How to Install Altera USB Blaster Driver on Mac
Installing the Altera USB Blaster driver on a Mac can be a bit tricky, but with the right steps, you can successfully connect your FPGA board to your computer. The Altera USB Blaster is a universal programmer and debugger that is commonly used with Altera FPGA boards. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing the driver on your Mac.
Step 1: Download the Driver
The first step is to download the driver for your specific Altera USB Blaster. You can find the driver on the Altera website or by searching for it online. Make sure to download the driver that is compatible with your Mac operating system.
Step 2: Unzip the Driver
Once you have downloaded the driver, you need to unzip the file. Double-click on the downloaded file to extract the contents. This will create a new folder containing the driver files.
Step 3: Open the Terminal
Next, open the Terminal application on your Mac. You can find the Terminal app in the Utilities folder within the Applications directory.
Step 4: Navigate to the Driver Folder
In the Terminal, use the `cd` command to navigate to the folder where you extracted the driver files. For example, if you extracted the files to the desktop, you would type `cd Desktop` and press Enter.
Step 5: Install the Driver
Now, you need to install the driver by running the `install.sh` script. Type the following command in the Terminal and press Enter:
“`
sudo ./install.sh
“`
You will be prompted to enter your password. Enter your password and press Enter.
Step 6: Install the FPGA Programmer
After installing the driver, you need to install the FPGA programmer. You can download the FPGA programmer from the Altera website. Once downloaded, unzip the file and navigate to the extracted folder in the Terminal.
Run the following command to install the FPGA programmer:
“`
sudo ./install.sh
“`
Again, you will be prompted to enter your password. Enter your password and press Enter.
Step 7: Verify the Installation
To verify that the driver has been installed correctly, you can open the System Information application on your Mac. Go to the Applications folder, open Utilities, and then open System Information. In the Hardware section, you should see the Altera USB Blaster listed as a device.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed the Altera USB Blaster driver on your Mac. You can now connect your FPGA board to your computer and start programming and debugging your FPGA designs.
