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Changing PCIe cards functionality in live system

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jeandelfrigo

Programmer
Oct 12, 2005
56
BE
Hello,

Does anyone have experience with or knowledge of re-defining the function of an FPGA based PCIe expansion card while the computer continues running.

Lets take the following fictional example.
A PCIe card x8 with an FPGA on board performs pheripheral functionality A for the system's CPU. At a certain moment the CPU want to re-use the PCIe card for another functionality.
For simplicity let's assume the PCIe interface remains the same (x8) and that the board has all functionality on board to reconfigure safely on its own. So basically the CPU only needs to issue a reconfig to functionality B and then wait for some time to restart using the card.

Is this even possible in PCIe?
Do typical PCIe drivers support this or do you need a specific (self written driver)?
Does anyone have experience with this?
I think I remember correctly reading an article about partial FPGA reconfiguration that mentioned the possibility of this. At this moment the answer to the question if this was just marketing crap or really possible rises.

Regards,

jeandelfrigo
 
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