Any AM335X FlashTool from TI ?

thomas ng

Intellectual 410 points

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: FLASHTOOL, AM1808

Hi,

1) Is any PC Flashtool available now for AM335x ? If not, is TI going to release one and when?

2) What are the hardware interfaces support needed for the Flashing tool to work ? JTAG/USB/Uart/Ethernet/MMC/SPI ?

3) Any other hardware requirements? eg minimum SDRAM needed etc ?

3) Can this Flashing tool program the spl, uboot, kernel all the way to rootfs to NAND memory ?

4) Can you briefly describe how this Flashtool works ?

Thanks.

- Thomas

over 13 years ago

0 Prabhakar Lad over 13 years ago

Guru 11260 points

Thomas,

This links should answer you questions,

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/AM335x_Flashing_Tools_Guide

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/AM335x_U-Boot_User%27s_Guide#Flashing_U-Boot_with_CCS

Regards,

--Prabhakar Lad

0 thomas ng over 13 years ago in reply to Prabhakar Lad

Intellectual 410 points

Hi Prabhakar Lad,

Thanks for your reply. But this tool seem to require the XDS560 JTAG debugger ? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm looking for a tools similar to the one describe here: http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Flash_v1.6_User_Guide which use UART/USB only for NAND flashing.

Anyone has any idea if it's available for AM335x ?

- Thomas

0 Vaibhav Bedia over 13 years ago in reply to thomas ng

TI__Expert 5290 points

Although there's no standalone flashing utility you can use the UART/SD flashing method described here http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/AM335x_U-Boot_User%27s_Guide#Flashing_images_to_NAND_in_UART_boot_mode

With some work on top of this you could flash anything that you want.

Regards,

Vaibhav

0 thomas ng over 13 years ago in reply to Vaibhav Bedia

Intellectual 410 points

Yes, I plan to use UART to download SPL, uboot and kernel and flash them to NAND.

But for rootfs (> 200MB), using UART transfer will be too slow at production line. And unfortunately my target board will not support Ethernet nor MMC interface, so loading rootfs from there is not possible for my product.

So I wonder if there is any TI FlashTool can do some magic for me (for example using USB) ?

Thanks.

- Thomas

0 Vaibhav Bedia over 13 years ago in reply to thomas ng

TI__Expert 5290 points

I don't know if such a utility is in works. Will check.

0 thomas ng over 13 years ago in reply to Vaibhav Bedia

Intellectual 410 points

Yes please check and your help is greatly appreciated.

If possible, please kindly indicate an estimated release timeline if any.

- Thomas

0 Michael T over 13 years ago in reply to Prabhakar Lad

TI__Expert 6735 points

1. Currently AM335x NAND can be flashed using u-boot cmd line or a CCS/JTAG method.

2. An automated flash tool for AM335x is planned. Release date is TBD.

3. The flash tool will support UART and USB peripheral boot and NAND flash as a minimum.

4. SDRAM / NAND may require change in tool configuration if different specs than on TI EVM.

5. Tool will support MLO, u-boot and uImage. File systems are flashed using u-boot.

6. See flash tool UG to see how existing tool works (AM35x / AM37x only -- not AM335x yet)

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Flash_v1.6_User_Guide

Regards,

Michael T

0 alberto liberal over 13 years ago in reply to Michael T

Intellectual 625 points

Hello Michael,

are you planning to release a similar flash tool (ubl, u-boot, uImage) for Sitara AM1808 family?

Best Rgards

Alberto

0 Michael T over 13 years ago in reply to alberto liberal

TI__Expert 6735 points

Alberto:

No, but there is a Windows-based serial flash tool for AM180x.

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/AM18x_Flash_Tool_User%27s_Guide

Regards,

Michael T

0 alberto liberal over 13 years ago in reply to Michael T

Intellectual 625 points

Thanks Michael,

my intention is to have a standalone flash tool to flash also uImage in AM1808, the AM18x Flash tool only flash ubl and u-boot

Best Regards

0 thomas ng over 13 years ago in reply to alberto liberal

Intellectual 410 points

Hi Michael,

I have a question regarding your point number 5:

5. Tool will support MLO, u-boot and uImage. File systems are flashed using u-boot.

Does the u-boot download the File systems from USB port before executing the flashing? Or through other means like UART,MMC,Ethernet etc.

- Thomas

0 Michael T over 13 years ago in reply to thomas ng

TI__Expert 6735 points

Thomas:

For AM335x the current solution using u-boot would transfer file system from Linux host to

target SDRAM using MMC (fatload command) or Ethernet (tftp command). File transfer

via USB using U-Boot is also possible - need to check if that is supported yet.

New flash tool (and current AM35x / AM37x flash tool) should be able to program the file system as well,

at least for UBIFS.

Regards,

Michael T

0 Afzal MOHAMMED over 13 years ago in reply to Michael T

TI__Prodigy 635 points

Hi Thomas,

U-boot for Android normally supports fastboot; flashing images via USB.

Rowboat Android U-boot would be a suitable place to look for AM335X fastboot support (rowboat mailing list may also help)

Regards
Afzal

0 thomas ng over 13 years ago in reply to Afzal MOHAMMED

Intellectual 410 points

Thanks Afzal, this seems to be a good reminder to at least get me started !

- Thomas

0 Doug Kehn over 13 years ago in reply to Michael T

Intellectual 405 points

Hi Michael,

Is there any update on Flash for AM335x?

Flash for AM35x works really well and it would be nice to have a tool that works on both AM35x and AM335x (hint...hint). 8)

Regards,
...doug

0 SANGILI KUMAR over 12 years ago in reply to Doug Kehn

Genius 3920 points

Hi micheal

Me too facing the same problem. our mass production plan is >8K . So CCS and JTAG method is not satisfy us. we prefer standalone single click NAND flashing tool for AM335X family from TI engineers.

Kindly release the Flash tool how soon as possible, because of Flash tool our release data get affected.

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Any AM335X FlashTool from TI ?