Read Me First!

Getting Started with Altera

March 2015
Get the latest version of this document at:
www.altera.com/education/training/courses/ORMF1000

Using this Document

If you are new to Altera or programmable logic, this guide will
help you with:
Getting Started: Get your myAltera account for full
access to information and support
Research: See design examples, solutions, literature or
intellectual property (IP) for your project

Preparation: Download the Quartus II design

software and access our range of training resources

Support: Troubleshoot your software installation

and get support for your project
Design Resources: Successfully complete and
optimize your design

Getting Started

Whether you are a new Altera user or a seasoned

designer, we recommend creating a myAltera account
at http://www.altera.com/myaltera/ or from any page on
the Altera web site

What You Get With Registration

Your myAltera account provides access to online

services including:
Training: view the complete Altera course catalog and register for
courses online
mySupport: online technical support allows you to interact with the
Altera Technical Support team
Software: get software licenses and download software
Documentation: sign up for literature update notifications and
request specific literature
Reference Designs: available for download when you need them

How to Create an Account

Create your myAltera account:

1. From any page or the myAltera homepage:

2. Enter your e-mail

address and click
Register or Create
Account
5

Provide Registration Information

3. Enter or confirm
your contact
information, select
a password and
click Create
Account.
Sign up for Altera
newsletters and
announcements here.

4. You have
successfully
registered!

Click the Log In

button to use
your account.

Research
Design examples
Reference designs
IP
System building tools
Development kits
Devices
Technology center
End-market solutions
Webcasts
Literature
Searching for information
Contacting a local distributor
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Design Examples
Many building blocks available to help you better understand
and easily use Altera products, implement various functions, and
address basic design needs
https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/design-examples.html
https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/design-examples/alldesign-examples.html

HDL code samples included to help you get started using

Altera products
Design entry/tool examples highlight the design entry process

Instantiating basic logic blocks

Scripting
Gate-level timing simulation tools
Debugging

Search by keyword(s) or product descriptions

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Reference Designs
Available directly from Altera and our partners
Demonstrate efficient solutions for common system design
problems
Allow for design reuse and fast time to market by serving as
technical sub-system or system blueprints, often for targeted
applications
List by function or use the search box to search product
descriptions and keywords
Download from
https://www.altera.com/products/intellectual-property/referencedesigns.html
https://www.altera.com/products/reference-designs/all-referencedesigns.html

Intellectual Property (IP)

Large selection of IP cores optimized for Altera devices
Available from Altera and and our partners through the Altera
Megafunction Partners Program (AMPP)
https://www.altera.com/products/intellectual-property/ip.html

MegaCore functions included in the IP Base Suite are free with an

active Quartus II subscription
https://www.altera.com/products/intellectual-property/design/ip-base-suite.html

Even without a license, evaluate Altera IP cores and some partner IP

cores using OpenCore Plus
https://www.altera.com/en_US/pdfs/literature/an/an320.pdf
Simulate the core within your system
Verify the design and evaluate its size and speed
Generate time-limited device programming files
Program a device and verify the design in hardware

For Altera IP Core technical support:

https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/support-centers/interfaceprotocols.html
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System Building Tools

Qsys system design and integration tool
Generates an FPGA-optimized network-on-chip system interconnect
Delivers higher performance, more scalable systems, and support for
hierarchical design and design reuse
https://www.altera.com/products/design-software/fpga-design/quartus-ii/
quartus-ii-subscription-edition/qts-qsys.html

DSP Builder
Graphical design tool used to connect multiple digital signal processing (DSP)
design elements in MathWorks Simulink
https://www.altera.com/products/design-software/model---simulation/dspbuilder.html

Altera SDK for OpenCL

Design environment for easily implementing parallel OpenCL applications on
FPGAs
Combine the OpenCL programming model with an FPGA architecture to
achieve system acceleration
https://www.altera.com/products/design-software/embedded-softwaredevelopers/opencl/overview.html
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Development Kits
Wide range of development kits available with everything you need to
create, implement, and evaluate
Include software, reference designs, cables, and programming
hardware
https://www.altera.com/products/boards_and_kits/all-development-kits.html

For Altera development kit technical support

https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/support-centers/dev-kits.html

Alteras partners offer development platforms that address a wide

range of applications
https://www.altera.com/solutions/partners/dev-kit-partners.html

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Devices
Wide range of device series and variants available
https://www.altera.com/products/fpga/overview.html

Device and Product Selector tools

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https://www.altera.com/products/product-selector-guide.html
Find and compare Altera devices (and well as IP and development kits)
Filter down to specific products based on search specifications
Compare products side-by-side by filtering the criteria you choose for
analysis

Technology Center
Access to solutions for many common applications
https://www.altera.com/solutions/technology.html

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End-Market Solutions
Alteras programmable solutions are flexible and can be used in
almost any end market
To investigate Altera end market solutions, visit the Industrial
Solutions web site
https://www.altera.com/solutions/industry.html
Block diagrams and reference designs
Altera partner solutions
IP
Industry trends and consortia
Literature
Webcasts

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Webcasts and YouTube Channel

View featured Webcasts on many useful topics
https://www.altera.com/support/training/webcasts/wc-index.html

Subscribe to the Altera YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/alteracorp

Keep up-to-date by subscribing to the Altera eNewsletter

https://www.altera.com/myaltera/mal-emailsub/technical-updates.html
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Documentation
Find detailed documentation on all Altera devices, IP, and
software
https://documentation.altera.com/

Documentation index
https://www.altera.com/support/literature/lit-index.html

Device, software, and IP documentation link to handbooks

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Device family details

Application notes
Data sheets
User guides
Software handbooks

Documentation: Design Guidelines

Design Guidelines are at the bottom of all device Support web pages
under Documentation

Design guidelines

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Improve productivity by helping you avoid common pitfalls

Help with device selection
Help early system planning (such as early power estimation)
Provide I/O and board considerations
Discuss related Quartus II software issues

Documention: User Guides and White Papers

User Guides provide additional help for:

Devices
Using IP
Development kits
https://www.altera.com/support/literature/lit-ug.html

White Papers are written by Altera experts to explain:

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How a technology was developed

How a technology is used
Product operation for an application, market, or technology
https://www.altera.com/support/literature/wp/lit-wp.html

Keep Up to Date!
Technical Updates center
https://www.altera.com/myaltera/mal-emailsub/technical-updates.html

Receive weekly technical email updates to Altera literature and

stay informed on products, solutions, events, training & more
Subscribe to the email communications that suit your needs
Product announcements
Documentation updates
Published errata

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Searching for Information

Search from the top of any Altera web page
Enter a keyword in the search box
Select a search from Suggestions list or hit enter

Filter results by
web site area

21

Contacting a Local Distributor

If you cannot find the answer to your technical question using
this documents resources, contact your local distributor
https://www.altera.com/about/contact/contact.html

Distributors have Altera-trained and certified field application

engineers (FAEs) to answer your technical questions
Your distributor offers a variety of services and values to help
you use Altera products

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Preparation
Learn about design software and tools
How download design software and tools
Getting a license
Determining your design flow
Altera training resources

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Training curricula
Online training
Instructor-led training
Virtual Classrooms

Learn About Design Software and Tools

Learn about Alteras Quartus II design software
https://www.altera.com/products/design-software/fpga-design/quartus-ii/
overview.html

Decide if you need the Quartus II Subscription Edition or Web

Edition
https://www.altera.com/content/dam/altera-www/global/en_US/pdfs/
literature/po/ss_quartussevswe.pdf

Installation and licensing resources available to help you get up

and running quickly
https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/design-software/
licensing.html

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Download Design Software and Tools

Download the latest design
software and tools at the
Download Center
https://www.altera.com/downloads/
download-center.html

Download individual
components and earlier
software versions

25

Get a License
Visit the Self Service Licensing Center by signing into your
myAltera account
https://mysupport.altera.com/AlteraLicensing/license/index.html

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Self Service Licensing Center Tasks

View # of licenses
View maintenance expiration dates
View NIC IDs
View # of seats
Generate licenses
Re-host licenses
Apply renewals
Add seat to floating license

Split floating license

View license history
Assign users to license
Share admin privileges
Apply dev. kit license
Companion licenses
Check-out floating license
View bundle

Your one stop shop for software & IP licenses!

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License Types
Several types of licenses are available from the Self Service
Licensing Center
Quartus II Subscription Edition license
Fixed license
Floating licenses for PCs or Linux workstations

MegaCore IP licenses for functions downloaded or purchased from Altera

DSP Builder license
Nios II license

Software or IP must be purchased prior to licensing

Installation and licensing resources are available to help you get
up and running quickly
https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/design-software/
licensing.html

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Assigning a License
1. Select the product(s) to license
2. Assign a computer to the respective product
License file will be mailed to the email address linked to your
myAltera account
Point product to location of license file or use environmental
variables
See the installation and licensing documentation for details
https://www.altera.com/content/dam/altera-www/global/en_US/pdfs/
literature/manual/quartus_install.pdf

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Design Flows
When starting a new design, understanding the design flow
makes you more efficient
Methodology
Supporting documentation

Each flow provides examples of the steps recommended for

project success
FPGA and CPLD design flow
https://www.altera.com/products/design-software/fpga-design/quartus-ii/flofpga.html

DSP design flow

https://www.altera.com/solutions/technology/dsp/c-based-synthesis.html

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Altera Training Resources

Altera offers training in all areas of FPGA design to meet your
needs
https://www.altera.com/training

Different types of training available

Online training
Recorded presentations and demonstrations

Instructor-led courses
Taught live by an Altera instructor with hands-on exercises

Virtual Classrooms
Live instructor-led training taught over the internet

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Training Curricula
Seven easy-to-follow curricular tracks to help you identify the
right training combination
https://www.altera.com/support/training/curricula.html

Software Development
Fundamentals Part 1
Fundamentals Part 2
Advanced Hardware
I/O Interfaces
DSP
Embedded Hardware

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Online Training (Just Like This One!)

Access hundreds of online trainings on a multitude of topics
http://wl.altera.com/servlets/searchcourse?coursetype=Online

Courses range from short 20-30 minute presentations to full day

classes, many with software demonstrations
Most training viewable on a computer or any mobile device
You control the pace of the course; pause at any time to practice what
youve learned!
Free!!

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Instructor-Led Training
Available to help you get the most from Altera tools and devices
Taught in North America by experienced instructors who can
answer your questions
$695 per person per day in North America
Can also be purchased with training credits: https://www.altera.com/
support/training/about/credits.html

View and sign up for upcoming North America classes

http://wl.altera.com/servlets/searchcourse?coursetype=Instructor-led

Contact our training partners outside of North America

https://www.altera.com/support/training/partners.html

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Virtual Classrooms
Conducted live over the Internet
Interact directly with an Altera instructor
Identical content to the instructor-led class
Audio provided through telephone conference call
Classes taught in 4.5 hour sessions across consecutive days
Exercises done through remote hands-on lab interface; no need
to install any software locally!
$695 per person per class (over 2 days)
Training credits may also be used as with in-person classes

http://wl.altera.com/servlets/searchcourse?coursetype=Virtual
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Many Ways to Learn!

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Online Training

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Virtual Classes
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In
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1 day Altera ex
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Class
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Ask q

Instructor-led Training

Support
Knowledge Base
Altera forum
Nios forum
Altera Wiki
mySupport

37

Knowledge Database
Your questions are answered in the Knowledge Base
http://www.altera.com/support/kdb/kdb-search.jsp

38

Altera Forum

A community forum that brings Altera users together to learn

from each other
Users share projects, news, and ideas about Altera products to
make experiences with Altera products better
http://www.alteraforum.com/

39

Nios Sub-Forum

Supporting the Nios developer community

Covers operating systems, software, and hardware acceleration
Access from the Forum List on the left side of the main forum

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Altera Wiki

Wiki dedicated to sharing community content on Altera FPGAs,

technologies, tools, and their usage
Community can create, share, and update articles and projects
http://www.alterawiki.com

Note: Altera does not warrant the validity of content posted onto Wiki and does not
support questions about Altera Wiki content
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mySupport

If you cannot find the answer to your issue using the resources
covered in this document, use mySupport
Web interface to submit technical questions or issues in a
service request (SR)
Use mySupport to update, view, and close previously submitted SRs
Each SR is assigned to a factory specialist who takes ownership of your
issue and works with you to solve your problem
SR progress is reported through email, and you will receive an email
notification when your SR is updated
Access your myAltera account 24/7 to view SR updates

To log into mySupport, you need a myAltera account

http://www.altera.com/mysupport

42

Create an SR

43

Create an SR (cont.)

44

Search Before Submit

45

Submit the SR

46

Getting Better Answers Faster

Make sure you can clearly and precisely describe your problem
Describing the problem well helps the application engineer (AE) provide faster, more
accurate support

Details to include in the Service Request

Tool flow (including software version)

Products and IP involved
How to duplicate the issue
Error (screen shots, log files, and other useful data)
Expected result
Actions already taken

Error messages may not be enough for the AE to resolve the issue
It may be necessary to obtain the design files to duplicate the issue (project archive)
Some customers cannot release their design to Altera
Can a test case be generated that has the same problem?

Monitor the SR progress periodically through email or mySupport

AE may ask clarifying questions

47

Design Resources
Ensuring the success of your project
Design and support resources guide
Initial design review
Calculating device power dissipation
Pin connections
Design services partners
References

48

Ensuring the Success of Your Project

Educate yourself and your team
Start with the resources identified in this training
Minimize delays and redesign due to incorrect product assumptions
Develop a highly skilled team

Anticipate and keep issues out of your critical path

Understand your design flow

Evaluate existing boards and solutions
Plan your project for maximum efficiency
Orchestrate internal resources and external partners as required

Conduct an initial design review

A proactive design review may reduce significant design mistakes before
they occur
Contact your distributor FAE for an Initial Design Review

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Design and Support Resources Guide

Index of technical links
guides you through every
step of your design
Quickly connects you to
important information
Great web page to
bookmark!

https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/support-centers/spt-index-guide.html
50

Design and Support Resources Guide

Each section has a
number of sub-sections
Descriptions include
web page links to key
content
Recommended for new
Altera users and
seasoned designers!

51

Initial Design Review

Design examples strongly recommended for design reviews

Designs over 130K logic elements (LEs)

Designs with a short design cycle
Designs planned for high-volume production
High-performance, high-density, and high-complexity designs
>80% utilization in I/O pins and internal logic resources
>200-MHz internal fMAX
High-speed LVDS interfaces
High-speed memory interfaces (e.g., DDR, QDR)
SERDES interfaces over 3 Gbyte/s

52

Power Distribution Network (PDN) Tool

Graphical interface for all Altera FPGAs to optimize the boardlevel PDN
Device-specific PDN tools available for many Altera FPGAs
Includes on-die and on-package decoupling models for supported
families

Device-agnostic PDN tool available for families not supported

by the device-specific PDN tool
https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/support-centers/signal-power-integrity/powerdistribution-network.html

User entered parameters help to derive an

effective decoupling capacitor solution
based on the design requirements

53

Power Estimation
Power Resource Center has information on Alteras power
tools, power management basics, and other resources
https://www.altera.com/products/power/resource-center.html

PowerPlay power analysis estimates power consumption from

early design concept through design implementation
https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/devices/power/powpowerplay.html
PowerPlay early power estimator spreadsheets
Complete spreadsheets for new project or import data for existing projects
Spreadsheets are available for each device family

Quartus II PowerPlay power analyzer

Accurately analyze and optimize both dynamic and static power consumption

As you provide more design

details, estimation accuracy
is improved with PowerPlay
technology
54

Pin Connections
Download pin-out files for each Altera device family
https://www.altera.com/support/literature/lit-dp.html

Understanding how to include an FPGA on your board can be a

complex procedure
Recommendations for connecting pins for specific FPGA families can be
downloaded from the Device Pin Connection Guidelines page
https://www.altera.com/support/literature/lit-dpcg.html

55

Device Review Worksheets

Device Schematic Review Worksheets
Based off of the respective device Pin Connection Guidelines and other
referenced Altera literature applicable to board-level pin connections that
need to be considered when you finalize your schematic to help you find
mistakes in your schematic
https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/download/boardlayout-test/schematic-review-ws.html

Device Layout Review Worksheet

Based on guidelines found at the Board Design Resource Center and
other referenced Altera literature applicable to board layout techniques
and practices that need to be considered when you finalize your PCB
layout
https://www.altera.com/support/support-resources/download/boardlayout-test/layout-review-ws.html

All worksheets are downloadable in Word .doc format

56

Design Services Network

Sometimes it makes sense to outsource part or all of your
project
Due to resource limitations, experience, or skill set

Use the Altera network of independent design partners

Trained and technically competent
Knowledgeable about Altera products and solutions
https://www.altera.com/solutions/partners/design-services.html

Design Service Network (DSN) members offer an

extensive portfolio of design services, intellectual
property, and products

57

Summary
Lots of resources available to you before, during, and at the
completion of the design process
Use this training as a guide
Take advantage of them!
Were here to help you succeed with your design!

58

Learn More Through Technical Training

Instructor-Led
Training

Virtual Classroom Online Training

Training

With Altera's instructor-led

training courses, you can:

With Altera's virtual

classroom training:

Learn from an experienced Altera technical

Get the best of both worlds!

All the benefits of a live,

training engineer (instructor)

Complete hands-on exercises with

GUIdance from an Altera instructor

Ask questions and receive real-time answers

from an Altera instructor

Each instructor-led class is one or two days

in length (8 working hours per day)

With Altera's online training

courses, you can:
Take a course at any time that is

convenient for you

instructor-led training class from
Take a course from the comfort of your
the comfort of your home or
home or office (no need to travel as with
office
instructor-led courses)

Each online course takes approximate

one to three hours to complete

http://www.altera.com/training
View training class schedule and register for a class
59

Give us your feedback

When you registered for this training you received a
confirmation email
Please click on the link in the email to complete a short survey
Your feedback is important to help us improve future trainings!
Thank you!

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