Note

This was forked from corna/quartus-docker and adapted to use for the Quartus Programmer. I am using it for programming the Apollo Team's Vampire V4.

Why docker?

Two reasons:

1. The Linux version of Quartus needs libraries that are often outdated at the time of flashing
2. Containers give extra security for instance by not exposing local filesystems to the running app

Docker for Quartus Programmer 20.1

Needs x11docker. Additional packages may be required.

Building the container

docker build -t quartus .

This should:

1. Download the installer
2. Run the installer
3. move the installed files to the correct final place
4. build the container

You can also specify an alternate url for the installer:

# Will install the programmer from an alternate url
docker build -t quartus --build-arg url=http://download.altera.com/akdlm/software/acdsinst/20.1std/711/ib_installers/QuartusProgrammerSetup-20.1.0.711-linux.run .

Setting udev rules

Don't forget to add the udev rules (on the host) to allow Quartus access to the USB programmers; for example, this file

# USB-Blaster
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="09fb", ATTR{idProduct}=="6001", MODE="0666"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="09fb", ATTR{idProduct}=="6002", MODE="0666"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="09fb", ATTR{idProduct}=="6003", MODE="0666"

# USB-Blaster II
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="09fb", ATTR{idProduct}=="6010", MODE="0666"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="09fb", ATTR{idProduct}=="6810", MODE="0666"

put in /etc/udev/rules.d/50-usb-blaster.rules gives full access to the USB-Blaster devices to any user. Use udevadm control --reload (and plug again the device if already plugged) to refresh the permissions.

Running the container

x11docker --clipboard --home=/path/to/my/jitfiles -- "--device=/dev/bus/usb/ --network none" quartus

This should run Quartus programmer, and you should have access to your USB Blaster, and to your .jic files in /path/to/my/jitfiles.

If the Quartus GUI doesn't run and you see the following error in the log, try runing x11docker with the --hostdisplay flag:

xf86OpenConsole: Cannot open virtual console 12 (Permission denied)