CS 2204
Digital Logic
and
State Machine Design
Installing Xilinx WebPACK 12.4
Digital Hardware

Introduction
 This handout describes the installation procedure for
the free version of the Xilinx ISE CAD tool :
WebPACK 12.4 on Windows systems


Note that version 12.4 is not latest version at the Xilinx web
site
However, we will use version 12.4
 The installation procedure takes a long time even if
there is a high speed internet connection and so
students are suggested that they reserve enough
time to install the software
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Installing WebPACK
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
Introduction
 During the installation, if for any reason you
cannot continue or you think you made a
mistake, you can cancel the installation and
start from the beginning
 Before you start with the installation make
sure you are connected to the internet
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Installing WebPACK
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
Installation Procedure
 We give the sequence of steps to install the Xilinx
WebPACK software below
 When we indicate to click on a button or icon or to
enter a keyword, we will use boldface characters

For example, below in one of the steps, we will indicate to
click on xstep to proceed
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
Installation Procedure
1. Access the Xilinx web page which is at
http://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.htm

When the page is open, you will see the following :
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Installation Procedure
1. Access the Xilinx web page which is at
http://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.htm


Select version 12.4 listed on the left of the screen under “Version” as circled below in
red
Select Full Installer for Windows under “ISE Design Suite” in the middle of the
screen as circled below

Even though we click on the “Full Installer” later on we will select the WebPACK version, not the full
version
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
Installation Procedure
1. Access the Xilinx web page which is at
http://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.htm


A window will pop up to ask you to sign in to download the software. Enter
your User ID and Password of your choice and click on Sign In
Another window will pop up to ask you to enter your name and contact
information


Enter the required information on the page and click on Next
A warning window may pop up to ask you if you accept to continue
downloading from Akamai Technologies
 Accept to continue with Akamai Technologies



Allow Akamai Technologies to install an add-on, by clicking No to the next
warning
Then click Install on the next security warning window
You will be asked to select the folder and name for the file to be
downloaded

Accept the default place and name by clicking on Save on the window
•
•
•
Note that you will be saving a type “tar” file which is a compressed file
Typically, the default place is “My Documents” on the C drive and the default name of the file is
“Xilinx_ISE_DS_Win_12.4_M.81d.2.0”
The tar file is 3.36 GBytes and so this can take a considerable amount of time to download if the
network connection is slow
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Installation Procedure
2. Once the tar file is saved in the default place, go through
windows “My Computer” => “My Documents” to list the tar file in
the “My Documents” folder



Then unzip the tar file
Select the same place, “My Documents” to keep the unzipped file
which is in fact a folder with the same name
“Xilinx_ISE_DS_Win_12.4_M.81d.2.0”
Depending on which Windows operating system you have, you may
not be able to unzip it right away because your laptop may not have
the right software to unzip it


If your laptop has the software to unzip it do the following : Right click
on the tar file and select 7-Zip and then Extract Here
The tar file is unzipped and extracted in “My documents” with the same
name
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Installation Procedure
2.
Once the tar file is saved in the default place, go through windows “My
Computer” => “My Documents” to list the tar file in the “My Documents”
folder



Then unzip the tar file
Select the same place, “My Documents” to keep the unzipped file which is in
fact a folder with the same name “Xilinx_ISE_DS_Win_12.4_M.81d.2.0”
Depending on which Windows operating system you have, you may not be
able to unzip it right away because your laptop may not have the right
software to unzip it

If your laptop does not have the software to unzip the tar file then, right click on
the mouse and select Open With... and then click OK for “Use the Web service
to find the appropriate program”
•
•
•
•
A web page will be open to show a few software packages to unzip. On top of the page
you will see the Windows logo and the “Windows” word and below that you will see “File
Association” which will be followed by a number of suggested software packages by
Microsoft to unzip it
On the very bottom, you will see “Copyright 2011 Microsoft Corporation...” indicating that
this page and the sofware packages suggested are secure
Select WinZip TAR Tape Archive File or any other that can unzip the tar file
Note again that we select a package on this page since Microsoft suggests it so that
there are no security issues
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
Installation Procedure
3. After the file is unzipped, double click on the
“Xilinx_ISE_DS_Win_12.4_M.81d.2.0” folder to list the
folders and files in it

You will see the set up file on the bottom of the list : “xsetup”
4. Double click on xsetup to start the set up process

You will see the following window :
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
Installation Procedure
5. Click on Next and accept all the license agreements that will
follow
6. A new window will be shown. Select ISE WebPACK and click
Next > on that window :
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Installation Procedure
7. A new window will shown

Make sure that all the installation options are selected as
shown on that window :
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Installation Procedure
8. Then, click Next > and accept the suggested folder
to install the Xilinx software by clicking Next >
again



A new window will be shown
The new window summarizes the options selected
Click Install on that window.
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Installation Procedure
9. A new window will be shown indicating that the
installation is being performed

Depending on the speed of your laptop, the installation can
take up to an hour :
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Installation Procedure
10. During installation, depending on the software you have on your laptop
you may be asked to install some packages for free, accept them and
install them


One of them is Microsoft “Visual Studio” and another one is “WinPcap”
If the following window appears during installation, then choose the option
Choose Later as shown below :
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Installation Procedure
11.
When the installation is completed, the installation will show the “Finish”
button

Click on Finish



You will notice that The “Xilinx ISE Design Suite 12.4” and “Xilinx PlanAhead 12.4” icons are
shown on Desktop
We will never use the PlanAhead software and so we will not be concerned about it from now
At the same time that the installation is over, a new window, the “Xilinx License
Configuration Manager” window, will be shown to select WebPACK. Click on Get Free ISE
WebPACK License and then Next :
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Installation Procedure
12. Next, by making sure that the internet connection is enabled,
click on the Connect Now button in the following window :
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Installation Procedure
13. Xilinx will prompt the sign in window to sign in again
to receive the license file :
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Installation Procedure
14.
Xilinx will prompt you with a window containing your personal information you entered
before. Click Next to get a new window


The window that you will see below may list a “30-day Evaluation license” and the “WebPACK”
license
Select ISE Design Suite: WebPACK License and then click on Generate Node-Locked License to
continue :
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Installation Procedure
15. If it shows only the “30-day Evaluation license, click
on Manage License do the following steps :




A new window will be shown with the WebPACK license line
Click Modify License which will result in a new window
popping up that will ask you between “30-day Evaluation
license” and the “WebPACK” license
Make sure that the WebPACK license is selected and then
click Next
A “Review License Request” window will be shown
If it is correct, click Next and then Accept on the
“License Agreement window”
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Installation Procedure
16. Click Next or Accept on the windows that will be shown


Then, the window below will be shown to confirm that
It also indicates that the license is emailed to your account that
you entered when you signed in :
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
Installation Procedure
17. Download the license from your email and save it in
the “Xilinx_ISE_DS_Win_12.4_M.81d.2.0” folder

Then, click on Manage Xilinx License tab on the “Xilinx
License Configuration Manager window :
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
Installation Procedure
18. Click on Copy License... and browse for the “Xilinx.lic” license file that you
have saved in the previous step to indicate to Xilinx where the license file is

At the end, you will be notified of the end of a successful installation as follows :
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Installation Procedure
19. Now the Xilinx WebPACK 12.4 software package is
ready to use !
20.You will see the Xilinx ISE icon on your desktop :
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