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* [U-Boot] Can u-Boot Ran from RAM?
@ 2012-01-31  4:07 Bud Miljkovic
  2012-01-31 14:12 ` Eric Nelson
                   ` (2 more replies)
  0 siblings, 3 replies; 15+ messages in thread
From: Bud Miljkovic @ 2012-01-31  4:07 UTC (permalink / raw)
  To: u-boot

Hi there,

 

While getting acquainted with possible u-Boot development issues, I read
FAQ "14.2.1.  Can U-Boot be configured such that it can be started in
RAM?" and was puzzled to learn that u-Boot cannot run from RAM.

 

Considering a custom platform, using i.MX536, I understand that the
i.MX53x processor has its own ROM-based code that performs boot time
essential devices initialisation, etc.  In the case when NAND flash is
the program-image medium at the boot stage, first, the ROM-based code
checks for Discovered Bad Blocks Table (DBBT) presence and searches for
valid Firmware Configuration Block (FCB) on external NAND Flash.  

 

If FCB is found that points to the NAND Flash page(s) that contain the
first 4K of initial firmware to be loaded from NAND Flash. Then, it
loads the 4K of data, pointed by FCB, into the NFC RAM buffer. These
data contain a valid Image Vector Table (IVT).  Then, the ROM-based code
processes IVT, executes the Device Configuration Data (DCD) sequences to
initialize boot-related integrated peripherals (typically, these are
IOMUX, SDRAM controller and boot memory controller), then copies the
application code, also contained in IVT, to target memory (typically,
SDRAM) and jumps to it. Typically, this application code is the custom
primary bootloader that completes loading the application code (e.g.
main OS bootloader) and passes the control to it.

 

If FCB is not found the ROM-based code starts executing a download
protocol over UART or USB port in an attempt to get a valid IVT from a
host.  If the IVT is eventually obtained it is processed as before.

 

So the question is can this "custom primary bootloader" role, in fact,
be played by u-Boot.  Reading your text of FAQ 14.2.1., it seems to me
that it cannot.  On the other hand I know of some Freescale i.MX53x demo
boards (e.g. ARD, LOCO) that use u-Boot. 

 

I wonder what I'm missing here.

 

Regards,

Bud

 

^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 15+ messages in thread

end of thread, other threads:[~2012-02-06 22:37 UTC | newest]

Thread overview: 15+ messages (download: mbox.gz follow: Atom feed
-- links below jump to the message on this page --
2012-01-31  4:07 [U-Boot] Can u-Boot Ran from RAM? Bud Miljkovic
2012-01-31 14:12 ` Eric Nelson
2012-02-01 10:12   ` Marek Vasut
2012-02-01 10:27     ` Wolfgang Denk
2012-01-31 15:15 ` Mike Frysinger
2012-02-01 10:11   ` Marek Vasut
2012-02-01 10:26     ` Wolfgang Denk
2012-02-01 10:58       ` Marek Vasut
2012-02-02 21:40         ` [U-Boot] Porting YAFFS2 to U-boot Bud Miljkovic
2012-02-02 22:14           ` Mike Frysinger
2012-02-02 22:19           ` Charles Manning
2012-02-03  3:34             ` Peter Barada
2012-02-03  5:26             ` Wolfgang Denk
2012-02-06 22:37         ` [U-Boot] Can u-Boot Ran from RAM? Bud Miljkovic
2012-02-01  2:11 ` Charles Manning

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