Nios II is a 32-bit embedded-processor architecture designed specifically for the Altera family of field-programmable gate arrayintegrated circuits. Nios II incorporates many enhancements over the original Nios architecture, making it more suitable for a wider range of embedded computing applications, from digital signal processing to system-control. Nios II is a successor to Altera's first configurable 16-bit embedded processor Nios.
Key features
Like the original Nios, the Nios II architecture is a RISCsoft-core architecture which is implemented entirely in the programmable logic and memory blocks of Altera FPGAs. The soft-core nature of the Nios II processor lets the system designer specify and generate a custom Nios II core, tailored for his or her specific application requirements. System designers can extend the Nios II's basic functionality by adding a predefined memory management unit, or defining custom instructions and custom peripherals.
Custom instructions
Similar to native Nios II instructions, user-defined instructions accept values from up to two 32-bit source registers and optionally write back a result to a 32-bit destination register. By using custom instructions, the system designers can fine-tune the system hardware to meet performance goals and also the designer can easily handle the instruction as a macro in C.
Custom peripherals
For performance-critical systems that spend most CPU cycles executing a specific section of code, a user-defined peripheral can potentially offload part or all of the execution of a software-algorithm to user-defined hardware logic, improving power-efficiency or application throughput.
Introduced with Quartus 8.0, the optional MMU enables Nios II to run operating systems which require hardware-based paging and protection, such as the Linux kernel. Without an MMU, Nios is restricted to operating systems which use a simplified protection and virtual memory-model: e.g., µClinux and FreeRTOS.
Introduced with Quartus 8.0, the optional MPU provides memory protection similar to that provided by an MMU but with a simpler programming model and without the performance overhead associated with an MMU.
Nios II CPU family
Nios II classic is offered in 3 different configurations: Nios II/f, Nios II/s, and Nios II/e. Nios II gen2 is offered in 2 different configurations: Nios II/f, and Nios II/e.
Nios II/f
The Nios II/f core is designed for maximum performance at the expense of core size. Features of Nios II/f include:
Optional JTAG debug module enhancements, including hardware breakpoints, data triggers, and real-time trace
Nios II/e
The Nios II/e core is designed for smallest possible logic utilization of FPGAs. This is especially efficient for low-cost Cyclone II FPGA applications. Features of Nios II/e include:
Nios II uses the Avalon switch fabric as the interface to its embedded peripherals. Compared to a traditional bus in a processor-based system, which lets only one bus master access the bus at a time, the Avalon switch fabric, using a slave-side arbitration scheme, lets multiple masters operate simultaneously.
Development processes
Development for Nios II consists of two separate steps: hardware generation and software creation. Development is hosted inside an Altera application called the Embedded Design Suite. The EDS contains a complete integrated development environment to manage both hardware and software in two separate steps:
Hardware generation process
Nios II hardware designers use the Qsys system integration tool, a component of the Quartus-II package, to configure and generate a Nios system. The configuration graphical user interface allows users to choose the Nios-II's feature-set, and to add peripheral and I/O-blocks to the embedded system. When the hardware specification is complete, Quartus-II performs the synthesis, place & route to implement the entire system on the selected FPGA target.
Qsys is replacing the older SOPC Builder, which could also be used to build a Nios II system, and is being recommended for new projects.
Software creation process
A separate package, called the Embedded Design Suite, manages the software development. Based on the Eclipse IDE, the EDS includes a C/C++ compiler, debugger, and an instruction-set simulator. EDS allows programmers to test their application in simulation, or download and run their compiled application on the actual FPGA host. Because the C/C++ development-chain is based on GCC, the vast majority of open source software for Linux compiles and runs with minimal or no modification. Third-party operating-systems have also been ported to Nios II. These include Micrium MicroC/OS-II, eCos, Segger Microcontroller embOS, ChibiOS/RT, μCLinux and FreeRTOS.
Licensing
Nios II is comparable to MicroBlaze, a competing softcore CPU for the Xilinx family of FPGA. Unlike MicroBlaze, Nios II is licensable for standard-cell ASICs through a third-party IP provider, Synopsys Designware. Through the Designware license, designers can port Nios-based designs from an FPGA-platform to a mass production ASIC-device.
