USRP Hardware Driver and USRP Manual  Version: 4.6.0.0
UHD and USRP Manual
Generation 3 USRP Build Documentation

Dependencies and Requirements

Dependencies

The USRP FPGA build system requires a UNIX-like environment with the following dependencies:

The following USRPs work with the free versions of the Xilinx tools as well as the full licensed versions:

  • USRP B200/B200mini (ISE WebPACK)
  • USRP E310/E312/E313 (Vivado ML Standard)

System Requirements

In general, a high-performance PC with a lot of disk space and memory is recommended for building FPGA images. For USRP FPGA builds, the following system RAM is recommended:

  • USRP E3xx, X3xx, and N3xx Series
    • 12 GiB minimum
    • 16 GiB recommended
  • USRP X4xx Series
    • 24 GiB minimum
    • 32 GiB recommended

For other system requirements related to the Xilinx tools, see the appropriate Xilinx documentation for the build tool required by your FPGA type.

What FPGA does my USRP have?

USRP FPGA Design Tool
USRP B200 Spartan-6 XC6SLX75 ISE
USRP B210 Spartan-6 XC6SLX150 ISE
USRP B200mini Spartan-6 XC6SLX75 ISE
USRP B205mini Spartan-6 XC6SLX150 ISE
USRP X300 Kintex-7 XC7K325T (7 Series: Kintex-7) Vivado
USRP X310 Kintex-7 XC7K410T (7 Series: Kintex-7) Vivado
USRP E31x Zynq-7000 XC7Z020 (SoCs: Zynq-7000) Vivado
USRP E320 Zynq-7000 XC7Z045 (SoCs: Zynq-7000) Vivado
USRP N300 Zynq-7000 XC7Z035 (SoCs: Zynq-7000) Vivado
USRP N310/N320 Zynq-7000 XC7Z100 (SoCs: Zynq-7000) Vivado
USRP X410 RFSoC XCZU28DR Speed grade 1 (SoCs: Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC) Vivado
USRP X440 RFSoC XCZU28DR Speed grade 2 (SoCs: Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC) Vivado

Note: The Xilinx installation must include support for the specified FPGA family. You can save disk space and installation time by only installing support for the FPGAs you intend to use.

Build Environment Setup

Download and Install Xilinx Tools

Download and install Xilinx Vivado or Xilinx ISE based on the target USRP.

  • The recommended installation directory is /opt/Xilinx/ for Linux and C:\Xilinx in Windows.
  • Please check the Xilinx requirements for the FPGA technology used by your USRP device.
  • You may need to acquire a synthesis and implementation license from Xilinx to build some USRP designs.
  • You may need to acquire a simulation license from Xilinx to run some testbenches.

Download and Install ModelSim (Optional)

If you prefer to use ModelSim, download and install Mentor ModelSim using the link above.

  • The recommended installation directory is /opt/mentor/modelsim for Linux and C:\mentor\modelsim in Windows
  • Supported versions are PE, DE, SE, DE-64 and SE-64
  • You may need to acquire a license from Mentor Graphics to run ModelSim

Setting up build dependencies on Ubuntu

You can install all the dependencies through the package manager: 

sudo apt-get install python3 bash build-essential doxygen

Your actual command may differ.

Setting up build dependencies on Fedora

You can install all the dependencies through the package manager: 

sudo dnf -y install python bash make doxygen

Your actual command may differ.

Setting up build dependencies on Windows (using Cygwin)

NOTE: Windows is only supported with Vivado. The build system does not support Xilinx ISE in Windows.

Download the latest version on Cygwin (64-bit is preferred on a 64-bit OS) and install it using these instructions. The following additional packages are also required and can be selected in the GUI installer 

python3 patch patchutils bash make gcc-core doxygen

Build Instructions (Xilinx Vivado only)

Makefile based Builder

  • Navigate to <repo>/fpga/usrp3/top/{project} where {project} is:
    • x300: For USRP X300 and USRP X310
    • e31x: For USRP E310
    • e320: For USRP E320
    • n3xx: For USRP N300/N310/N320
    • x400: For USRP X410/X440
  • To add vivado to the PATH and to setup up the Ettus Xilinx build environment run
    • source setupenv.sh (If Vivado is installed in the default path /opt/Xilinx/Vivado) OR
    • source setupenv.sh --vivado-path=<VIVADO_PATH> (where VIVADO_PATH is a non-default installation path)
  • To build a binary configuration bitstream run make <target> where the target is specific to each product. To get a list of supported targets run make help.
  • The build output will be specific to the product and will be located in the <repo>/fpga/usrp3/top/{project}/build directory. Run make help for more information.

Environment Utilities

The build environment also defines many ease-of-use utilities. Please use the Vivado Utility Reference page for a list and usage information.

Known Issues

N2rt13HDRTExceptionE in Vivado 2021.1

Problem:

A sporadic routing error has been observed when building an FPGA with Vivado 2021.1, which prevents a bitfile from being generated: 

ERROR: [Route 35-9] Router encountered a fatal exception of type 'N2rt13HDRTExceptionE' - 'Trying to tool lock on already tool locked arc
ERROR: [Common 17-39] 'route_design' failed due to earlier errors.

Attempting to rebuild the FPGA on the same Git hash does not resolve the problem.

Solution:

Use a different Git hash or make a non-functional source code change to the HDL to rebuild the design.

According to Xilinx Support, this issue will be fixed in a future version of Vivado.

Error During cs_server Initialization in Vivado 2021.1

Problem:

When using the Vivado hardware manager (JTAG), the following error is observed: 

ERROR: [Labtools 27-3733] Error during cs_server initialization: Vivado<->cs_server version mismatch, cs_server: [2021.1], Vivado: [2021.1_AR76780].
  To remedy this error, terminate the cs_server exectuable, and relaunch with version 2021.1_AR76780.
ERROR: [Common 17-39] 'connect_hw_server' failed due to earlier errors.

Solution:

This is a known issue in Vivado 2021.1. See Xilinx AR76681 for details.

Issue the following TCL command to disable the version check before attempting to connect to the hardware: 

set_param labtools.override_cs_server_version_check 1

Build Instructions (Xilinx ISE only)

Makefile Based Builder

  • To add xtclsh to the PATH and to setup up the Xilinx build environment run
    • source <install_dir>/Xilinx/14.7/ISE_DS/settings64.sh (64-bit platform)
    • source <install_dir>/Xilinx/14.7/ISE_DS/settings32.sh (32-bit platform)
  • Navigate to <repo>/fpga/usrp3/top/{project} where {project} is:
    • b200: For USRP B200 and USRP B210
    • b200mini: For USRP B200mini
  • To build a binary configuration bitstream run make <target> where the target is specific to each product. To get a list of supported targets run make help.
  • The build output will be specific to the product and will be located in the <repo>/fpga/usrp3/top/{project}/build directory. Run make help for more information.

Targets and Outputs

B2x0 Targets and Outputs

Supported Targets

  • B200: Builds the USRP B200 design.
  • B210: Builds the USRP B210 design.

Outputs

  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.bit : Configuration bitstream with header
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.bin : Configuration bitstream without header
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.syr : Xilinx system report
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.twr : Xilinx timing report

X3x0 Targets and Outputs

Supported Targets

  • X310_1G: USRP X310. 1GigE on both SFP+ ports.
  • X300_1G: USRP X300. 1GigE on both SFP+ ports.
  • X310_HG: USRP X310. 1GigE on SFP+ Port0, 10Gig on SFP+ Port1.
  • X300_HG: USRP X300. 1GigE on SFP+ Port0, 10Gig on SFP+ Port1.
  • X310_XG: USRP X310. 10GigE on both SFP+ ports.
  • X300_XG: USRP X300. 10GigE on both SFP+ ports.
  • X310_HA: USRP X310. 1GigE on SFP+ Port0, Aurora on SFP+ Port1.
  • X300_HA: USRP X300. 1GigE on SFP+ Port0, Aurora on SFP+ Port1.
  • X310_XA: USRP X310. 10GigE on SFP+ Port0, Aurora on SFP+ Port1.
  • X300_XA: USRP X300. 10GigE on SFP+ Port0, Aurora on SFP+ Port1.

Outputs

  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga_<image_type>.bit : Configuration bitstream with header
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga_<image_type>.bin : Configuration bitstream without header
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga_<image_type>.lvbitx : Configuration bitstream for PCIe (NI-RIO)
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga_<image_type>.rpt : System, utilization and timing summary report

E310 Targets and Outputs

Supported Targets

  • E310_SG1 or E310: Builds the USRP E310 (speed grade 1).
  • E310_SG3 or E310_sg3: Builds the USRP E310 (speed grade 3).
  • E310_SG1_IDLE: Builds the USRP E310 idle design (speed grade 1).
  • E310_SG3_IDLE: Builds the USRP E310 idle design (sSpeed grade 3).

Outputs

  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.bit : Configuration bitstream with header
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.dts : Device tree overlay
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.rpt : System, utilization and timing summary report

E320 Targets and Outputs

Supported Targets

  • E320_1G: 1GigE on SFP+ Port.
  • E320_XG: 10GigE on SFP+ Port.
  • E320_AA: Aurora on SFP+ Port.

Outputs

  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.bit : Configuration bitstream with header
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.dts : Device tree overlay
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.rpt : System, utilization and timing summary report

N3xx Targets and Outputs

Supported Targets

The targets depend on the actual hardware the FPGA image is being deployed to. Unlike the X300 Series, the daughterboards are an integral part of the module and not meant to be removed. Therefore, the target is specific to the combination of motherboard and daughterboards.

  • N300_AA: Aurora on both SFP+ ports
  • N300_HA: 1GigE on SFP0, Aurora on SFP1
  • N300_HG: 1GigE on SFP0, 10GigE on SFP1
  • N300_WX: White Rabbit on SFP0, 10GigE on SFP1
  • N300_XA: 10GigE on SFP0, Aurora on SFP1
  • N300_XG: 10GigE on both SFP+ ports
  • N310_AA: Aurora on both SFP+ ports
  • N310_HA: 1GigE on SFP0, Aurora on SFP1
  • N310_HG: 1GigE on SFP0, 10GigE on SFP1
  • N310_WX: White Rabbit on SFP0, 10GigE on SFP1
  • N310_XA: 10GigE on SFP0, Aurora on SFP1
  • N310_XG: 10GigE on both SFP+ ports
  • N320_AQ: 10GigE on both SFP+ ports, Aurora on QSFP+ ports
  • N320_HG: 1GigE on SFP0, 10GigE on SFP1
  • N320_XG: 10GigE on both SFP+ ports
  • N320_XQ: White Rabbit on SFP0, 10 GigE on QSFP0 and QSFP1
  • N320_WX: White Rabbit on SFP0, 10GigE on SFP1
  • N320_AA: Aurora on SFP+ Port0, Aurora on SFP+ Port1

For the N320 targets see also the N320 manual page on the UHD manual.

Outputs

  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.bit : Configuration bitstream with header
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.dts : Device tree overlay
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.rpt : System, utilization and timing summary report

X4x0 Targets and Outputs

Supported Targets

Unlike the USRP X310, the target types do not only describe the connector configuration, but also the available master clock rates. For example, the FPGA target type X4_200 is configured for a 200 MHz analog bandwidth, and can support a 245.76 MHz or 250 MHz master clock rate.

A more detailed description of the targets can be found at FPGA Image Flavors. Run make help in the <repo>/fpga/usrp3/top/x400/ directory to see the complete list of targets available. It will list targets for both X410 and X440.

Outputs

  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.bit : Configuration bitstream with header
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.dts : Device tree overlay
  • build/usrp_<product>_fpga.rpt : System, utilization and timing summary report

Additional Build Options

It is possible to make a target and specify additional options in the form VAR=VALUE in the command. For example: 

$ make X310 GUI=1

The options available are described in the following subsections.

Xilinx Vivado Make Options

  • GUI=1 : Run the Vivado build in GUI mode instead of batch mode. After the build is complete, Vivado provides an option to save the fully configured project for customization
  • CHECK=1 : Run elaboration only to check HDL syntax
  • SYNTH=1 : Run synthesis only
  • TOP=<module> : Specify an alternate top-level module for syntax checking

Xilinx ISE Make Options

  • PROJECT_ONLY=1 : Only create a Xilinx project for the specified target(s). Useful for use with the ISE GUI.
  • EXPORT_ONLY=1 : Export build targets from a GUI build to the build directory. Requires the project in build-*_* to be built.