Install Quartus Prime#

This blog provides steps in installing Quartus 25.1 Lite Edition, including Questa Intel FPGA Starter simulation.

Prerequisite#

Installed Ubuntu 22.04 in Virtual Machine (Parallels Desktop or UTM) with TSO enabled
Configured Rosetta 2 for Linux

See details in this blog.

Install Dependencies#

Update sources:

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sudo apt update

Install dependencies for Quartus:

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sudo apt install libbz2-1.0:amd64 libglib2.0-0:amd64 libnsl-dev:amd64 libfontconfig:amd64 libx11-xcb1:amd64 libxext6:amd64 libsm6:amd64 libdbus-1-3:amd64 libxft2:amd64 libxtst6:amd64 libxi6:amd64 libgtk2.0-0:amd64 libcrypt1:amd64 libgtk-3-0:amd64 libusb-1.0-0:amd64

Install dependencies to enable simulation calls from Quartus:

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sudo apt install tk:amd64 tcl:amd64 tk8.6:amd64 tcl8.6:amd64 libtk8.6:amd64 libtcl8.6:amd64 libx11-6:amd64 libxft2:amd64 libxss1:amd64 libxext6:amd64 libxrender1:amd64 libxrandr2:amd64 libxi6:amd64 libxtst6:amd64

Install Quartus Prime#

Install using online installer#

You can download online installer from Altera. Your downloaded file may be named as qinst-lite-linux-25.1std-1129.run. Then change the file permission for the .run file by running the command:

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sudo chmod +x *.run

You should patch the installer by removing the detection of your computer’s architecture. First, extract the run file.

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./qinst-lite-linux-25.1std-1129.run --noexec --target ./qinst
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cd qinst

Then patch the file quartus/adm/qenv.sh by

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sudo sed -i '/# We don'\''t support processors without SSE 4.2 extensions (e.g. CPUs older than Intel Nehalem)./i\
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if test `uname -m` = "aarch64" ; then\
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  export QUARTUS_BIT_TYPE=64\
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fi
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' ./quartus/adm/qenv.sh

and

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sudo sed -i '/# We don'\''t support processors without SSE 4.2 extensions (e.g. CPUs older than Intel Nehalem)./,/##### Determine what bitness executables we should use/ {
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    /^[^#]/ s/^/# /
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}' ./quartus/adm/qenv.sh

Then run

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sudo ./qinst.sh

to start installation with GUI. You are recommended to install the software in /opt/altera_lite/25.1std. You should tick Install USB Blaster drivers.

Install using offline installer#

You can download the offline installer from Altera as well, under Individual Files tab. You should download the Complete Download. Your downloaded file may be named as Quartus-lite-25.1std.0.1129-linux.tar.

Unzip the .tar file and cd into unzipped folder. Run the following commend to install without GUI

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sudo ./setup.sh --mode unattended --accept_eula 1 --installdir /opt/altera_lite/25.1std --disable-components arria,arria10,arriav,arriavgz,cyclone10lp,stratixiv,stratixv,quartus_update,riscfree,questa_fse,questa_fe --create_desktop_shortcuts 1

Note: There are issues with GUI installation for offline installer.

Patch Quartus Prime#

You should patch qenv.sh in folder of quartus and qprogrammer by executing the following commend:

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sudo sed -i '/# We don'\''t support processors without SSE extensions (e.g. Pentium II and older CPUs)./i\
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if test `uname -m` = "aarch64" ; then\
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  export QUARTUS_BIT_TYPE=64\
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fi
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' /opt/altera_lite/25.1std/quartus/adm/qenv.sh

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sudo sed -i '/# We don'\''t support processors without SSE extensions (e.g. Pentium II and older CPUs)./,/##### Determine what bitness executables we should use/ {
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    /^[^#]/ s/^/# /
3
}' /opt/altera_lite/25.1std/quartus/adm/qenv.sh

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sudo sed -i '/# We don'\''t support processors without SSE extensions (e.g. Pentium II and older CPUs)./i\
2
if test `uname -m` = "aarch64" ; then\
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  export QUARTUS_BIT_TYPE=64\
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fi
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' /opt/altera_lite/25.1std/qprogrammer/adm/qenv.sh

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sudo sed -i '/# We don'\''t support processors without SSE extensions (e.g. Pentium II and older CPUs)./,/##### Determine what bitness executables we should use/ {
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    /^[^#]/ s/^/# /
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}' /opt/altera_lite/25.1std/qprogrammer/adm/qenv.sh

You should also patch libccl_sqlite3.so. First you should get into the folder by

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cd /opt/altera_lite/25.1std/quartus/linux64

and back up original file

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sudo mv libccl_sqlite3.so libccl_sqlite3.so.back

then download the patched file by

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sudo wget https://github.com/federunco/federunco/raw/refs/heads/main/libccl_sqlite3.so

and change the permissions

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sudo chmod 755 libccl_sqlite3.so

Repeat steps above in the folder /opt/altera_lite/25.1std/qprogrammer/linux64

Patch Questa#

First go to the folder by

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cd /opt/altera_lite/25.1std/questa_fse

and create a link by

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sudo ln -s linux_x86_64 linux_aarch64

Set up Environment Variables#

You should acquire no-cost licence for Questa add environment variables to /etc/profile.d/quartus.sh and add the following content into the file.

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export QROOT="/opt/altera_lite/25.1std"
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export QUARTUS_ROOTDIR="$QROOT/quartus"
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export QSYS_ROOTDIR="$QUARTUS_ROOTDIR/sopc_builder/bin"
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export PATH="$PATH:$QUARTUS_ROOTDIR/bin:$QUARTUS_ROOTDIR/linux64:$QSYS_ROOTDIR:$QROOT/questa_fse/bin"
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export SALT_LICENSE_SERVER=<path/to/your/license/file>

Creat Desktop Icon#

Write the following content into /usr/share/applications/quartus.desktop with sudo privileges.

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[Desktop Entry]
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Type=Application
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Version=25.1
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Name=Quartus 25.1 Lite Edition
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Comment=Quartus 25.1
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Icon=/opt/altera_lite/25.1std/quartus/adm/quartusii.png
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Exec=/opt/altera_lite/25.1std/quartus/bin/quartus --64bit
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Terminal=false
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Path=/opt/altera_lite/25.1std

Now, you can start Quartus in your application menu.

References#

Runco, F. (2025, December 29). Running Quartus + Questa on Apple Silicon. GitHubGist. https://gist.github.com/federunco/f2bde2e25342c6284b68ce4ecf305e5d
Davey, P. (2024, March 17). Quartus 21 for Ubuntu 22.04. GitHub. https://github.com/UniversityOfPlymouth-Electronics/Quartus21_Ubuntu

Install Vivado and Quartus Prime on Apple Silicon II - Install Quartus Prime

Install Quartus Prime#

Prerequisite#

Install Dependencies#

Install Quartus Prime#

Install using online installer#

Install using offline installer#

Patch Quartus Prime#

Patch Questa#

Set up Environment Variables#

Creat Desktop Icon#

References#

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