Technically Speaking, Inc
Zynq All Programmable SoC Accelerators
Course Description
Custom processor accelerators are quickly becoming standard practice for reaching system performance goals. This one-day introduction to the accelerator development flow focuses on how to measure system performance, determine what software functionality should be moved to hardware, how to assemble a custom accelerator using the Vivado® HLS tool, add the custom accelerator to a Zynq® All Programmable SoC design, and finally measure accelerated performance.
Emphasis is placed on the Zynq AP SoC's architectural features that make coupling an accelerator to the multi-processor core a possibility as well as the many techniques for implementing accelerated systems. Discussion of typical tradeoffs that a system architect will likely make is also included. The specifics of the accelerator itself is secondary as the focus is on how to integrate an accelerator rather than accelerator design techniques.
Course Outline
Day 1
- Introduction and Agenda
- Zynq AP SoC Architecture Support for Accelerators
- Lab 1: Impact of Port Selection on System Performance
- Accelerator Development Process
- Lab 2: Measuring Performance and Profiling
- Coding Techniques for Accelerators
Day 2
- Developing the Accelerator Using HLS
- Lab 3: Building a Hardware Accelerator Using the Vivado HLS Tool
- Building the Embedded Design Using IPI
- Lab 4: Building an Accelerated Embedded System (Accelerator Model)
- Memory Concepts
- Measuring Embedded System Performance
- Lab 5: Measuring Accelerated System Performance
Lab Descriptions
- Lab 1: Impact of Port Selection on System Performance – The Zynq AP SoC has a number of ports. Connecting the accelerator to the wrong one could significantly hamper system performance. This lab explores the balance between loading the AXI ports and processor performance.
- Lab 2: Measuring Performance and Profiling – Here you will learn how to measure system performance and determine through profiling which software functions should be moved to hardware in the form of an accelerator.
- Lab 3: Building a Hardware Accelerator Using the Vivado HLS Tool – The Vivado HLS tool is a powerful C/C++ to netlist building tool that greatly facilitates converting software functions to hardware accelerators.
- Lab 4: Building an Accelerated Embedded System (Accelerator Model) – This lab explores how the accelerator can be attached to the PS.
- Lab 5: Measuring Accelerated System Performance – Having completed a full build of the accelerated embedded system, you will now confirm proper behavior and overall system performance.
* This course focuses on the Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC. Check with your local Authorized Training Provider for the specifics of the in-class lab board or other customizations.
After completing this comprehensive training, you will have the necessary skills to:
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Identify which system architecture best fits the design needs: data flow or accelerator
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Determine if software is meeting behavioral and performance specifications
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Profile an existing application to determine which functions are candidates for moving to hardware; design, from the ground up, an appropriately architected accelerator system
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Construct an accelerator using the Vivado HLS tool
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Assemble an embedded system using the Vivado IP integrator,
including the custom accelerator
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Architect a memory system and memory access to best support an accelerator architecture
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Measure the performance of the complete system, including AXI loading
