Installing Vivado Locally

Table of Contents

This page describes how to install the Xilinx tools on a local Ubuntu machine.

  1. Go to the Xilinx website: https://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.html/content/xilinx/en/downloadNav/vivado-design-tools/2024-1.html

  2. Look for the AMD Unified Installer for FPGAs & Adaptive SoCs 2024.1: Linux Self Extracting Web Installer.

  3. Download the file.

  4. This will then require you to create an account at Xilinx in order to download. You can use BYU’s address for your address if you would like (EB450, Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602).
  5. If it asks for your research you can just put “digital design”. Once you have an account it will ask you to log in again and you will likely have to re-navigate to the download button. Then, click Download.
  6. You will need your Xilinx login and password later in the install process so keep it handy.

Extracting and Installing

  1. Open a terminal and navigate to where you downloaded the installer file (likely your Downloads folder).

  2. Make the installer executable by running: 
    chmod +x Xilinx_Unified_2024.1_1118_1515_Lin64.bin
  3. Run the installer: 
    ./Xilinx_Unified_2024.1_1118_1515_Lin64.bin

  4. The GUI installer will launch. Click through the welcome screen.

  5. When prompted, log in with your Xilinx account credentials.

  6. Accept the license agreements.

  7. Select the products to install. For ECEn 320, you only need Vivado, but you can also select other tools if needed. Click Next.

  8. When selecting devices/parts, you only need to install Artix 7 (since the Basys 3 board uses an Artix 7 FPGA). This will significantly reduce installation size and time. Deselect all other device families. Click Next.

  9. Choose your installation directory. The default is /tools/Xilinx but you can change it to a location with sufficient disk space (Vivado requires ~50-100 GB with just Artix 7).

  10. Review the installation summary and click Install.

  11. The installation will take 30-60 minutes depending on your system. Once complete, click Finish.