Article ID: 000084515 Content Type: Troubleshooting Last Reviewed: 03/18/2013

Why does the quartus_cpf command, when used to generate a .ekp file for Stratix V, Arria V, and Cyclone V devices, give a syntax error if only a single 256-bit key file is used?

Environment

BUILT IN - ARTICLE INTRO SECOND COMPONENT
Description

When using the quartus_cpf command via the command line you will need to specify the same 256-bit key twice as the quartus_cpf command is still in the process of being updated for Stratix® V, Arria® V, and Cyclone® V devices which only require that one key be used. 

You can safely ignore the syntax error because the envrypted key programming file (.ekp) will be generated.  If you want to avoid this syntax error, you can follow the workaround below.

Resolution

At this time if you use only one key you will get a syntax error so to generate a .ekp file using the quartus_cpf command you will need to specify the same key twice.

Example 1 from Application Note 556: Using the Design Security Features in Altera FPGAs (PDF) can be modified as shown below to show the same key used twice:

quartus_cpf --key D:\SIV_DS\key1.key:key1 --key D:\SIV_DS\key1.key:key1 D:\SIV_DS\test.sof D:\SIV_DS\test.ekp

The Convert Programming Files utility within the Quartus® II software has been updated and only requires one key when generating a .ekp file.

The quartus_cpf command is scheduled to be updated in a future release of the Quartus II software.

Related Products

This article applies to 15 products

Cyclone® V SX SoC FPGA
Cyclone® V GT FPGA
Stratix® V GX FPGA
Cyclone® V GX FPGA
Stratix® V GT FPGA
Stratix® V GS FPGA
Arria® V GZ FPGA
Arria® V SX SoC FPGA
Cyclone® V ST SoC FPGA
Arria® V ST SoC FPGA
Arria® V GX FPGA
Arria® V GT FPGA
Cyclone® V E FPGA
Stratix® V E FPGA
Cyclone® V SE SoC FPGA