Re: Xilinx legacy situation

Tim,

iMPACT (all versions, full or WebPACK install) has supported and does 
support download via Parallel Cable III (in fact, I have one on my desk 
and it works just fine) as well as configuration of legacy devices.

Note that new design bitstreams can only be generated with the ISE 
Classics Software.



Tim Forcer wrote:
> We have some well-established teaching laboratory kit, using
> Xilinx XC4013E (optionally XC4020E for project work), with
> download by JTAG and a clone of Xilinx Parallel Cable III
> (DLC5).
>
> As has been discussed here before, despite some statements on
> Xilinx Website, the latest (full-spec) Xilinx software includes
> an iMPACT downloader which doesn't support Parallel Cable III. 
> Alternatively, latest Webpack 6 includes an iMPACT which
> supports the download, but not any flavour of XC4000 (although
> all the library and similar files seem to be present).
>
> Options appear to be:
>
> 1) A kludge whereby we instal only iMPACT from Wepack 6, to get
> the downloading but with no integration into Project Navigator /
> Design Manager (so we lose revision control's updating of where
> to get the .bit file from).  (This is what we're doing at the
> moment - not brilliant, but it does work.)
>
> 2) Someone spends time messing around to produce a collection of
> batch files which provide equivalent P&R function to Project
> Navigator.
>
> Suggestions welcome - including suggestions for alternative
> hardware.  We need to retain 5V-compatible I/O, since all our
> kit uses 5V levels for I/O, and much of the work involves
> interfacing with other bits of kit.  We've also spent quite a
> bit of money on the XC4k ICs - total of 25 pin grid array chips,
> which were hideously expensive - and we'd like to get a decent
> return on this investment.
>
> (In case it is considered relevant: workstations are networked
> PCs with Windows XP Pro, rest of development environment is
> ModelSim and Synplify.  Students work in pairs, 12 pairs at a
> time in a class.)