Can I Download and Debug via a Remote PC?

The Triscend development environment allows for efficient and easy-to-use remote debugging. For example, you may be running FastChip and your debugger from the desktop PC comfortably located at your desk. The physical hardware may be at a remote location, such as the hardware laboratory. In the lab, a separate computer connects to the target board via a JTAG-based debugger emulator. As long as the two PCs are on the same network and can communicate via TCP/IP, then you can remotely download and debug the application from the comfort of your desktop PC.

Setting Up the Lab PC

Typically, lab PCs are old workstations working well beyond their prime. They generally lack fancy displays and are notoriously short on disk space and memory. Consequently, you probably do not want to install all of FastChip on the lab PC. The critical requirement, however, is the Triscend Multi-JTAG Sever (TMJS).

Insert the FastChip CD-ROM on the lab machine and start the FastChip installation process. When you reach the Setup Type dialog box, select Custom installation. Click Next >.

De-select all components except Triscend Program Files. De-select all programs except Triscend MultiJTAG Server (TMJS). Click Next >.

Choose the appropriate JTAG-based download probe for your development environment and click Next > and complete the remaining installation steps.

Start a TMJS session by opening a command console or DOS box and typing the following command.

tmjs

Check that TMJS successfully launches with the message Status: Server is running. In the example shown below, TMJS is communicating with the Macraigor Wiggler JTAG cable via port 5005.

TRISCEND MULTIJTAG SERVER COMMANDS

help : display Triscend MultiJTAG Server help.

exit/quit : diconnect target, terminate JTAG server & exit.

status : show JTAG server connection status & settings.

connect : launch JTAG server & connect to target.

terminate : disconnect target & terminate JTAG server.

clear : clear target name & host settings.

Launching JTAG server & connect to target ‘TE5_JTAG_Wiggler’ on port 5005

Server is running.

Opening TCP/IP channel to JTAG server on port 5005

TCP/IP channel is open.

Status : Server is running.

Settings: TE5_Jtag_Wiggler, port 5005

tmjs<

Setting Up the Desktop PC

The other side of the connection is your desktop PC. The following instructions assume that you have already installed FastChip and your source-level debugger.

Configure FastChip Device Link (FDL)

Configure the communication settings for FastChip Device Link (FDL).

From the FDL menu, select Tools à FastChip Device Link Options.

Under Host, enter the host name of the computer connected to the target board and running the Triscend MultiJTAG Server (TMJS). In the example shown above, the host name for the remote computer is lab. Set Port to 5005, the same settings used by the TMJS server. Click OK.

Configuring Your Debugger

The next step is to configure your debugger to communicate with the remote host running TMJS. Two examples are shown here. Click the hyperlinks below to jump to your debugger.

Keil µVision2 (E5)
GNU GDB (A7)

Keil µVision2 Debugger (dScope)

Open your Keil µVision2 project for a Triscend E5 CSoC application. In the µVision2 hierarchy tree, click on the root object, usually called Target 1.

From the µVision2 menu, select Project à Options for Target.

Click the Debug tab. Select Triscend E5 Driver to connect the µVision2 debugger to a Triscend E5 design via the Macraigor JTAG cable or the parallel port on the Triscend E5 Evaluation Board. Choose the Use option to perform in-system debugging on the Triscend E5 via JTAG instead of using µVision2’s instruction-set simulator.

Click Settings.

Set Host to the host name of the computer connected to the target board and running the Triscend MultiJTAG Server (TMJS). In the example shown above, the host name for the remote computer is lab. Set Port to 5005, the same settings used by the TMJS server. Click OK.

GNU GDB Debugger

Invoke the GDB debugger for the A7 family. From the GDB menu, select File à Target Settings.

Open the Target droplist and select Triscend/TCP.

Set Hostname to the host name of the computer connected to the target board and running the Triscend MultiJTAG Server (TMJS). In the example shown above, the host name for the remote computer is lab. Set Port to 5005, the same settings used by the TMJS server. Click OK.

FastChip Version: 2.3.0

This solution may or may not apply to other versions of the FastChip development system.