Target Software Installation
On this page you will learn how to update (from U-Boot) the Flash's partitions of your APF module storing the Linux, rootfs and U-Boot software images.
Contents
- 1 Configure U-Boot
- 2 Linux kernel installation
- 3 rootfs installation
- 4 FPGA firmware test
- 5 FPGA firmware installation
- 6 Update U-Boot
- 7 Update U-Boot, kernel and rootfs images all at once
- 8 Flash memory partitions
- 8.1 APF9328 / U-Boot 1.3.4 Flash memory partitions
- 8.2 APF9328 / U-Boot 2011.12 and newer release - Flash memory partitions
- 8.3 APF27 / U-Boot 1.3.4 Flash memory partitions
- 8.4 APF27 / U-Boot 2011.12 and newer release - Flash memory partitions
- 8.5 APF28 / U-Boot 2011.12 and newer release - Flash memory partitions
- 8.6 APF51 / U-Boot 2010.03 Flash memory partitions
- 8.7 APF51 / U-Boot 2011.12 and newer release - Flash memory partitions
Configure U-Boot
Environment variables
U-Boot can be customized in a flexible way with the use of "environment variables/scripts". The command printenv shows you most of them and their current value:
BIOS> printenv bootcmd=run jffsboot bootdelay=20 baudrate=115200 ethaddr= autoload=no ...
The command setenv is used to change these variables. For example, to set the IP address (don't do it yet):
BIOS> setenv ipaddr 192.168.0.10
The command saveenv is used to save the state of your environment variables in FLASH memory; that way they will be available at next boot:
BIOS> saveenv Saving Environment to Flash... . done Un-Protected 1 sectors Erasing Flash... . done Erased 1 sectors Writing to Flash... done . done Protected 1 sectors
Network configuration
In order to use the U-Boot's network features, you have to set the network environment variables:
BIOS> setenv netmask 255.255.255.0 (this default value should be fine in most situations) BIOS> setenv ipaddr 192.168.0.10 BIOS> setenv serverip 192.168.0.2 (the IP address of your tftp server/PC hosting the files to download) BIOS> setenv rootpath "/tftpboot/apf9328-root" (to boot Linux over NFS) BIOS> setenv consoledev ttymxc0
You can use the dhcp command to configure these variables from your DHCP server. You probably will have to adjust the serverip variable manually. If you use VirtualBox make sure you have selected Bridge Mode for the network adaptor, otherwise the U-Boot cannot talk to your host.
BIOS> dhcp dm9000 i/o: 0x15c00000, id: 0x90000a46 MAC: 00:0e:32:00:00:01 operating at 100M full duplex mode BOOTP broadcast 1 DHCP client bound to address 192.168.0.10 BIOS> setenv serverip 192.168.0.2 BIOS> saveenv
Do not forget to save your changes in FLASH, to have them available at next power up:
BIOS> saveenv
In case of troubles you can use the following U-Boot script to reset the variables to the "factory"/default settings:
BIOS> run flash_reset_env
or
BIOS> env default -f -a; saveenv
Linux kernel installation
XX, in the following chapters, has to be replaced by your board name
- Check that your Armadeus kernel image size is smaller than the U-Boot partition (see Flash Memory Partitions for size allowances):
[armadeus]$ ls -al buildroot/output/images/
- If yes, copy it to your TFTP server directory (here /tftpboot/):
[armadeus]$ cp buildroot/output/images/* /tftpboot/
Linux kernel update script
- This is the recommended method and the easiest one. The automatic 'update_kernel' scripts downloads the image and flash it in the same go:
BIOS> run update_kernel
- To know what update_kernel script is doing you can display its content:
BIOS> printenv update_kernel
Warning: If the loaded kernel image is too large, the following operation can destroy data that are stored after the partition limits (e.g. RootFS) - Check that transfered size value is less than the ones specified here Flash Memory Partitions |
Other Linux kernel update method
- Load kernel image with U-Boot through network:
BIOS> run download_kernel
or with the serial line:
BIOS> loadb ${loadaddr} ''Ctrl+Altgr+\+c to access kermit command line then:'' (/home/.../) C-Kermit>send /tftpboot/XX-linux.bin ''After download is completed, you can type the c command to reconnect to the terminal:'' (/home/.../) C-Kermit>c Connecting to /dev/ttyUSB0, speed 115200 Escape character: Ctrl-\ (ASCII 28, FS): enabled Type the escape character followed by C to get back, or followed by ? to see other options. ---------------------------------------------------- ## Total Size = 0x<size of XX-linux.bin> = .... Bytes ## Start Addr = 0x08000000 BIOS> setenv filesize <size of XX-linux.bin>
Check that transfered size value is less than the ones specified here Flash Memory Partitions
Bytes transferred = 1313216 (1409c0 hex)
- You can test your new kernel image without flashing it with; if so you will have to reload it again after test:
- Please note: The bootm command is not supported by APF51 boards yet; directly flash the kernel with the below commands instead
BIOS> bootm
- a U-Boot script exists to ease kernel image loading through Ethernet:
BIOS> run download_kernel
- After kernel image has been downloaded into RAM memory, you can flash it with:
BIOS> run flash_kernel
- If you only want to try a new kernel without flashing the kernel image you can launch it directly from RAM (U-Boot 2011.12):
BIOS> setenv bootargs console=${consoledev},${baudrate} ${mtdparts};run addubifsargs addipargs; bootm (the kernel image you want to try must have been loaded at ${loadaddr})
- Please note: The bootm command is not supported by APF51 boards yet; directly flash the kernel with the below commands
rootfs installation
- Check that your Armadeus rootfs image size is smaller than the rootfs partition (see Flash Memory Partitions for size allowances):
$ ls -al buildroot/output/images/ ... $ cp buildroot/output/images/* /tftpboot/
- Load rootfs image with U-Boot through network:
BIOS> run update_rootfs
- or serial line:
BIOS> loadb ${loadaddr} ''Ctrl+Altgr+\+c to access kermit command line then...'' (/home/.../) C-Kermit>send path_to_your_host_buildroot_dir/XX-rootfs.ubi ''After download is completed, you can type the c command to reconnect to the terminal:'' (/home/.../) C-Kermit>c Connecting to /dev/ttyUSB0, speed 115200 Escape character: Ctrl-\ (ASCII 28, FS): enabled Type the escape character followed by C to get back, or followed by ? to see other options. ---------------------------------------------------- ## Total Size = 0x<size of rootfs> ## Start Addr = 0x........ BIOS> setenv filesize <size of rootfs> BIOS> run flash_rootfs
- Now you should be ready to test Linux:
BIOS> boot
- For large rootfs (bigger than the available RAM on your system) please use the method which suit your board:
BIOS> nand erase.part rootfs BIOS> tftpboot ${rootfs_addr} ${board_name}-rootfs.ubi nand
FPGA firmware test
- The FPGA firmwares are all located in the firmware/ directory of your Armadeus BSP sources:
$ ls firmware/ apf_pkg BRAMTest bus_led led PS2 PS2_Opencore servo sram_test wishbone_example Xtools
- You can make some trials with the firmware/leds/blinking_led/bin/ files.
- Load FPGA firmware image file with U-Boot through:
Ethernet:
BIOS> tftpboot ${loadaddr} fpgafirmware.bin
fpgafirmware.bin is of course the name of your bitfile stored in your TFTP shared directory (/tftpboot/)
then you can type the c command to reconnect to the terminal
- Test your new FPGA firmware's downloading:
- for .bin binary files
BIOS> fpga load 0 ${loadaddr} ${filesize}
- for .bit binary files
BIOS> fpga loadb 0 ${loadaddr} ${filesize}
- for .bin binary files
- For your convenience a set of U-Boot script to facilitate firmware management with the APF boards:
- download_firmware: assuming your firmware is in /tftpboot and name apfXX-firmware.bin (where apfXX is the name of your board apf27, apf51, apf9328..) will download the firmware in RAM with the command: run download_firmware
- flash_firmware: save the previously downloaded firmware from RAM into the flash.
- update_firmware: will execute the previous 2 scripts in sequence.
- load_firmware: read a firmware from the flash (there is dedication partition named firmware for this purpose) and load it into the FPGA.
FPGA firmware installation
APF9328, APF27 and APF51
- instal/copy your firmware to /tftpboot
- manually:
$ cp myfirmware.bin /tftpboot/apfXX-firmware.bin (where apfXX is the name of your board: apf27, apf51 or apf9328)
- using the armadeus BSP:
- manually:
$ make menuconfig
Package Selection for the target ---> Armadeus specific tools/utilities --->
- you can specify the path to the FPGA firmware:
[*] FPGA Firmware Firmware to install (Install a custom FPGA firmware) ---> ($(TOPDIR)/../firmware/leds/blinking_led/bin/blinking_led_apf27_200k.bit) FPGA binary file path [*] Export this file to Buildroot images folder
$ cp buildroot/output/images/* /tftpboot
- Download and test your firmware image with:
BIOS> run download_firmware BIOS> run load_firmware
- When you are satisfied with your firmware, you can write it in flash make it "autoloaded" at power up:
BIOS> run update_firmware BIOS> setenv firmware_autoload 1 BIOS> saveenv
APF6_SP
Firmware installation was simplified in APF6_SP.
- To «autoload» your firmware while U-Boot is starting, simply add your bitstream to your rootfs, for example :
/lib/firmware/fpga/firmware.periph.rbf
Note: By default, directory /lib/firmware/fpga doesn't exists, then simply create it with # mkdir /lib/firmware/fpga |
- Then reboot under U-Boot and configure your environment variables firmware_autoload and firmware_path :
BIOS> setenv firmware_path /lib/firmware/fpga/firmware.periph.rbf BIOS> setenv firmware_autoload 1
- Do not forget to save your environment variables:
BIOS> saveenv
- That's all, now your bitstream will be loaded with U-Boot at boot:
U-Boot SPL 2014.07 (Apr 23 2015 - 16:16:45) U-Boot 2014.07 (Apr 23 2015 - 16:16:45) [...] 39688 bytes read in 260 ms (148.4 KiB/s) Hit any key to stop autoboot: 0
Update U-Boot
- Check that your Armadeus U-Boot image size is smaller than the u-boot partition (see Flash Memory Partitions for size allowances) and copy all the binary images to your TFTP server directory:
[armadeus]$ ls -al buildroot/output/images/ ... [armadeus]$ cp buildroot/output/images/* /tftpboot/
U-Boot update script
- This is the recommended method and the easiest one. The automatic 'update_uboot' scripts downloads the image and flash it in the same go:
BIOS> run update_uboot
- Reset your board and check if you need to update your environment variables:
BIOS> reset U-Boot 2011.12 .. ... *** Warning - Environment version change suggests: run flash_reset_env; reset BIOS> run flash_reset_env; reset
In such a case you may have to update your network environment variables (see Configure U-Boot)
Other U-Boot update method
You can use the following commands to download U-boot in RAM:
- With Ethernet and a TFTP server:
BIOS> run download_uboot
- With Ethernet and a NFS server:
BIOS> nfs ${loadaddr} host_ip_addr:/nfs_path_to_buildroot/apfXX-u-boot{.bin|-nand.bin|.sb}
- With kermit and the serial/RS232 line
BIOS> loadb ${loadaddr} <CTRL><ALT GR>\ c send path_to_buildroot/apfXX-u-boot{.bin|-nand.bin|.sb} c<ENTER> Connecting to /dev/ttyUSB0, speed 115200 Escape character: Ctrl-\ (ASCII 28, FS): enabled Type the escape character followed by C to get back, or followed by ? to see other options. ---------------------------------------------------- ## Total Size = 0x<size of U-Boot> = .... Bytes ## Start Addr = 0x08000000 BIOS> setenv filesize <size of U-Boot>
Then you can use the U-Boot command/script 'flash_uboot' to tranfert the new U-Boot from RAM to Flash memory:
BIOS> run flash_uboot
Advanced informations can be found at the BootLoader wiki page.
Update U-Boot, kernel and rootfs images all at once
- Copy all the binary images to your TFTP server directory:
[armadeus]$ cp buildroot/output/images/* /tftpboot/
- The automatic 'update_all' scripts downloads each image and flash it in the same go:
BIOS> run update_all
- Reset your board to check that wour board is correctly updated.
Note: When updating your board from a legacy version of Armadeus BSP you should update U-Boot first to update the environment variables before any other partition update ( see Update U-Boot) |
Flash memory partitions
APF9328 / U-Boot 1.3.4 Flash memory partitions
Address range (index from FLASH physical @ 0x10000000) (up to Armadeus 4.x) | Type |
---|---|
0x000000 - 0x03FFFF ( 256KB ) | U-Boot |
0x040000 - 0x5FFFF ( 128KB ) | U-Boot environment variables |
0x060000 - 0x9FFFF ( 256KB ) | FPGA bitfile |
0x0A0000 - 0x29FFFF ( 2MB ) | Linux kernel image |
0x2A0000 - End of FLASH ( ~5.5 MB or ~13.5MB ) | Root filesystem |
APF9328 / U-Boot 2011.12 and newer release - Flash memory partitions
Address range (index from FLASH physical @ 0x10000000) | Type |
---|---|
0x000000 - 0x03FFFF ( 256KB ) | u-boot |
0x040000 - 0x5FFFF ( 128KB ) | U-Boot environment variables (primary partition: env) |
0x060000 - 0x7FFFF ( 128KB ) | U-Boot environment variables (redundant partition: env2) |
0x080000 - 0xBFFFF ( 256KB ) | FPGA bitfile (firmware) |
0x0C0000 - 0x2BFFFF ( 2MB ) | Linux kernel image (kernel) |
0x2C0000 - End of FLASH ( ~5.5 MB or ~13.5 MB ) | Root filesystem (rootfs) |
APF27 / U-Boot 1.3.4 Flash memory partitions
NAND flash address range (up to Armadeus 4.x) | Type |
---|---|
0x00000000 - 0x0009FFFF (640KB, including NAND SPL and spare memory for bad blocks) | U-Boot |
0x000A0000 - 0x000FFFFF (384KB) | U-Boot environment variables |
0x00100000 - 0x0017FFFF (512KB) | FPGA bitfile |
0x00180000 - 0x0067FFFF (5MB) | Linux kernel image |
0x00680000 - End of FLASH (>~250MB) | Root filesystem |
APF27 / U-Boot 2011.12 and newer release - Flash memory partitions
NAND flash address range | Type |
---|---|
0x00000000 - 0x000FFFFF (1MiB, including NAND SPL and spare memory for bad blocks) | u-boot |
0x00100000 - 0x0017FFFF (512kB) | U-Boot environment variables (primary partition: env) |
0x00180000 - 0x001FFFFF (512kB) | U-Boot environment variables (redundant partition: env2) |
0x00200000 - 0x0027FFFF (512KB) | FPGA bitfile (firmware) |
0x00280000 - 0x002FFFFF (512kB) | DeviceTree Block partition (dtb) |
0x00300000 - 0x007FFFFF (5MB) | Linux kernel image (kernel) |
0x00800000 - End of FLASH (>~248MB) | Root filesystem (rootfs) |
APF28 / U-Boot 2011.12 and newer release - Flash memory partitions
NAND flash address range | Type |
---|---|
0x00000000 - 0x002FFFFF (3MB, including NAND SPL and spare memory for bad blocks) | u-boot |
0x00300000 - 0x0037FFFF (512kB) | U-Boot environment variables (primary partition: env) |
0x00380000 - 0x003FFFFF (512kB) | U-Boot environment variables (redundant partition: env2) |
0x00400000 - 0x0047FFFF (512kB) | DeviceTree Block partition (dtb) |
0x00480000 - 0x004FFFFF (512kB) | Reserved for a futur splash screen (splash) |
0x00500000 - 0x00CFFFFF (8MB) | Linux kernel image (kernel) |
0x00D00000 - End of FLASH (>~243MB) | Root filesystem (rootfs) |
APF51 / U-Boot 2010.03 Flash memory partitions
NAND flash address range (up to Armadeus 4.x) | Type |
---|---|
0x00000000 - 0x000FFFFF (1MB, including NAND SPL and spare memory for bad blocks) | U-Boot |
0x00100000 - 0x001FFFFF (1MB) | U-Boot environment variables |
0x00200000 - 0x002FFFFF (1MB) | FPGA bitfile |
0x00300000 - 0x00AFFFFF (8MB) | Linux kernel image |
0x00B00000 - End of FLASH (>~500MB) | Root filesystem |
APF51 / U-Boot 2011.12 and newer release - Flash memory partitions
NAND flash address range | Type |
---|---|
0x00000000 - 0x000FFFFF (1MB, including NAND SPL and spare memory for bad blocks) | u-boot |
0x00100000 - 0x0017FFFF (512kB) | U-Boot environment variables (primary partition: env) |
0x00180000 - 0x001FFFFF (512kB) | U-Boot environment variables (redundant partition: env2) |
0x00200000 - 0x002FFFFF (1MB) | FPGA bitfile |
0x00300000 - 0x0037FFFF (512kB) | DeviceTree Block partition (dtb) |
0x00380000 - 0x003FFFFF (512kB) | Reserved for a futur splash screen (splash) |
0x00400000 - 0x00BFFFFF (8MB) | Linux kernel image (kernel) |
0x00C00000 - End of FLASH (>~500MB) | Root filesystem (rootfs) |