FPGA programming using FX3

An FPGA is required to be programmed via USB3 cable. Connectivity to the host PC is achieved by using an FX3 chip. By changing the firmware of the FX3, one can alter the function of the FX3. To program the FPGA via USB3, the FX3 must act as a connector from the host to the FPGA. This type of connection is known as an FPGA link. This method of connection is required to avoid programming the FPGA and FX3 dedicated memories and thus not having to use different programming methods and cables to program the board. It is considered that the FX3 is suitable to be used as an FPGA link since its previous version, the FX2, was also used as an FPGA link in a similar project. Firmware was downloaded on the FX3 using libusb and fx3load files from a Linux terminal. Some testing firmware was verified to perform as intended. However, the connection firmware intended to make the FPGA link truly functional has not been successful so far. Yet, through the FX3 documentation, it can be noted that an FPGA link is possible. UrJTAG shell should be appropriate to successfully program the FPGA once the FX3 acts as an FPGA link. However, connectivity via UrJTAG to an FPGA was not completed; thus this FPGA link can be deemed as a viable method but not truly confirmed.