The design of the S3 processor requires only the installation of two programs on your machine. A priori these programs work on I32 and I64, under different Windows 7 and XP versions. A Linux version is also available. Both systems have been tested and behaviors are quite similar.

The ISE version used here is 12.4, the following versions must also suit and some of them have been tested. You can find the download site on your search engine Xilinx ISE 12.4. Here is the active link at the time of writing this page:

http://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.html/content/xilinx/en/downloadNav/design-tools/v12_4.html

You'll need to create an account on Xilinx in order to download the package and to receive the Webpack license

http://www.xilinx.com/products/design-tools/ise-design-suite/ise-webpack.htm.

It is this version that is free. Once installed and the license received, you must update it by running under ISE Help> Manage License ... Then copy your received license.

Some Windows or Linux installations require changing the language environment variable. (if an error tcl / tk occurs when generating program under ISE)

The second needed software is related this time to the Nexys boards. This is the configuration loader for the programmable component. It is available on the Digilent web site where you have to go in order to load the Adept software.

http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?Prod=ADEPT2

Again there are some versions for windows and linux. Once installed, connect your board to a USB port and Adept should detect it automatically. You are ready for the first lesson.