Arty a7

[Isa5555]

Hi everyone, I am looking for some help on how to use the Arty a7 board with the Vivado software tool.  I am new to this and have no idea how to get started.

[Bianca]

Hi @Isa5555,

Have you looked at our getting started tutorials? https://reference.digilentinc.com/vivado/getting_started/start 

On the Reference page you have documentation, tutorials and projects to help you get started with the board. https://reference.digilentinc.com/reference/programmable-logic/arty-a7/start

Regards,

Bianca

[Isa5555]

Hi Bianca,

thanks for the response, but I am not able to download the Vivado software as yet.  I am not sure which version whether to use the web extractor and how to use it or not.

[Bianca]

You can download Vivado from here: https://www.xilinx.com/support/download.html Regarding the version, you can chose whatever you want. Most of our projects with Arty A7 are in Vivado 2018.2, so if you want to open the projects and give them a run without updating IPs you can try to use the same version. 

It can be found in Archive: https://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.html/content/xilinx/en/downloadNav/vivado-design-tools/archive.html

 

Here you have info's about the installer: https://www.xilinx.com/support/installer/installer-info-2018-2.html Basically, what it does is to download an executable that you need to run. Once you run it will start to download and install the vivado. Keep in mind that you need ~30GB space on your disk at installation and you will also need a Xilinx account. 

and when you install make sure you check the WebPACK which is the free version. 

 

From this point is just a standard installation.

 

Good luck

Bianca. 

 

PS: We have an older installing tutorial for 14.3 version of Vivado. Like I said, you can find a bunch of tutorials, to help you, but you need to take some time and read through them. The getting started tutorial I've pointed to you in the above response, starts with a link to Installing Vivado. 

I think the licencing for webpack is changed from when the tutorial was made. I don't know if you still need a licence. The chapter is covered in the tutorial, but I think that from 2018.1 for webpack you don't need anything else besides installing the sw. https://reference.digilentinc.com/learn/software/tutorials/vivado-install-guide/start 

[Isa5555]

Thanks again, that was very helpful.  One last question.  What else do I need to interface with the Arty a7 board if I need to download my programs.  Would just the USB cable work or do I need a vivado interface box or something.

[Bianca]

Just a micro B usb cable to connect to the computer and you're set.

[Isa5555]

Hi Bianca,

Its me again.  I now have Vivado installed on my computer and I am trying to create my first project with the Arty a7 development kit.  I went through the steps to create the project, then it asks for the board to be used in the project, but is doesn't have the Arty a7, do I select the Artix-7 AC701 Evaluation Platform or what. Does it work in place of the Arty a7?

 

[JColvin]

Hi @Isa5555,

You will need to install the board files; this is described more specifically in this guide here: https://reference.digilentinc.com/vivado/installing-vivado/start#installing_digilent_board_files.

Let us know if you have other questions.

Thanks,
JColvin

[Isa5555]

Thanks for the information guys, its been very helpful.  I finally got through most of it and now I am trying to connect to the Arty a7 board and I am not having any success.  it is showing "localhost(0) connected.  What am I doing wrong?

[JColvin]

Hi @Isa5555,

The message localhost(0) connected is expected. Did you follow the steps for connecting to the board via the Vivado Hardware Manager as per this guide here: https://reference.digilentinc.com/vivado/getting_started/start#the_hardware_manager?

Thanks,
JColvin

[Isa5555]

Hello, its me again.  I tried what you suggested and I still cannot connect to the Arty a7 board. I do open target and select open new target and I get this.

"No target. Use "add Xilinx cable (XVC) or ""Back" button to obtain target."

than below I get Add Xilinx Virtual cable (XVC)

Hardware Devices (for unknown devices, specify the Instruction Register (IR) length)

No device

Hardware server:   localhost:3121

I don't know what else to do, I am stuck.

[Isa5555]

Oh, never mind.  I changed the USB cable and everything is working great.

Thanks.

[JColvin]

Hi @Isa5555,

During the Vivado installation process, do you remember if you installed the cable drivers? Your description indicates that this might be the case. Xilinx has some instructions on how to add them through command prompt here, https://www.xilinx.com/support/answers/59128.html.

Alternatively, you can get them added by selecting the Help tab in Vivado, selecting Add Tools or Devices, logging in to your Xilinx account, choosing the same version you have installed and clicking the Next button, and then selecting the "Install Cable Drivers" check box under Installation Options.

Let me know how this goes.

Thanks,
JColvin

[JColvin]

Oh, glad to hear changing the cable worked for you; that's a much easier solution.

Thanks,
JColvin