KnCMiner ASIC helper code

This is a library of helper code and system support for using KnC ASICs, with support for both Jupiter and Neptune generation of ASICs.

Installation

Recommended environment for development is a minimal Debian system. Then log in and execute

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install build-essentials
sudo apt-get install autoconf automake libz-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev ncurses-dev libltdl-dev libtool
git clone git@github.com:KnCMiner/spi-test
cd spi-test
make
cd ..
git clone git@github.com:KnCMiner/knc-asic
cd knc-asic
make
cd system
sudo ./install.sh

Now reboot the board to enable Beaglebone access to the KnCMiner I/O board

cgminer build instructions

git clone -b knc2 git@github.com:KnCMiner/cgminer
cd cgminer
NOCONFIGURE=1 ./autogen.sh
./configure --enable-knc
make -j2

Code library

knc-asic.[ch] is the main ASIC support functions

knc-transport.[ch] is a slight abstraction of the SPI transport, to ease use somewhat and allow for other transports to be developed without changing the asic support code.

asic reference command

asic.c is a small reference command allowing you to communicate directly with the ASIC.

Usage: ./asic command arguments..
  status channel
        ASIC status
  led red green blue
        Controller LED color
  reset 
        Reset controller
  info channel die 
        ASIC version & info
  setwork channel die core slot(1-15) clean(0/1) midstate data
        Set work vector
  report channel die core
        Get nonce report
  halt channel die core
        Halt core
  freq channel die frequency
        Set core frequency
  raw channel die response_length request_data
        Send raw ASIC request

system support commands & files

knc-serial.c reads serial numbers of all devices in a KnCMiner device

Usage: ./knc-serial [-v] [command,..]
  -b --beaglebone  Beaglebone
  -i --ioboard     I/O Board
  -a --asic=N      ASIC card

knc-led.c controls the I/O board RGB led. Each colour can be set to brighness level 0-15 where 0 is off and 15 is very very bright. Warning: don't look at the led at brightest level, might hurt your eyes.

Usage: ./knc-led red green blue

io-pwr.c controls I/O board power regulator. Needs to be initialized before the controller FPGA can be programmed.

Usage: ./io-pwr [-v] [command,..]
  -v --verbose  Verbose operation
  init          Initialize I/O power

program-fpga loads a bitstream image into the controller FPGA. By default spimux.rbf is loaded. Need to be run as root or the Linux kernel won't notice the new devices available.

Usage: ./program_fpga filename.rbf

rc.local

Sample rc.local for initializing the system

system/

Debian support files

waas command

The waas command is responsible for detecting ASIC boards and starting them. Currently needs to be run as root.

First time you need to create it's config file by running

sudo waas -d -o /config/advanced.conf

To activate a new config (or after boot) run waas without any arguments

sudo waas

Other usage options are available. See below.

WAAS = Work-Arounds and Advanced Settings
Command-line options:
    -c 
            Specify the config file name to read on start. If this
            option is not used, waas uses default config file:
             (see DEFAULT_CONFIG_FILE below)
    -g 
            Get data from device: voltage outputs, current outputs etc.
            Output is printed in JSON format. Valid info-request values:
        all-asic-info :
            Print outpotu voltage and current for each DC/DC. Print
            temperature for the ASIC board.
    -i 
            Print requested info and exit. Valid info-request values:
        valid-die-voltages :
            Print list of valid DC/DC voltage offsets
        valid-die-frequencies :
            Print list of valid die PLL frequencies
        valid-ranges :
            Print all of the above in JSON format
    -o 
            Specify the name of the file where to print running config info.
            If this option is not used, waas prints running config to the
            standard output.
    -d
            Do not read config file, use default values instead
    -r
            Read only. Do not read config file, do not change running values;
            waas will only print running config end exit
    -a      Auto-adjust PLL frequency based on the DC/DC temperatures.
            Works only for Ericsson devices.

14CORE / knc-asic