ultracontrollerâ„¢-ll
I found that Xilinx has an app note, XAPP575, for configuring an minimal resource controller using the PowerPC that is built into the Virtex2-Pro and some later FPGAs. This design does not use BlockRAM or external logic. Instead, it runs code entirely from cache memory within the processor block. This seems ideal for being projects were you need some simple PC interface to provide a test interface to your FPGA logic. Of course, cache size is limited, so the controller code cannot be too complex.
I downloaded the example files and they build fine on ISE9. However, my problem is that it requires EDK to compile the C code. Since the controller is SOOO simple, I do not need the full EDK. Since EDK contains the GNU compiler which is free, does anyone know how to configure it for simple projects like this? Are there any alternatives to EDK? I do not need the full IDE and I certainly to do need the $500 price tag.
Thanks.