Developing AWS F1 Applications Using the SDAccel Environment
Course Description
For designers new to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) F1 instance,
this course illustrates the complete flow of design generation for AWS
F1. The focus is on utilizing the tools to accelerate a design at the
system architecture level and the optimization of the accelerators using
the SDAccel™ development environment.
The course provides experience with:
Creating kernels from C, C++, OpenCL, or RTL IP
Identifying RTL kernel interface requirements
Utilizing the RTL Kernel Wizard to create a kernel
Level
– EMBD 2
Course Duration
– 1 day
Course Part Number
– EMBD-AWS
Who Should Attend?
– Anyone interested in quickly adding hardware
acceleration to a software system.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Xilinx FPGA architecture
Comfort with the C programming language
Familiarity with OpenCL™ API programming
Accelerating OpenCL Applications with the SDAccel
Environment course or equivalent
After completing this comprehensive training, you will have the
necessary skills to:
Describe the Amazon Web Services (AWS) F1 instance
development flow with the SDAccel™ development environment
Explain how the SDx™ development environment helps the
software developer to focus on applications
Create kernels from C, C++, OpenCL, or RTL IP
Describe the RTL kernel interface requirements
Create a kernel with the RTL Kernel Wizard
Course Outline
Introduction to the AWS F1 Instance and the SDAccel
Environment {Lecture}
Understanding the AWS F1 Hardware and Software Stacks
{Lecture}
Introduction to the SDAccel Environment and OpenCL Framework
{Lecture}
SDx Tools Overview {Lecture}
Creating Kernels and Compiling the Amazon FPGA Image
{Lecture}
Setting Up an AWS F1 Instance {Lecture, Lab}
Running an Example Design Using the Makefile Flow { Lab}
Running an Example Design Using the GUI Flow {Lab}
Profiling and Optimizing an F1 Accelerator {Lab}
Using the RTL Kernel Wizard to Reuse Existing IP as F1
Accelerators {Lecture, Lab}
Topic Descriptions
▪ Introduction to the AWS F1 Instance and the SDAccel
Environment {Lecture} – Describes the AWS F1 instance, the
benefits of using the F1 instance, and the AWS F1 development
flow.
Understanding the AWS F1 Hardware and Software Stacks
{Lecture} – Explains the hardware and software stacks of the
AWS F1 platform and explains how they work together to provide
an acceleration solution.
Introduction to the SDAccel Environment and OpenCL Framework
{Lecture} – Explains how software engineers and application
developers can benefit from the SDAccel™ development
environment and Open Computing Language (OpenCL™)
framework.
SDx Tools Overview {Lecture} – Describes the elements of the
development flow, such as software emulation, hardware
emulation, and system run as well as debugging support for the
host code and kernel code.
Creating Kernels and Compiling the Amazon FPGA Image
{Lecture} – Explains the steps required to create FPGA kernels,
assemble the FPGA program, and compile the Amazon FPGA
Image (AFI).
Setting Up an AWS F1 Instance {Lecture, Lab} – Describes how
to set up an AWS account, configure the instance, and set up the
SDAccel development environment.
Running an Example Design Using the Makefile Flow {Lab} –
Walks through running an example design on AWS F1 using the
makefile flow.
Running an Example Design Using the GUI Flow {Lab} – Walks
through running an example design on AWS F1 using the GUI
flow.
Profiling and Optimizing an F1 Accelerator {Lab} – Details using
the SDAccel development environment to create, profile, and
optimize an F1 accelerator.
Using the RTL Kernel Wizard to Reuse Existing IP as F1
Accelerators {Lecture, Lab} – Describes how the SDAccel
environment provides RTL kernel developers with a framework to
integrate their hardware functions into an application running on a
host PC connected to an FPGA via a PCIe® interface
