ZCU102 Configuration

This guide covers the hardware configuration settings required for the Xilinx ZCU102 Evaluation Board to properly interface with the X-Band Phased Array Development Platform.

Overview

The ZCU102 requires specific jumper and switch settings to:

  • Boot from SD card with Kuiper Linux

  • Enable USB host mode for peripherals (keyboard, mouse)

  • Configure UART communication for debug console

  • Set up network connectivity for remote access

Important

Configure these settings before first power-on to ensure proper system operation.

Boot Mode Configuration

The ZCU102 supports multiple boot modes (JTAG, SD card, QSPI, etc.). For X-Band platform operation, SD card boot mode is required.

SW6 Boot Mode Switch Settings

Locate SW6 on the ZCU102 board:

  • Position: Halfway between the SD card slot and the vertical SMA connectors

  • Type: 4-position DIP switch

  • Purpose: Selects primary boot source

Configure SW6 for SD Card Boot:

ZCU102 SW6 boot mode switch configured for SD card boot

Switch

Position

Description

SW6.1

ON

Boot mode bit 0

SW6.2

OFF

Boot mode bit 1

SW6.3

OFF

Boot mode bit 2

SW6.4

OFF

Boot mode bit 3

Warning

Incorrect boot mode settings will prevent the ZCU102 from booting from the SD card. Always double-check SW6 configuration before applying power.

If boot fails, verify SW6 settings and SD card preparation.

USB Configuration

The ZCU102 provides USB ports that can operate in different modes. For X-Band platform, configure for USB host mode to support peripherals.

USB Host Mode Jumper Settings

ZCU102 USB host mode jumper configuration

Configure the following jumpers for USB host operation:

J7 - USB Power Enable

  • Shunt J7: Enables USB power to downstream devices

  • Location: Near USB Type-A ports

J109 - USB2.0 PHY Configuration

  • Position: Pins 2-3 shunted

  • Purpose: Configures USB2.0 PHY for host mode

J110 - USB3.0 PHY Configuration

  • Position: Pins 2-3 shunted

  • Purpose: Configures USB3.0 PHY for host mode

J112 - USB Mode Selection

  • Position: Pins 1-2 shunted

  • Purpose: Selects host mode operation

J113 - USB VBUS Configuration

  • Position: Pins 1-2 shunted

  • Purpose: Provides VBUS power for host mode

Tip

Quick Reference: For USB host mode, set:

  • J7: Shunted

  • J109: 2-3

  • J110: 2-3

  • J112: 1-2

  • J113: 1-2

USB Host Mode Verification

After configuring USB settings:

  1. Connect USB keyboard or mouse

  2. Power on ZCU102

  3. Check device enumeration in Linux:

    root@analog:~# lsusb

    You should see your connected USB devices listed

  4. Check kernel messages:

    root@analog:~# dmesg | grep -i usb

    Look for successful USB device detection

UART Configuration

The ZCU102 provides a USB-to-UART bridge for console access via USB.

Hardware Setup

USB-UART Connection:

  • Connector: J83 (USB Micro-B)

  • Cable: USB Micro-B to USB-A

  • Chip: Silicon Labs CP2108 quad UART bridge

Physical Connection:

  1. Connect USB Micro-B cable to J83 on ZCU102

  2. Connect USB-A end to your host computer

  3. Wait for driver installation (if first time)

Driver Installation

Windows

If the bridge is not automatically recognized:

  1. Download driver from Silicon Labs VCP Drivers

  2. Install the CP210x USB to UART Bridge VCP Driver

  3. Reboot if required

  4. Verify COM port appears in Device Manager

Terminal Settings

Configure your terminal emulator with:

Parameter

Setting

Baud Rate

115200

Data Bits

8

Parity

None

Stop Bits

1

Flow Control

None

Common Terminal Emulators:

  • Windows: PuTTY, TeraTerm, RealTerm

  • Linux: minicom, screen, picocom

  • macOS: screen, minicom, CoolTerm

Example PuTTY Configuration (Windows):

  1. Select “Serial” connection type

  2. Enter COM port number (e.g., COM3)

  3. Set speed to 115200

  4. Open connection

UART Port Mapping

The CP2108 provides 4 UART channels:

Channel

Function

Usage

UART0

PS UART0

Primary console - use this

UART1

PS UART1

Secondary console

UART2

PL UART

FPGA fabric UART

UART3

PMU

Platform Management Unit

Important

Connect to the first UART port (UART0/Channel 0) for the main Linux console. The exact COM port or /dev/ttyUSB* number depends on how many other USB serial devices are connected.

References and Resources

See also