Multisim Won't Recognize My Digilent FPGA Board

Updated May 3, 2023

Reported In

Software

  • LabVIEW 2015 SP1 FPGA Module
  • Multisim

Other

Xilinx Tools Vivado 2014.4 toolkit

Issue Details

When I am programming Digilent boards (such as the Zynq or the Basys 3) using the LabVIEW 2015 SP1 FPGA Module Xilinx Tools Vivado 2014.4 toolkit. Multisim is not be able to recognize and connect to the board.
 

Solution

To fix this issue, un-plug the board and
  1. Run the executable called install_digilent.exe located in the LabVIEW 2015 SP1 FPGA Module Xilinx Tools Vivado 2014.4 installation folder. The path to the executable is /<NIFPGA install directory> /programs/Vivado2014_4/data/xicom/cable_drivers/<nt or nt64>/digilent
  2. After installation, plug in the board and try connecting again.
  3. A system reboot may be required before Multisim will recognize the board.

Additional Information

This is because the LabVIEW 2015 SP1 FPGA Module Xilinx Tools Vivado 2014.4 toolkit does not install the drivers necessary for communicating with some of the Digilent FPGA boards.