u-boot environment on x86

u-boot environment on x86

[Kim Bøndergaard]

I'm struggling with a u-boot as an uefi overlay on x86 (currently Qemu).
Basically it is working, but I'm  now considering how /where to store my u-boot environment.

I need to have it stored in a device being accessible also from my Linux being installed by u-boot.

Anyone having had similar considerations.

I feel storing the environment in e.g. a FAT file is not the right solution. It is too vulnerable to power loss.
I'd prefer e.g. a raw sd partition, but u-boot has no means to read it right now. Making support for that would be quite easy I think.

Alternatively I know the UEFI provides means to store "UEFI variables". Anyone who knows if adding the environment as a huge UEFI variable is a way to go?

Comments are welcome

Kim B?ndergaard
Prevas A/S
Team Manager / Systems Architect

Hedeager 3, DK-8200 Aarhus N
Phone +45 3315 9090
Mobile +45 5154 3961
kibo at prevas.dk
www.prevas.dk<https://webmail.prevas.se/owa/redir.aspx?C=iN_3zIhizUqp7BVo33RNR3R2ecTf_dEIdGI1j2JStIzDh7zuxYMXNtw7TKp3qanuPKuw20ZD0vE.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.prevas.dk%2f>

u-boot environment on x86

[AKASHI Takahiro]

On Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 01:26:09PM +0000, Kim B?ndergaard wrote:
> I'm struggling with a u-boot as an uefi overlay on x86 (currently Qemu).
> Basically it is working, but I'm  now considering how /where to store my u-boot environment.
> 
> I need to have it stored in a device being accessible also from my Linux being installed by u-boot.
> 
> Anyone having had similar considerations.

Can fw_printenv/fw_setenv under tools be a solution to your issue?
(I've never used those commands though.)

> I feel storing the environment in e.g. a FAT file is not the right solution. It is too vulnerable to power loss.
> I'd prefer e.g. a raw sd partition, but u-boot has no means to read it right now. Making support for that would be quite easy I think.
> 
> Alternatively I know the UEFI provides means to store "UEFI variables". Anyone who knows if adding the environment as a huge UEFI variable is a way to go?

Any reason to stick to UEFI here?

-Takahiro Akashi

>
> Comments are welcome
> 
> Kim B?ndergaard
> Prevas A/S
> Team Manager / Systems Architect
> 
> Hedeager 3, DK-8200 Aarhus N
> Phone +45 3315 9090
> Mobile +45 5154 3961
> kibo at prevas.dk
> www.prevas.dk<https://webmail.prevas.se/owa/redir.aspx?C=iN_3zIhizUqp7BVo33RNR3R2ecTf_dEIdGI1j2JStIzDh7zuxYMXNtw7TKp3qanuPKuw20ZD0vE.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.prevas.dk%2f>
> 
> 
> 

u-boot environment on x86

[Kim Bøndergaard]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: AKASHI Takahiro <takahiro.akashi@linaro.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, 31 March 2020 04.21
> To: Kim B?ndergaard <Kim.Bondergaard@prevas.dk>
> Cc: u-boot at lists.denx.de
> Subject: Re: u-boot environment on x86
> 
> On Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 01:26:09PM +0000, Kim B?ndergaard wrote:
> > I'm struggling with a u-boot as an uefi overlay on x86 (currently Qemu).
> > Basically it is working, but I'm  now considering how /where to store my u-
> boot environment.
> >
> > I need to have it stored in a device being accessible also from my Linux
> being installed by u-boot.
> >
> > Anyone having had similar considerations.
> 
> Can fw_printenv/fw_setenv under tools be a solution to your issue?
> (I've never used those commands though.)
> 
> > I feel storing the environment in e.g. a FAT file is not the right solution. It is
> too vulnerable to power loss.
> > I'd prefer e.g. a raw sd partition, but u-boot has no means to read it right
> now. Making support for that would be quite easy I think.
> >
> > Alternatively I know the UEFI provides means to store "UEFI variables".
> Anyone who knows if adding the environment as a huge UEFI variable is a
> way to go?
> 
> Any reason to stick to UEFI here?
> 
I feel it will be easier to get started on most x86 boards since almost all of them come with an UEFI 'bios'.

The reason for putting a u-boot on top of it, is to keep testing  similar to our ARM boards.
But since you ask, I guess you have some other thoughts. 
I'm open to ideas so feel free to 'speak'

> -Takahiro Akashi
> 
> >
> > Comments are welcome
> >
> > Kim B?ndergaard
> > Prevas A/S
> > Team Manager / Systems Architect
> >
> > Hedeager 3, DK-8200 Aarhus N
> > Phone +45 3315 9090
> > Mobile +45 5154 3961
> > kibo at prevas.dk
> >
> www.prevas.dk<https://webmail.prevas.se/owa/redir.aspx?C=iN_3zIhizUq
> p7BVo33RNR3R2ecTf_dEIdGI1j2JStIzDh7zuxYMXNtw7TKp3qanuPKuw20ZD0v
> E.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.prevas.dk%2f>
> >
> >
> >