Speaker
Michael Fenner
Description
Hardware installation for European XFEL is a huge logistical challenge,
since hundreds of boards have to be tested, programmed, maintained and
serviced. DESY MSK department provides and uses an automated approach
for programming MicroTCA boards - for post-production-programming and for
in-field-update of all on-board memories.
These are the key aspects:
1. Automated management programming: DESY has developed a method for
script-based programming of MMC, Bootloader, FRU, and Chip fuses
2. Automated FPGA programming: DESY provides a command-line tool for
generation of HPM files - for both MMC and FPGA bit files. If DESY MMC
V1.00 is used, the upload process can be shortened significantly due to
usage of a proprietary bitstream compression.
3. Toolchain integration: The software build tools are scripted. The
version number is taken from version control system via
pre-build-scripts and is automatically placed into the firmware images,
making it possible to query version number via IPMI tool and trace
changes according the DESY version control system (SVN). Post-build
scripts automatically generate directly uploadeable HPM files.
4. In-field update: All memories can be programmed via IPMItool,
allowing remote update of all stations.
The methods, tools and scripts are presented. They are available to DESY
licensees.
Primary author
Michael Fenner
