DT5560 MCA Firmware

Default multichannel analyser (MCA) FPGA firmware of the DT5560 desktop digitizer (Zynq 7030). It turns the DT5560 into a 32-channel pulse-height analyser with digital pulse processing, counters and per-channel oscilloscopes. The firmware is published as a .niu firmware package (bitstream, register map and metadata) that you install from the web dashboard of the instrument. It is the same firmware that ships with the DT5560 production image and update packet: use this package to install, restore or change a specific firmware release.

Compatibility

The package declares platform GUID C7F960A5-8051-45F0-B793-8899650BAB9D and model A in its content.xml. The board checks both values when you upload the file and refuses a package made for another product or variant.

Not for: the MAX10 FPGA of the DT5560 base (it has its own .rpd firmware, installed from the Device Update page), R5560 and R5560SE DAQ boards (different platform GUID).

What's in this package

<version> is the release version, for example 2026.10.11.00. The .niu file is the one to download and install. The .bit (bitstream), .bin (raw bitstream) and .xsa (Vivado hardware platform with the bitstream) files are development outputs of the same build and are not needed to use the instrument.

The .niu file is a zip archive with three files:

Register map

RegisterFile.json (device DT5560, project mcafwnew) describes a 32-channel design:

The register map is what the software uses to address the firmware: the SDK (libr5560) receives the RegisterFile.json of the active firmware from the board through nibridge, and Resource Explorer uses it to show and edit the registers. You can also download it from the Device Status page (Download register file).

How to install

The firmware is installed from the Firmware page of the x5560 web dashboard. Uploading and installing a firmware is allowed to any logged-in user; rebooting and deleting firmware files require the administrator account (root).

1. Download the .niu file of the release you want from this page.
2. Open the DT5560 dashboard at http://<dt5560-ip>/ or https://<dt5560-ip>/ and log in.
3. Open Firmware. In Upload firmware to this board, choose the .niu file or drop it on the page. Optionally tick Install immediately after the upload. Click Upload.
4. The DT5560 validates the package (model and product GUID). A package for another product is refused with "The package is not valid for this board".
5. In Manage firmware, click Install on the uploaded file and confirm.
6. The page shows "Reboot this board to load the new firmware." Reboot the DT5560 with Reboot or a power cycle.

Do not confuse this file with the DT5560 software update packet: the update packet (DT5560_Update.NIU, package dt5560-update-packet) is also named .NIU but is installed from the Device Update page. The MCA firmware .niu goes to the Firmware page.

Notes on the firmware files stored on the board:

• Firmware files are kept in /mnt/sdcard/user_firmware. The stored name is reduced to the characters A-Z a-z 0-9 _ . -, at most 29 characters, ending in .NIU; uploading a file with an existing name asks before overwriting it.
• Both the production image and the update packet store this firmware as MCA.niu.
• The firmware marked default cannot be deleted. Files can be deleted only by the administrator.
• Tools that upload firmware without logging in can use the update token that the administrator copies from the Security page.

Check the active firmware

1. Device Status shows FPGA firmware, Firmware version and Firmware build of the firmware running now.
2. Firmware shows Active firmware with its version, and the active badge on the file in use; the version column of each file is the release version written in its content.xml.
3. If Device Status shows DEFAULT FIRMWARE LOADED, the last installed firmware was not compatible with the device and the default firmware was loaded instead.

Requirements

• A DT5560 running an operating system image with the x5560 web dashboard (dt5560-image, or updated with dt5560-update-packet).
• A PC on the same network as the instrument, with a current web browser. The instrument itself does not need Internet access.
• An account on the dashboard. Both accounts (user, root) ship with the factory default password, and the dashboard forces a password change at the first login.

Versioning and releases

• Releases are tagged with a date-based version YYYY.MM.DD.NN, for example 2026.10.11.00.
• The version is part of the file name (dt5560-mca-<version>.niu) and is written in the content.xml of the package, so it appears in the version column of the Firmware page.
• The changelog (CHANGELOG.md) is shown on this portal with each release.
• Release channel on this portal: stable.

Related packages

Known limitations and notes

• A new firmware is loaded only after a reboot of the board.
• The package is accepted only by boards with the same platform GUID and model; it cannot be installed on another product or variant.
• The 32-channel configuration registers (POL, OFS, GAIN, THR, K, M, TRAP_K, TRAP_M, DECONV, BL_LEN, BL_INIB, SAMPLE, RUN, TR_GAIN) are write-only in this firmware: writes work at the addresses of RegisterFile.json, reads return 0xDEADBEEF.
• The OCC counters (component OCC, CH0 .. CH31) listed in RegisterFile.json are not available in this firmware: reads return 0xDEADBEEF.
• This firmware does not include the DMA streaming readout path.

Source and support

• Development repository: https://gitlab.lanni/nuclear-instruments/prodotti/x5560/fw-sw/dt5560/dt5560-mca-firmware
• For support contact Nuclear Instruments / CAEN support.