Specifications
• Optional memory management unit (MMU) to support operating systems that require MMUs
• Optional memory protection unit (MPU)
• Software development environment based on the GNU C/C++ tool chain and the Nios II Software
Build Tools (SBT) for Eclipse
• Integration with Altera’s SignalTap
®
II Embedded Logic Analyzer, enabling real-time analysis of
instructions and data along with other signals in the FPGA design
• Instruction set architecture (ISA) compatible across all Nios II processor systems
• Performance up to 250 DMIPS
• Optional error correcting code (ECC) support for a subset of Nios II processor internal RAM blocks
A Nios II processor system is equivalent to a microcontroller or “computer on a chip” that includes a
processor and a combination of peripherals and memory on a single chip. A Nios II processor system
consists of a Nios II processor core, a set of on-chip peripherals, on-chip memory, and interfaces to off-
chip memory, all implemented on a single Altera device. Like a microcontroller family, all Nios II
processor systems use a consistent instruction set and programming model.
Getting Started with the Nios II Processor
The easiest way to start designing effectively is to use an Altera development kit that includes a ready-
made development board and the Nios II Embedded Design Suite (EDS) containing all the software
development tools necessary to write Nios II software.
The Nios II EDS includes the following two closely-related software development tool flows:
• The Nios II SBT
• The Nios II SBT for Eclipse
Both tools flows are based on the GNU C/C++ compiler. The Nios II SBT for Eclipse
™
provides a familiar
and established environment for software development. Using the Nios II SBT for Eclipse, you can
immediately begin developing and simulating Nios II software applications.
The Nios II SBT also provides a command line interface.
Using the Nios II hardware reference designs included in an Altera development kit, you can prototype an
application running on a board before building a custom hardware platform.
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Getting Started with the Nios II Processor
NII51001
2015.04.02
Altera Corporation
Introduction
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