This package provides Jupyter notebooks and supporting resources to flash and initialize FPGAs for use with two different workflows:

• ESnet Workflow: Based on the ESnet SmartNIC Firmware and Xilinx Open NIC Shell (ONS). These notebooks guide users through retrieving pre-built Docker images, flashing the FPGA with the ESnet-provided bitstream, and preparing the device for ESnet’s network acceleration stack.
• NEU Workflow: Prepares the FPGA for experiments using the NEU configuration. This includes resetting any prior configurations and loading a NEU-specific bitstream for a clean experimental environment.

The workflows use pre-built artifacts and Docker images hosted on resources.fabric-testbed.net. These are tested and known to work but may not be the latest versions. Users wishing to build the latest versions from source should consult the respective GitHub repositories.

Important: Before running any custom code on an FPGA, experimenters must first run one of these initialization notebooks. This ensures the FPGA is properly flashed and compatible with the target workflow (ESnet or NEU). Skipping this step may result in residual configurations from previous experiments, leading to inconsistent or invalid behavior.

Refer to the individual notebooks for detailed, step-by-step guidance. For ESnet-specific questions, please visit the ESnet GitHub Organization.