MPI/SynqNet FPGA Compatibility Check

The MPI verifies "forwards" and "backwards" compatibility with the FPGA images loaded on all SynqNet nodes on a network. There are two types of images checked on a per node basis: SqNode and SqMAC images.

Each node type (or module) has three values defined for both sqMAC and sqNode image types: Default, Minimum, and Maximum supported versions.

Both of these images are compiled together to create one node FPGA (.sff) image.

SqMAC Compatibility Check

The SqMAC image defines the SyqnNet Medium Access Control layer for SynqNet. It is important to be running with a compatible SqMAC image for basic network operation. If your SqMAC is incompatible with the MPI, your network will probably never reach cyclic mode.

A compatibility ERROR will be returned from mpiControlInit(...) and meiSynqNetInit(...) if the SqMAC FPGA version number on any node does not fall within the defined minimum and maximum compatibility values for that node type. This error will stop the initialization of the network and leave the network in Asynq mode.

SqNode Compatibility Check

The SqNode FPGA image defines the operation of the resources on the node. For example, quadrature feedback, dedicated I/O, etc. If the image is incompatible with the MPI, your network will still reach cyclic mode, but certain node resources may not operate as expected.

A compatibility WARNING will be returned from mpiControlInit(...) and meiSynqNetInit(...) if any node FPGA version number does not fall within the defined minimum and maximum compatibility values for that node type. This warning will not stop the initialization of the network.

The default value for the SqNode FPGA image defines the version of the SynqNet node FPGA image that was built and tested with the current version of the MPI. The meiSqNodeInfo(...) method will return a value in MEISqNodeInfo.fpga.defaultVersion to indicate if the node is running with the default version of the SqNode FPGA image. This is the recommended version to have loaded on the node, unless otherwise noted in the release note or by an MEI engineer.

The VERSION.EXE utility will also report the default version as TRUE or FALSE.