FPGA development board "Icarus" - DisContinued/ important announcement

[allinvain]

PL-2303 USB to Serial Bridge (for HX, TA, EA chip versions) Installshield Driver Setup Program
Installer version & Build date: 1.5.0 (2011-10-21)
Windows 2000/XP/Server2003 (32 & 64-bit) WDM WHQL Driver: 2.1.27.185
Windows Vista/7/Server2008/Server2008R2 (32 & 64-bit) WDF WHQL Driver: v3.4.25.218
Language Support: English (default), Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Japanese
For Prolific USB VID_067B&PID_2303 Only


Download alternate WDM driver:
Driver Installer v1.5.2
Installer version & Build date: 1.5.2 (2012-2-7)
Windows 2000/XP/Server2003 (32 & 64-bit) WDM WHQL Driver: 2.1.27.185
Windows Vista/7/Server2008/Server2008R2 (32 & 64-bit) WDM WHQL Driver: v2.1.27.185

If you looks at the driver version info you'll see that the 1.5.0 package contains a newer version number. Kind of confusing.  So I'm wondering if anyone has tried 1.5.2 and noticed any difference.

For me MPBM still screws up the stats once in a while (negative hash rate, negative efficiency, unrealistic efficiency and hash rate, etc) plus I get a long string of timeouts when trying to retrieve work from the pool server (btcguild). Not sure if this is related to the pl2303 driver though. I have doubts.

[TheSeven]

For me MPBM still screws up the stats once in a while (negative hash rate, negative efficiency, unrealistic efficiency and hash rate, etc) plus I get a long string of timeouts when trying to retrieve work from the pool server (btcguild). Not sure if this is related to the pl2303 driver though. I have doubts.

master or testing branch? If you have a log of boards and aren't using p2pool, I'd recommend the testing branch.
The testing branch supports X-Roll-NTime, so it shouldn't need to fetch anywhere as many jobs, which also helps avoiding these timeouts.

[allinvain]

For me MPBM still screws up the stats once in a while (negative hash rate, negative efficiency, unrealistic efficiency and hash rate, etc) plus I get a long string of timeouts when trying to retrieve work from the pool server (btcguild). Not sure if this is related to the pl2303 driver though. I have doubts.

master or testing branch? If you have a log of boards and aren't using p2pool, I'd recommend the testing branch.
The testing branch supports X-Roll-NTime, so it shouldn't need to fetch anywhere as many jobs, which also helps avoiding these timeouts.

Master. I tried testing but it did not display any average or total hash rate stats. It seemed as if it was mining with all boards but it wasn't really.

[allinvain]

Thanks ngzhang for putting together an awesome fpga board (Icarus)!! I can't wait to see what your next project will be. Enjoy your time off - you deserve it!

Cheers!

[Energizer]

If anyone is interested in joining our bulk order to get Icarus for a discounted price "469$", please join us here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=71422.0

[xiangfu]

Hi

I am surprised TP-LINK WR703N router performance, it can handle 31 Icarus. the cgminer status: http://downloads.openmobilefree.net/Icarus/, I updated my stuff on this wiki page: http://en.qi-hardware.com/wiki/Icarus.

If you use cgminer with more Icarus, this little script file may helpful: (don't forget change the pool url and username  ).

#!/bin/sh
DEVS=`find /dev/ -type c -name "ttyUSB*"  | sed 's/^/-S/' |  sed ':a;N;$!ba;s/\n/ /g'`
cgminer $@ --api-network --api-listen -o http://pool.ABCPool.co -O xiangfu.0:x -o http://pit.deepbit.net:8332/ -O xiangfu.z@gmail.com_0:1234 ${DEVS}

I also have to bug a ATX power. the power adapter needs a lot of space, checkout this picture: (the little blue device is 703N router)

[rjk]

Hi

I am surprised TP-LINK WR703N router performance, it can handle 31 Icarus. the cgminer status: http://downloads.openmobilefree.net/Icarus/, I updated my stuff on this wiki page: http://en.qi-hardware.com/wiki/Icarus.

If you use cgminer with more Icarus, this little script file may helpful: (don't forget change the pool url and username  ).

#!/bin/sh
DEVS=`find /dev/ -type c -name "ttyUSB*"  | sed 's/^/-S/' |  sed ':a;N;$!ba;s/\n/ /g'`
cgminer $@ --api-network --api-listen -o http://pool.ABCPool.co -O xiangfu.0:x -o http://pit.deepbit.net:8332/ -O xiangfu.z@gmail.com_0:1234 ${DEVS}

I also have to bug a ATX power. the power adapter needs a lot of space, checkout this picture: (the little blue device is 703N router)
http://downloads.openmobilefree.net/Icarus/703N-with-Icarus.JPG

So epic. For those of you that can't figure it out, the little square white box on top of the computer tower with a single USB plugged into it is what is running the whole show.

[nelisky]

Hi

I am surprised TP-LINK WR703N router performance, it can handle 31 Icarus. the cgminer status: http://downloads.openmobilefree.net/Icarus/, I updated my stuff on this wiki page: http://en.qi-hardware.com/wiki/Icarus.

I've been trying to get cgminer working on another TP-LINK device (TL-MR3420) but every time it submits a proof of work to the pool it segfaults. I haven't been able to properly debug it but it seems the json_rpc_call() is returning an empty string, so I'm pointing my quicker finger at libcurl. Can you give me a quick overview of your build env and process?

[xiangfu]

I am using  Linux 3.0.0-14-generic #23-Ubuntu SMP x86_64, Ubuntu 11.10, the latest build is using  OpenWrt trunk 30834, you can find the .config file, VERSIONS here:
  http://downloads.qi-hardware.com/people/xiangfu/icarus/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-trunk-30834/

BTW: the MAX_DEVICES under miner.h define is 32. so if you want support more then 32 devices. just change that one. I changed MAX_DEVICES to 64 and connect 41 Icarus. works just fine.

Hi

I am surprised TP-LINK WR703N router performance, it can handle 31 Icarus. the cgminer status: http://downloads.openmobilefree.net/Icarus/, I updated my stuff on this wiki page: http://en.qi-hardware.com/wiki/Icarus.

I've been trying to get cgminer working on another TP-LINK device (TL-MR3420) but every time it submits a proof of work to the pool it segfaults. I haven't been able to properly debug it but it seems the json_rpc_call() is returning an empty string, so I'm pointing my quicker finger at libcurl. Can you give me a quick overview of your build env and process?

[julz]

Just for the record..  I had one of the plug packs that came with the icarus die on me.

No big deal, I've got other suitable power packs - but thought I should mention it as a data point in case others experience failures.

[ngzhang]

Just for the record..  I had one of the plug packs that came with the icarus die on me.

No big deal, I've got other suitable power packs - but thought I should mention it as a data point in case others experience failures.

yeah, it's possible . so i recommend if you have a number of boards, you'd better use a mod ATX power to power them.
i test about 150~200 adapters, the failure rate is about 2% (4) during the burn-in test.

[Turbor]

Just for the record..  I had one of the plug packs that came with the icarus die on me.

No big deal, I've got other suitable power packs - but thought I should mention it as a data point in case others experience failures.

So did mine but for another reason... i had to cut off the cord . For all those who do this: be careful with polarity. For most cables the one with white is (+) but not for the Icarus supply. Not that we hear about a bad board design again...

[ngzhang]

Just for the record..  I had one of the plug packs that came with the icarus die on me.

No big deal, I've got other suitable power packs - but thought I should mention it as a data point in case others experience failures.

So did mine but for another reason... i had to cut off the cord . For all those who do this: be careful with polarity. For most cables the one with white is (+) but not for the Icarus supply. Not that we hear about a bad board design again...

i think a wrong polarity will burn up the fuse, but will not cause any further damage to the board.

[TheSeven]

Just had some weird share spam incident: http://pastebin.com/hUF6FtJ8
Seems like it sent a repetitive garbage pattern for 5 seconds, for no apparent reason. Recovered by itself after that. Really odd.

[nelisky]

I am using  Linux 3.0.0-14-generic #23-Ubuntu SMP x86_64, Ubuntu 11.10, the latest build is using  OpenWrt trunk 30834, you can find the .config file, VERSIONS here:
  http://downloads.qi-hardware.com/people/xiangfu/icarus/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-trunk-30834/

BTW: the MAX_DEVICES under miner.h define is 32. so if you want support more then 32 devices. just change that one. I changed MAX_DEVICES to 64 and connect 41 Icarus. works just fine.

Thanks. I know about MAX_DEVICES and I don't yet have enough cards to make it worth changing

But doing  some more debug I realized the function that triggers the segfault (in an unrelated place, so I'm guessing memory mismanage) is cgminer.c:regeneatehash(work). This is only called if doing verbose output and since you are passing -q to your cgminer you do net follow this code path. Could you give it a try without the -q, just to make sure it's not some weird thing with my setup? It segfaults as soon as a nonce is submitted to the pool.

Also, did you have to do anything to handle the device's endianess? It's weird, because I had to swab32 the data I receive which is consistent with BIG_ENDIAN, but defining __BIG_ENDIAN__ breaks everything hard. Could be an effect of the bi-endianess of mips, dunno.

[xiangfu]

Hi

I have tried:
  cgminer -T --verbose ...
  cgminer ....(direct use the ncurses)
all works fine. so far I didn't met segfault. (except direct un-plug the Icarus usb cable when cgminer running)

I have this patch apply when compile OpenWrt package:
  http://projects.qi-hardware.com/index.php/p/openwrt-packages/source/tree/master/cgminer/patches/0001-add-MIPSED-to-icarus-for-BIG_ENDIAN.patch.patch

But doing  some more debug I realized the function that triggers the segfault (in an unrelated place, so I'm guessing memory mismanage) is cgminer.c:regeneatehash(work). This is only called if doing verbose output and since you are passing -q to your cgminer you do net follow this code path. Could you give it a try without the -q, just to make sure it's not some weird thing with my setup? It segfaults as soon as a nonce is submitted to the pool.

Also, did you have to do anything to handle the device's endianess? It's weird, because I had to swab32 the data I receive which is consistent with BIG_ENDIAN, but defining __BIG_ENDIAN__ breaks everything hard. Could be an effect of the bi-endianess of mips, dunno.

[kano]

...
cgminer.c:regeneatehash(work)
...

I wrote it (including the difficulty generation, which is in fact my own original code)
What's wrong with it?
It is called every time cgminer shows you an Accepted or Rejected share.

[nelisky]

...
cgminer.c:regeneatehash(work)
...

I wrote it (including the difficulty generation, which is in fact my own original code)
What's wrong with it?
It is called every time cgminer shows you an Accepted or Rejected share.

Because xiangfu tested and found no issues I'm pretty sure nothing's wrong with the code itself. It's probably my toolchain or something with the device, I just mentioned the code because without calling that function my openwrt cgminer has been running for 2 days now and as soon as it gets called, segfault.

[kano]

...
cgminer.c:regeneatehash(work)
...

I wrote it (including the difficulty generation, which is in fact my own original code)
What's wrong with it?
It is called every time cgminer shows you an Accepted or Rejected share.

Because xiangfu tested and found no issues I'm pretty sure nothing's wrong with the code itself. It's probably my toolchain or something with the device, I just mentioned the code because without calling that function my openwrt cgminer has been running for 2 days now and as soon as it gets called, segfault.

As I mentioned it gets called every time cgminer shows an Accepted or Rejected share ... in normal output.
So ... no Accepted or Rejected shares for 2 days?
(That code is used to generate the actual share displayed, the "00000000.xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx" bit that is also used to determine if you generated a block)

[nelisky]

So ... no Accepted or Rejected shares for 2 days?
(That code is used to generate the actual share displayed, the "00000000.xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx" bit that is also used to determine if you generated a block)

I'm not explaining myself too well. I disabled (i.e. commented out) the call to that function and everything works great. The block gerenation detection is only there for logging purposes and doesn't prevent normal functioning.