FlashPro and FlashPro Express
Overview
The Microchip FlashPro Express (production) and FlashPro (discontinued) programming system is a combination of Microchip's FlashPro software and hardware programmers. Together they provide in-system programming (ISP) for all FPGAs in the PolarFireSoC, PolarFire, IGLOO2, SmartFusion2,
RTG4, IGLOO® Series and ProASIC3 Series (including RT ProASIC3), and the SmartFusion, Fusion, ProASICPLUS, and Legacy & Discontinued Flash FPGA families.
Starting with Libero SoC v12.0, The FlashPro programming software will no longer be included in the Libero design software nor will it be available in stand-alone mode. Microsemi will be supporting the FlashPro Express v12.0 programming software, which replaces the FlashPro programming software. The last versions of Libero that supports FlashPro are Libero SoC v11.9 and Libero SoC PolarFire v2.3.
Whether you are programming a board containing a single device or multiple devices connected in a chain, you can quickly program and reprogram Microsemi flash FPGAs by connecting to a PC and the target board. FlashPro programmers provide everything you need to program flash FPGAs for compliance with IEEE 1149, using the JTAG port
Device Support
Flash Programming Support for Libero Software
FPGA Families |
Libero SoC Version |
Supported FlashPro versions |
Supported FlashPro Express versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion, SmartFusion, ProASIC3, IGLOO, RT ProASIC3,ProASICPlus | Libero SoC v11.9 or earlier | FlashPro v11.9 or earlier | Not Supported |
| SmartFusion2, IGLOO2 and RTG4 | FlashPro Express v11.5 to v11.9 | ||
| PolarFire | Libero SoC PolarFire v2.3 or earlier | FlashPro PolarFire v2.3 or earlier | FlashPro Express PolarFire and later |
| PolarFire SoC (Starting from Libero SoC v12.5) PolarFire, SmartFusion2, IGLOO2 and RTG4 | Libero SoC v12.0 and later | There is a workaround to use FlashPro v11.9 and FlashPro PolarFirev2.3 versions. Refer the notes* below for more details. | FlashPro Express v12.0 |
*Notes: Libero SoC design suite v12.0 generates STAPL and JOB files. The users working with Libero SoC v12.0 and would like to work on FlashPro standalone programming software using STAPL file, they can export a STAPL file generated by Libero SoC design suite v12.0 and program the FPGA using standalone versions of FlashPro v11.9 or FlashPro PolarFire v2.3 releases.
Important Points:
- FlashPro Express does not support Fusion, SmartFusion, ProASIC3, IGLOO FPGA devices
- Libero SoC v12.0 or later releases does not support Fusion, SmartFusion, IGLOO and ProASIC3 FPGA devices
- FlashPro v11.9 and FlashPro PolarFire v2.3 are standalone support for Libero SoC v12.0
Features comparison of Hardware Programmers
| Features | FlashPro61,7 | FlashPro52 | FlashPro43 | FlashProLite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported Devices | PolarFire SoC6 , PolarFire, SmartFusion2, IGLOO2, RTG4, |
PolarFire SoC6,PolarFire, SmartFusion2, IGLOO2, RTG4 SmartFusion, IGLOO, ProASIC3, Fusion RT ProASIC3, |
PolarFire SoC6, PolarFire, SmartFusion2, IGLOO2, RTG4 SmartFusion, IGLOO, ProASIC3, Fusion RT ProASIC3, |
ProASICPLUS |
| JTAG Programming |  |
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| SPI-Slave Programming | PolarFire SoC6, PolarFire,SmartFusion2,IGLOO2, | SmartFusion2,IGLOO2 | ||
| SmartDebug Support | |
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| Synopsys Identify Support | |
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| SoftConsole Support | Available with SoftConsole v5.0 and later releases | Available with SoftConsole v4.0 and later releases | |
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| USB3.0(super speed) | |
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| USB 2.0 (high speed) | |
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| USB 1.1 | |
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| Parallel Port | |
Notes:
- Libero SoC v12.2 / FlashPro Express v12.2 / SmartDebug v12.2 software or later versions are required to use FlashPro6
- Libero SoC v11.4/Libero SoC PolarFire v1.1/ FlashPro v11.4 software or later versions are required to use FlashPro5.
- Libero IDE v8.6 SP1 or FlashPro v8.6 SP1 software or later versions are required to use FlashPro4.
- FlashPro and FlashProExpress software support our earlier discontinued hardware programmer FlashPro3 also. For more information, read the product discontinuation notification.
- Libero v12.3 / FlashProExpress 12.3 / SmartDebug v12.3 software or later version are required to user Flashpro6 for SPI-Flash Programming. It also require FlashPro6 to be updated.Scroll down for more details.
- Libero SoC v12.5 or later supports PolarFire SoC
Operating System Support
| Operating Systems(64-bit) | FlashPro | FlashPro Express | FlashPro 6/5 | FlashPro4 | FlashPro Lite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | |||||
| RHEL 7 | |
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| CentOS 7 | |
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| RHEL 6 | |
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| CentOS 6 | |
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| Microsoft Windows | |||||
| Windows 10 | |
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| Windows 7 Professional | |
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Documents
Starting with Libero SoC v12.0, The FlashPro programming software will no longer be included in the Libero design software nor will it be available in stand-alone mode. Microsemi will be supporting the FlashPro Express v12.0 programming software, which replaces the FlashPro programming software. The last versions of Libero that supports FlashPro are Libero SoC v11.9 and Libero SoC PolarFire v2.3.
FlashPro Express User Guides
FlashPro User Guides
Programming User Guides
| UG0714: PolarFire FPGA Programming User Guide | 08/2020 |
| UG0451: SmartFusion2 and IGLOO2 Programming User Guide | 05/2019 |
| UG0602: RTG4 FPGA Programming User Guide | 05/2019 |
Application Briefs
| AC351: PCMCIA Adapter for Parallel Port Programming App Brief | 04/2014 |
| AC357: FlashPro4 Backward Compatibility with FlashPro3 App Brief | 10/2012 |
Software
Software Release Notes and Downloads
- FlashPro programming discontinued from Libero SoC v12.0
- Starting from Libero SoC v11.5 release FlashPro Express is installed as part of Libero SoC
- FlashPro Express Standalone is also available as part of the Programming and Debug Tools
NOTE: FlashPro6 can be updated in the field to allow enhancements in programming speed. Please check back on this page for further FlashPro6 updates for Libero / FlashPro Express v12.3 or later
- This update is required to enable SPI-Slave programming. Please review the readme file before the update.
- Windows: FlashPro6 Update v12.3 Windows
- Linux: FlashPro6 Update v12.3 Linux
