[U-Boot] procedure to down load u-boot to RAM

[U-Boot] procedure to down load u-boot to RAM

[apple pie]

Hi Wolfgang,

I have a number of u-boot development questions that I would like to raise to you for answers:

(1) Is it possible to install u-boot in a Windows XP environment? If it is, please tell me
the steps to follow. Are they the same as those cut out for Linux?
(2) Is it possible to use 'cgywin' to build u-boot, since 'cgywin' mimicks Linux's environment?
(3) Is it possible to directly download an u-boot image onto the RAM space of a customerized 
development board to debug u-boot? If it is, please list out the steps to follow.
(4) What type of u-boot image should be used, if downloading of the u-boot image to the RAM
space of the board is via a Lauterbach ICE (a debugger with a JTAG interface)? Normally, a
Lauterbach ICE expects a .axf file to be downloaded (axf = archived, executable file), but
in the u-boot case, should it be the ELF image u-boot build generates?
(5) The intention of the endeavor is to develope some "standalone applications" that allow
frequencies/operating-voltages of the CPU & peripherals to be changed, during the time
when u-boot is run, such as to measure the performances of the CPU & other peripherals.
The existing development board has an ARM Cortex-A9 and a Cortex-R4 running on it.
(6) Is it possible to make "minor changes" to the u-boot codes, such that controls could
be passed back to u-boot at will from an application, which gets executed using the u-boot command:
                 go <address>  ?
Please elaborate in as much details as possible, if it can. The motivation is that after a change
of operating frequencies & voltages of the CPU & peripherals, u-boot command: go <address>
would be called to measure performances of the board. Thereafter, control would be returned
to u-boot again, such that another set of operating frequencies & voltages could be selected. 
(7) Is it possible for a file to be read in, say, from a SD card via u-boot command, since
u-boot comes with a SD driver?
 

Also, is there any write-up that describes how to search past questions raised by u-boot users?
As it stand, I google search seems to be the only way that I could be used to come up with
relevant questions associated with a keyword.
 
Thank you in advance for your help, and looking forward to your reply.
 
 
Thanks,
 
 
Ivan 		 	   		  

[U-Boot] procedure to down load u-boot to RAM

[Wolfgang Denk]

Dear apple pie,

In message <SNT139-W344C29BC9A8B98CF32F520E3370@phx.gbl> you wrote:
> 
> I have a number of u-boot development questions that I would like to raise to you for answers:
> 
> (1) Is it possible to install u-boot in a Windows XP environment? If it is, please tell me
> the steps to follow. Are they the same as those cut out for Linux?

I have no idea, and frankly, I don't care.  Why would you go through t
he pain of working in an inappropriate, hostile environment?  If you
are not permitted to install  Linux on your machine, running it in a
VM should be trivial these days.

> (2) Is it possible to use 'cgywin' to build u-boot, since 'cgywin' mimicks Linux's environment?

Maybe.  It is not an officially supported mode of operation.

> (3) Is it possible to directly download an u-boot image onto the RAM space of a customerized 
> development board to debug u-boot? If it is, please list out the steps to follow.

This depends on a number of things, last but not least the
architecture / SoC in question and the tools available to you (JTAG
debugger etc.).  Please see also the FAQ.

> (4) What type of u-boot image should be used, if downloading of the u-boot image to the RAM
> space of the board is via a Lauterbach ICE (a debugger with a JTAG interface)? Normally, a
> Lauterbach ICE expects a .axf file to be downloaded (axf = archived, executable file), but
> in the u-boot case, should it be the ELF image u-boot build generates?

You should use the appropriate binary image.

> (5) The intention of the endeavor is to develope some "standalone applications" that allow
> frequencies/operating-voltages of the CPU & peripherals to be changed, during the time
> when u-boot is run, such as to measure the performances of the CPU & other peripherals.
> The existing development board has an ARM Cortex-A9 and a Cortex-R4 running on it.

<not a question>

> (6) Is it possible to make "minor changes" to the u-boot codes, such that controls could
> be passed back to u-boot at will from an application, which gets executed using the u-boot command:
>                  go <address>  ?

I don't understand the question.

> Please elaborate in as much details as possible, if it can. The motivation is that after a change
> of operating frequencies & voltages of the CPU & peripherals, u-boot command: go <address>
> would be called to measure performances of the board. Thereafter, control would be returned
> to u-boot again, such that another set of operating frequencies & voltages could be selected. 
> (7) Is it possible for a file to be read in, say, from a SD card via u-boot command, since
> u-boot comes with a SD driver?

Yes.

> Also, is there any write-up that describes how to search past questions raised by u-boot users?
> As it stand, I google search seems to be the only way that I could be used to come up with
> relevant questions associated with a keyword.

The U-Boot front page (http://www.denx.de/wiki/U-Boot) points directly
to three mailing list archives, each of wich comes with some sort of
search functionality.  Please read the related documentation and pikt
the interface you like best.  My personal preference is usually gmane,
but YMMV.

Best regards,

Wolfgang Denk

-- 
DENX Software Engineering GmbH,     MD: Wolfgang Denk & Detlev Zundel
HRB 165235 Munich, Office: Kirchenstr.5, D-82194 Groebenzell, Germany
Phone: (+49)-8142-66989-10 Fax: (+49)-8142-66989-80 Email: wd at denx.de
Substitute "damn" every time you're inclined to write "very"; your
editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.
                - Mark Twain

[U-Boot] procedure to down load u-boot to RAM

[Marek Vasut]

Dear apple pie,

> Hi Wolfgang,
> 
> I have a number of u-boot development questions that I would like to raise
> to you for answers:
> 
> (1) Is it possible to install u-boot in a Windows XP environment? If it is,
> please tell me the steps to follow. Are they the same as those cut out for
> Linux?

Well, it's probably possible, but honestly, why?

> (2) Is it possible to use 'cgywin' to build u-boot, since 'cgywin'
> mimicks Linux's environment?

Again, probably -- you can invest some time and try yourself.

> (3) Is it possible to directly download an
> u-boot image onto the RAM space of a customerized development board to
> debug u-boot? If it is, please list out the steps to follow.

It is possible, but not always and it can have side effects. It is not 
supported.

> (4) What type
> of u-boot image should be used, if downloading of the u-boot image to the
> RAM space of the board is via a Lauterbach ICE (a debugger with a JTAG
> interface)? Normally, a Lauterbach ICE expects a .axf file to be
> downloaded (axf = archived, executable file), but in the u-boot case,
> should it be the ELF image u-boot build generates?

No idea, really ... probably u-boot.bin

> (5) The intention of
> the endeavor is to develope some "standalone applications" that allow
> frequencies/operating-voltages of the CPU & peripherals to be changed,
> during the time when u-boot is run, such as to measure the performances of
> the CPU & other peripherals. The existing development board has an ARM
> Cortex-A9 and a Cortex-R4 running on it.

Why don't you patch uboot itself and submit patches mainline?

> (6) Is it possible to make "minor
> changes" to the u-boot codes, such that controls could be passed back to
> u-boot at will from an application, which gets executed using the u-boot
> command: go <address>  ?
> Please elaborate in as much details as possible, if it can. The motivation
> is that after a change of operating frequencies & voltages of the CPU &
> peripherals, u-boot command: go <address> would be called to measure
> performances of the board. Thereafter, control would be returned to u-boot
> again, such that another set of operating frequencies & voltages could be
> selected.

Add a standard uboot command, use a standard uboot commands to measure this 
stuff, why make standalone app, it's nonsense and affects the results too.

> (7) Is it possible for a file to be read in, say, from a SD card
> via u-boot command, since u-boot comes with a SD driver?
> 

Yes

> 
> Also, is there any write-up that describes how to search past questions
> raised by u-boot users? As it stand, I google search seems to be the only
> way that I could be used to come up with relevant questions associated
> with a keyword.

How did you register to this mailing list anyway? There are archives at the same 
place.

> 
> Thank you in advance for your help, and looking forward to your reply.
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> 
> Ivan


Best regards,
Marek Vasut