VRF-02 - Altera® Debug Tools: SignalTap & System Console - 2 Days - Enroll Now This hands-on course builds deep practical mastery of the complete Altera in-system debug suite available in Quartus® Prime Software. The course brings participants to expert level proficiency through intensive laboratory work on real Altera development hardware using production quality, reference designs. The course begins with the Signal Tap Embedded Logic Analyzer — including advanced hierarchical trigger flow graphs, storage qualification, multi-segment capture for intermittent fault analysis, and timing mode oversampling for setup/hold characterization, and develops Tcl scripting fluency for automating trigger configuration, data capture, and nightly regression debug workflows, complemented by power-up trigger techniques for boot fault capture and a deep exploration of Signal Probe and In-System Sources & Probes (ISSP). Course Content: 1. Signal Tap ELA Architecture 2. Signal Tap File Creation, Node Finder, Signal Aliases & Custom Signal Grouping 3. Sample Depth, Buffer Memory Configuration & Resource Trade Off Analysis 4. Trigger Conditions: Comparison, Boolean, Edge & Bit Pattern Triggers 5. Incremental Compilation for Rapid Signal Tap Iteration Without Full Recompile 6. Signal Tap Data Log 7. Trigger Flow Graphs 8. Hierarchical Multi Level Trigger Chains: Complex Fault Sequence Detection 9. Storage Qualification 10. Multi Segment Capture 11. Signal Tap Timing Mode 12. Debugging Clock Domain Crossing Faults with Signal Tap: Capture Strategies & Interpretation 13. The Signal Tap Tcl API 14. Unattended Regression Debug Scripts: Tcl Loops, Conditional Capture & Result Logging 15. Power Up Triggers 16. Signal Probe 17. In-System Sources & Probes (ISSP): Advanced Stimulus Patterns & Live State Monitoring 18. In-System Memory Content Editor 19. System Console Architecture 20. JTAG-to-Avalon Master Bridge 21. Scripted Register Diagnostics 22. Correlating System Console Register State with Simultaneous Signal Tap Captures 23. Nios® V Processors Debug 24. Platform Designer Debug Features 25. Transceiver Toolkit 26. External Memory Interface (EMIF) Debug Toolkit 27. Design for Debug Guidelines 28. Probe Resource Budgeting 29. Structured Fault Isolation Workflow: From First Symptom to Confirmed Root Cause Prerequisites: - FPGA Authority “Debugging & Verification Strategies” course or demonstrated equivalent experience with simulation and basic in-system debug concepts - Exposure to Altera Platform Designer (Qsys) for IP integration and system construction - Working knowledge of VHDL or Verilog HDL at the RTL level (state machines, pipelines, FIFOs) - Basic Tcl scripting experience: variables, loops, conditionals, string manipulation -Experience compiling and programming a design onto an Altera® FPGA with Quartus Prime Software - Understanding of JTAG interface fundamentals (TAP controller, IR/DR registers, daisy chain) - Familiarity with basic digital logic: synchronous clocking, FSMs, bus interfaces Tools Required: - Quartus Prime Pro or Standard Edition - ModelSim-Altera / Questa Altera FPGA Starter Edition - Embedded Design Suite (EDS) - Python Course code: VRF-02. FA_DEBUG.