Factory Pre-programming of NAND Flash parts

Matthew Schuckmann1

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM3352

We are getting ready to move into production on a custom AM3352 based board with NAND flash running Linux.
I've been told that the flash parts will need to be pre-programed prior to being soldered on the board.
This means that following files will need to be written to the flash by some flash programming house

MLO
u-boot.img
devicetree.dtb
zImage
rootfs.ubifs

Currently during development all of this gets done by u-boot and or Linux and bad sector management, ecc, partition layout etc is all handled by the software running on the device.

For factory pre-programming parts the programming house will need to make sure that everything is written with the correct bad-block scheme, error correction algorithm, and partition layout. To me this seems like a tall order fraught with peril.

This also seems like something others would have had to deal with, can anyone provide me with some tips or information on how this is typically done.

Thanks,
Matt S.

over 9 years ago

0 Titusrathinaraj Stalin over 9 years ago

TI__Guru** 116100 points

Hi Matt,
You can have a bootable SD card and it would boot from SD card and flash the binaries at u-boot.
Just you need to use different boot.scr file for flashing.
If you want to flash the binaries before soldering the NAND flash on the board then you may need some EVM or your own built custom board with NAND flash socket for programming the binaries into NAND flash.

0 Matthew Schuckmann1 over 9 years ago in reply to Titusrathinaraj Stalin

Intellectual 975 points

Titus,

Thanks for the suggestion but we don't have a SD Card interface on this board. I figure I might be able to do something similar with network boot, USB boot or even automate a serial boot with TeraTerm scripts (or the like). However, I've been told that the factory board house won't go for it, the flash parts will have to be pre-programmed.

This seems like a problem anybody mass producing a board like this would have to face. Creating a custom built board just for NAND programming seems a bit extreme and probably not what they are looking for anyway.

Thanks,
Matt S.

0 Ivan Matrakov over 9 years ago in reply to Matthew Schuckmann1

TI__Expert 4475 points

Hi Matt,

I forward this question for our factory team. Please wait some time for answer.

BR
Ivan

0 Matthew Schuckmann1 over 9 years ago in reply to Ivan Matrakov

Intellectual 975 points

Hi Ivan,

Any word from the factory team?
How long should I have to wait?

Thanks,
Matt S.

0 Ivan Matrakov over 9 years ago in reply to Matthew Schuckmann1

TI__Expert 4475 points

Hi Matt,

The contact has been made and I am surprised that you have not connected yet. I'll remind again and I hope soon to connect.

BR
Ivan

0 Matthew Schuckmann1 over 9 years ago in reply to Ivan Matrakov

Intellectual 975 points

I did get a friend request from a RobB but I haven't heard anything from him since.
I sent him a quick message through e2e yesterday maybe he will respond shortly.

Thanks,
Matt S.

0 Ivan Matrakov over 9 years ago in reply to Matthew Schuckmann1

TI__Expert 4475 points

Hi Matt,

I hope that you will make a contact. If it has any problem please write me.

BR
Ivan

0 Matthew Schuckmann1 over 9 years ago in reply to Ivan Matrakov

Intellectual 975 points

Hi Ivan,

Yes I did make a contact and he sent me something. I have since him back a couple of questions and gotten no response.
So I'm not sure where to go from here.

Thanks,
Matt S.

0 Ivan Matrakov over 9 years ago in reply to Matthew Schuckmann1

TI__Expert 4475 points

Hi Matt,

I am glad that you have made contact and you have received a needed tools, but if the questions are for these tools I can't help you. If the questions are in common Linux I'll try to help you.

BR
Ivan

0 Matthew Schuckmann1 over 9 years ago in reply to Ivan Matrakov

Intellectual 975 points

Thanks Ivan,
I did get additional information today in the form of Linux code for a program to transform a binary file to NAND format with ECC codes.
I'm not sure if it's everything I need but it's a good start.

Thanks,
Matt S.

Processors

Processors forum

Factory Pre-programming of NAND Flash parts