User guide

Nios II IDE Help System
Running and Debugging Multiprocessor Collections
Multiprocessor collections provide an easy way to run or debug a group of Nios II C/C++
application projects on a Nios II hardware target as a unit. Running or debugging a
multiprocessor collection allows you to download executable code for each project in the
collection and start execution for all processors in a single command.
To run or debug a multiprocessor collection, you must first create a run/debug configuration
for each project you wish to include in the collection and download the SRAM object file (.sof)
to the target board to configure the FPGA with the desired SPOC Builder system.
The following steps allow you to create and work with a multiprocessor collection.
To instruct the Nios II IDE to allow multiple active run and debug sessions:
Before you begin using multiprocessor collections, you must turn on the following Nios II
IDE setting. You only have to perform this action once.
1. On the Window menu, Click Preferences.
2. Click Nios II in the left-hand pane.
3. Turn on Allow multiple active run/debug sessions.
Note: This setting has side-effects on the behavior of single-processor run and debug
sessions. With this setting on, clicking Run or Debug does not auto-terminate
existing sessions, which can cause start-up errors. You must manually terminate
existing run and debug sessions before starting a new one.
To create a new multiprocessor collection configuration and start program execution:
1. Click Run... or Debug... on the Run menu.
2. Right-click Nios II Multiprocessor Collection in the configurations list, and then
click New to create a new multiprocessor collection.
3. On the Main tab, turn on the Nios II hardware target configurations you want to
include in the multiprocessor collection.
4. You can change the name of your new multiprocessor collection in the Name box.
5. Click Run or Debug to start running or debugging all Nios II hardware target
configurations in the multiprocessor collection.
Each processor begins executing code as soon as code finishes downloading. In the case of
a debug session, each processor breaks at the start of main(). The Debug view displays a
separate process for the multiprocessor collection in addition to a process for each of the
individual Nios II hardware target configurations.
To manage multiprocessor debug sessions:
The following commands are available to control all processors simultaneously in the
debug session:
To start all processes simultaneously, click Resume.
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