel^® Quartus^® Prime software detects and updates the Programmer with the three FPGA chips on the board.
Select the 10AX115S2 device, click Change File and load the blinking_led.sof file.
Enable Program/Configure for blinking_led.sof file.
Click Start and wait for the progress bar to reach 100%.
Observe the LEDs on the board blinking at the same frequency as the original flat design.
To program only the child PR region, right-click the blinking_led.sof file in the Programmer and click Add PR Programming File.
Select the hpr_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf file.
Disable Program/Configure for blinking_led.sof file.
Enable Program/Configure for hpr_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf file and click Start. On the board, observe LED[0] and LED[1] continuing to blink. When the progress bar reaches 100%, LED[2] blinks at the same rate, and LED[3] blinks slower.
To program both the parent and child PR region, right-click the .rbf file in the Programmer and click Change PR Programing File.
Select the hpr_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.rbf file.
Click Start. On the board, observe that LED[0] and LED[1] continuing to blink. When the progress bar reaches 100%, both LED[2] and LED[3] blink slower.
Repeat the above steps to dynamically re-program just the child PR region, or both the parent and child PR regions simultaneously.

Figure 13. Programming the Arria^® 10 GX FPGA Development Board

Programming the Child PR Region

It is very important that you program the correct child persona to match the parent persona.

Running the prpof_id_mif_gen.tcl script before and after the base revision compile allows the tool to check for incompatible bitstreams for Arria^® 10 devices and outputs a PR_ERROR message, indicating the usage of incorrect bitstream. If you do not run this script, you can run into any one of the following types of errors:

Successful PR programming, but corrupted FPGA functionality
Unsuccessful PR programming, and corrupted FPGA functionality

If you wish to reprogram a child PR region on the FPGA, you must ensure that the child PR .rbf is generated from an implementation revision compile whose parent PR persona matches the persona currently on the FPGA. For example, when you program the base blinking_led.sof onto the FPGA, the parent PR persona is default. The child PR persona is default as well. To change the child PR persona to slow persona, you have the choice of using the following bitstreams:

hpr_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf
hpr_parent_slow_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf

In this case, you must choose the former, as this file is generated by an implementation revision that has the default parent persona. Choosing the latter (hpr_parent_slow_child_slow.pr_parent_partition.pr_partition.rbf) results in unsuccessful PR programming, corrupted FPGA functionality, or both.

Troubleshooting PR Programming Errors

Ensuring proper setup of the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Programmer and connected hardware helps to avoid any errors during PR programming.

If you face any PR programming errors, refer to Troubleshooting PR Programming Errors in the Partial Reconfiguration User Guide for step-by-step troubleshooting tips.

Modifying an Existing Persona

You can change an existing persona, even after fully compiling the base revision.

For example, to cause the blinking_led_child_slow persona to blink even slower:

In the blinking_led_child_slow.sv file, modify the COUNTER_TAP parameter from 27 to 28.
Recompile any implementation revision that uses this source file, such as hpr_child_slow or hpr_parent_slow_child_slow.
Regenerate the PR bitstreams from the .pmsf files.
Follow the steps in Step 11: Programming the Board to program the resulting RBF file into the FPGA.

Adding a New Persona to the Design

After fully compiling your base revisions, you can still add new personas and individually compile these personas.

For example, to define a new persona that causes led_two (parent) to blink at a slower rate, while keeping led_three (child) on:

Create an implementation revision, hpr_parent_slow_child_empty, by following the steps in Creating Implementation Revisions.
Compile the revision by clicking Processing > Start Compilation.

For complete information on hierarchical partial reconfiguration for Arria^® 10 devices, refer to Creating a Partial Reconfiguration Design in Volume 1 of the Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Pro Edition Handbook.

Document Revision History for AN 806: Hierarchical Partial Reconfiguration Tutorial for Intel Arria 10 GX FPGA Development Board

Document Version	Intel^® Quartus^® Prime Version	Changes
2018.05.07	18.0.0	Compilation flow change Other minor text edits
2017.11.06	17.1.0	Updated the Reference Design Requirements section with software version Updated the Flat Reference Design without PR Partitioning figure with design block changes Updated the Reference Design Files table with information on the Top_counter.sv module Updated the Partial Reconfiguration IP Core Integration figure with design block changes Updated the figures - Design Partitions Window and Logic Lock Regions Window to reflect the new GUI File name changes Text edits
2017.05.08	17.0.0	Initial release of the document