Method for accessing scan chains and updating eeprom-resident fpga code through a system management processor and jtag bus

Abstract

A method of updating programmable device configuration code stored in EEPROMs of a system is operable on complex systems having separate management and system processors. The method includes executing a sequence for updating programmable device configuration code on a management processor of the system including erasing the EEPROMs, writing at least one block of configuration code to the EEPROMs, and checking for errors after writing. The errors checked for include failure of a FIFO to empty. Upon detecting errors, the method includes automatically retrying writes. Embodiments of the method are operable on systems having multiple serial busses interconnecting EEPROMs to a common configuration logic, and on systems having multiple management processors each capable of accessing the common configuration logic.