FPGA remote firmware update method based on SiTCP communication protocol with rollback function

[Background] Field programmable gate array (FPGA) is widely used in many places, including readout system of large-scale high-energy physics experiments. This kind of experiments usually has large electronic systems with thousands of channels implemented together with FPGAs. Furthermore, these detectors and electronics are often located in special environments such as radiation field, under water or underground, hence the traditional single FPGA update method with joint test action group (JTAG) cable becomes unsuitable or inapplicable. [Purpose] This study aims to realize FPGA remote firmware update without additional Ethernet chips or network protocol, and ensure the security mechanism of the process and multi-FPGA updating extendibility in the future. [Methods] A new approach using silicon transmission control protocol (SiTCP) technique was proposed. The update firmware in the UDP packages was sent under the SiTCP protocol by MATLAB in host computer to FPGA, and the process of Flash memory programming to update firmware was dominated by FPGA, placing the role of PHY and MAC chips. The secure rollback function was implemented in the modified structure of FPGA firmware with separate update data area and original data area. [Results] UDP broadcasting has the ability to multi-FPGA updating, remote firmware update is achieved and tested the secure rollback mechanism well. [Conclusions] This method is suitable for remote operation with advantages such as no need for additional Ethernet chips, built-in safety function to fall back to a known situation, and extendibility of multi-FPGA updating. (authors)