Re: [microblaze-uclinux] Booting design from flash then FS-Boot, U-Boot, Kernel

[Ulrich Hoffmann <uho@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi John,
	
	I tried to load u-boot with XMD, here are my findings:

When I configure the FPGA via JTAG, u-boot loads fine
and boots the linux kernel.

When I configure the FPAG via SPI, u-boot loads and
elf_verify signals no error, but XMD-run does not show
any output at all in my serial console :-(

So - configuring from SPI flash and then booting from parallel
NOR flash on the Spartan 3A starter kit remains an open issue here....

However, I found a way to boot the kernel on power on nevertheless:

I tried to configure the FPGA from platform flash XF04S (using the
correct jumper settings from the manual) and programmed the
platform flash with the bitstream using IMPACT.

This works!

The FPGA is configured from platform flash including fs-boot,
this boots u-boot from parallel NOR flash
which then boots the linux kernel right into the login prompt.

So - in this configuration the Spartan 3A Starter Kit becomes
a self contained PetaLinux computer that boots on power on :-)

Great!

Thanks again for your hints.

Regards,
		Ulrich


Am 03.02.2009 um 11:41 schrieb Ulrich Hoffmann:

> Hi John,
> 	thanks for your hints.
>
> My design uses just parallel Flash. I only want to configure the  
> FPGA from
> SPI flash. As I understand and as you said, after configuration the  
> parallel flash
> should be available to the design (Microblaze in this case).
>
> > You might need to do some lower level debugging to find out what's  
> > going on.
>
> Yes - but how can I debug this at a lower level? Or is the lower  
> level this:
>
> > Also, try configuring the FPGA from SPI, then use XMD or
> > petalinux-jtag-boot to download u-boot directly into DDR and run it.
> > Does it work, and can it acess the (parallel) flash using the flinfo,
> > and erase commands?
>
> I have not looked at XMD too much so I have to learn, how to use it.
> Loading U-Boot this way directly in RAM is certainly a good way to
> proceed.  This could give me a good indication of what is going on.
>
> I will give it a try - but unfortunately I will be away from my  
> development
> system for a couple of days, though. I can probably report my findings
> next weekend.
>
> Regards,
> 		Ulrich
>
>
>
> Am 03.02.2009 um 03:30 schrieb John Williams:
>
> > Hi Ulrich,
> >
> > On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 1:46 AM, Ulrich Hoffmann <uho@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > I followed the Petalinux documentation closely and created a  
> > > Microblaze
> > > design with
> > > fs-boot and also flashed u-boot and the kernel image fine. I can  
> > > now boot
> > > Petalinux when I freshly download the Microblaze design via the JTAG
> > > interface (USB-Cable).
> >
> > You're off to a good start
> >
> > > What I would like to have is a Microblaze configuration that loads  
> > > into the
> > > FPGA from SPI flash at reset time.
> >
> > So, FPGA configuration from SPI flash, and u-boot/linux kernel from
> > parallel flash?
> >
> > The SPI and parallel flash interfaces overlap some pins, for example
> > AB20 is spi_MISO and FLASH_D15.  This is why Base System Builder lets
> > you instantiate either SPI flash or parallel flash.
> > But, from a configuration perspective, it shouldn't matter - after
> > configuration the pins revert to user IO.  So, configuration via SPI
> > then access to parallel flash post-config should be fine.
> >
> > You might need to do some lower level debugging to find out what's  
> > going on.
> >
> > Also, try configuring the FPGA from SPI, then use XMD or
> > petalinux-jtag-boot to download u-boot directly into DDR and run it.
> > Does it work, and can it acess the (parallel) flash using the flinfo,
> > and erase commands?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > John
> > ___________________________
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> > Mailing List Archive : http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~listarch/microblaze-uclinux/
>
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