Article ID: 000089679 Content Type: Error Messages Last Reviewed: 10/17/2023

Why does the niosv-download utility unable to download the Nios® V processor application ELF file when there are multiple cable instances?

Environment

  • Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition
  • BUILT IN - ARTICLE INTRO SECOND COMPONENT
    Description

    The following error message is displayed in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 21.3 and 21.4 when you perform the following tasks:

    • Downloading a Nios® V processor application ELF file into Intel® FPGAs using the niosv-download utility.
    • Generating an OpenOCD configuration file using openocd-cfg-gen utility.

     

    INFO: Generating OpenOCD config file. Running "openocd-cfg-gen -c 2 /tmp/niosvm.cfg".

    Please specify a valid cable

    ERROR: Failed to generate OpenOCD config file.

     

    This error message occurs due to a bug in the openocd-cfg-gen utility, whereby the utility cannot generate the OpenOCD configuration file unless the targeted Intel FPGA is connected to the 1st cable instance.

    A similar error can be seen when you are using the niosv-download utility because the niosv-download utility also calls out or uses the openocd-cfg-gen utility.

     

    You may run the jtagconfig command to display all the connected instances to the host computer.

    Resolution

    To work around this problem in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 21.3 and 21.4, follow these steps:

    1. Ensure that the targeted Intel FPGA is connected to the 1st cable instance.
    2. Disconnect other Intel FPGAs from your host computer through the following methods:
      • Power down the devices
      • Unplug the devices from the host computer
    3. Download and install the following patch to fix this error in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 21.3:
    4. Download and install the following patch to fix this error in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 21.4:

    This problem is fixed starting from Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition Software version 22.1.

    Related Products

    This article applies to 4 products

    Intel® Cyclone® 10 GX FPGA
    Intel® Stratix® 10 FPGAs and SoC FPGAs
    Intel® Arria® 10 FPGAs and SoC FPGAs
    Intel Agilex® 7 FPGAs and SoC FPGAs