Requirements

Owned by Tayger
Last updated: Feb 19, 2024
3 min read

Hardware requirements

M65Connect supports access to the MEGA65 by LAN or a JTAG devices. Therefore you need additional hardware:

  • Simply a LAN cable

For JTAG connection:

How to set the DIP switches of the JTAG adapter and where to attach it on the MEGA65 board is described in an Article on the Filehost.

Software requirements

Depending on your OS you need some additional software or settings before you can work with M65Connect. We tried to make it as easy as possible in order to

Windows (JTAG only)

Sending Bitstream files

For sending Bitstream files xc3sprog will be used by default. You don't need to install it as it's already included in M65Connect. If you want to send Bitstream files much faster or program VHDL you need to download and install Vivado or Vivado Lab from https://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.html/content/xilinx/en/downloadNav/vivado-design-tools/2019-1.html (account required).

If you have an existing Bitstream in Slot 1 it will be started instead the loaded Bitstream by xc3sprog. But you can skip this by holding key NO SCROLL while transferring the Bitstream, so that it stops in the Flash Menu on restart. Then you can just press key RUN/STOP to boot normally the loaded Bitstream without trying to load from the Flash menu.

FTDI drivers

On Windows you need to install drivers in order to operate with the JTAG/USB UART adapter and the MEGA65.

If you already have Vivado installed you don’t need to install the FTDI drivers. Vivado comes with its own USB serial driver.

Follow these step to get the FTDI drivers properly installed.

  1. Make sure the MEGA65 is connected to your PC (by USB cable) and turn it on (keep it on for the further steps)

  2. Head to D2XX Drivers - FTDI and download the most top D2XX driver from the list Currently Supported D2XX Drivers : Windows / x64 (64-bit) -> 2.12.36.4 (or just highest version available)

  3. In the Device Manager of Windows there are two unknown devices marked red (labeled as Universal Serial Bus controllers). You need to install drivers for both devices:

    1. Choose search on my computer for new drivers

    2. Choose the location of the downloaded D2XX drivers from step 2

    3. Choose/install the Serial Converter B

  4. After driver installation for both devices two red marked Ports (COM & LPT) will appear. You also need to install the drivers for them. Proceed the same way described in step 3.

  5. If none of the devices are no more marked red everything should be fine. You’re ready now to connect the MEGA65 to your PC by M65Connect. More details on : Connect PC to MEGA65

Mac

No further action required with M65Connect 2.1+

Linux (JTAG only)

You need to be in the groups dialout and plugdev:

  1. Start Linux and open a Terminal window

  2. Add your user to this group by typing: sudo usermod -a -G dialout,plugdev <username>
    while <username> represents your Linux user name. You can also use $USER for the active user.

  3. You NEED to relogin or restart Linux to take effect of these changes!