Evaluate our tools and develop software for free. When you are ready to ship your product, you must purchase a Nios® II intellectual property (IP) core license. This royalty-free license never expires and allows you to target your processor design to any Altera® FPGA, so your software investment is preserved even if the underlying hardware changes. Follow the steps below to get started today:
Step 1: Get the Design Software
The Nios II Embedded Design Suite (EDS) is available for free and is included with the Quartus II software download from Altera’s download center. Download software from the Altera site.
When you download the Nios II EDS, you get the following tools and software:
- Nios II Software Build Tools for Eclipse
- NicheStack Network Stack, Nios II Edition
- Micrium’s uC/OS II Evaluation Edition
The Nios II C-to-Hardware (C2H) Compiler and the Nios II IDE Legacy Tools are also available on the download center as a stand-alone installation.
Qsys system integration and Modelsim® are installed as part of Quartus FPGA Design Software.
| Table 1. Features and Licensing | |||
| Product | Web Download | Development Kit | Altera Software Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nios II Processor IP |  (1) |
|
(1) |
| Nios II Embedded Development Suite | |
|
|
| NicheStack TCP/IP Network Stack, Nios II Edition | (1) |
(1) |
(1) |
| Micrium MicroC/OS-II RTOS | (1) |
(1)
|
(1)
|
| Nios II C2H Compiler | (1) |
(1) |
(1) |
Note:
Step 2: Evaluate the Software and Develop the Application
- Build your applications and evaluate the Nios II standard and fast cores using the OpenCore Plus Evaluation feature. No license needs to be purchased for the Nios II Economy core.
- Design, compile, and generate time-limited Nios II processor systems and hardware accelerators generated by the Nios II (C2H) Acceleration Compiler without obtaining a license file by using the OpenCore Plus evaluation feature.
- Many reference designs and tutorials are included with the Nios II EDS. Additionally, training is available on the web and in instructor-led courses. Learn more about the training offered for designing with the Nios II processor
- You do not need a license if you are only developing software using the Nios II EDS. Before shipping a product containing one or more Nios II processors or accelerators generated by the Nios II C2H Compiler, you must purchase a license.
Step 3: Purchase Licensing
Purchase a license for the Nios II processor IP core and related products.
Nios II Processor IP
Get a license file for the Nios II processor, non-time-limited use, by purchasing a stand-alone Nios II processor core license (ordering code: IP-NIOS) or as part of the Embedded IP Suite (IPS-EMBEDDED).
Both fixed and floating licenses are available. To obtain a license file, contact your local Altera representative or Altera Tools Support.
Learn more about Nios II processor licensing
Nios II C2H Compiler
To license the Nios II C2H Compiler, you need an active Nios II processor license. To obtain licenses for the Nios II C2H Compiler (ordering code: IPT-C2H-NIOS) contact your local Altera representative or Altera Tools Support.
Learn more about Nios II C2H Compiler licensing
NicheStack TCP/IP Network Stack—Nios II Edition
The NicheStack TCP/IP no longer requires a license to use or ship and is included as part of the Nios II Embedded Design Suite.
Learn more about NicheStack TCP/IP Network Stack—Nios II Edition.
Micrium MicroC/OS-II RTOS
To obtain a license for the Micrium MicroC/OS-II RTOS, contact Micrium today. The Nios II processor is supported by a wide range of embedded software partners.
Learn more about our embedded software partners.
