TMS320F280048C-Q1: Running the full application code from RAM instead of Flash

Hi Karthik.

You will need to use the Flash linker command file. You will see the following lines in the linker command file for loading code code to RAM from Flash.

#if defined(__TI_EABI__)
.TI.ramfunc : LOAD = FLASH_BANK0_SEC1,
RUN = RAMLS0,
LOAD_START(RamfuncsLoadStart),
LOAD_SIZE(RamfuncsLoadSize),
LOAD_END(RamfuncsLoadEnd),
RUN_START(RamfuncsRunStart),
RUN_SIZE(RamfuncsRunSize),
RUN_END(RamfuncsRunEnd),
PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)
#else
.TI.ramfunc : LOAD = FLASH_BANK0_SEC1,
RUN = RAMLS0,
LOAD_START(_RamfuncsLoadStart),
LOAD_SIZE(_RamfuncsLoadSize),
LOAD_END(_RamfuncsLoadEnd),
RUN_START(_RamfuncsRunStart),
RUN_SIZE(_RamfuncsRunSize),
RUN_END(_RamfuncsRunEnd),
PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)
#endif

Then specific functions or all functions can be placed in RAM. See the following compiler optimizing guide and look for "ramfunc" in the document for these 2 options.

https://www.ti.com/lit/spru514

Thanks,

Ashwini

Hi Aswini,

 Thanks for the response and sorry for the late reply due to holidays. I have briefly gone through the compiler user guide. Please see the following doubts.

1) In the above mail, the instructions under the #if and #else conditions are identical ryt. So why the #if / #else condition is introduced ?

2) I have added the --ramfunc==on in the compiler flag and tried to build but it is returning "code cannot be fit in the memory..the section contains a call site that requires a trampoline that can't be generated for this section..." pointing to ".TI.ramfunc : LOAD = FLASH_BANK0_SEC1,
RUN = RAMLS0,...."

 I had raised a query for similar error in the debugging from RAM operation (https://e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/c2000-microcontrollers-group/c2000/f/c2000-microcontrollers-forum/979405/launchxl-f280049c-memory-linking-error). It was not fully closed but had suggested a workaround which I applied as follows.

3) So I have modified the flash linker file as follows

MEMORY
{
PAGE 0 :

BEGIN : origin = 0x000000, length = 0x000002

RAMM0: origin = 0x0000F5, length = 0x00030B

RAMLS : origin = 0x008000, length = 0x003000 

.....

#else
.TI.ramfunc : LOAD = FLASH_BANK0_SEC1,
RUN = RAMLS,
LOAD_START(_RamfuncsLoadStart),

now its throwing error mentioning code cannot be fit in "FLASH_BANK0_SEC1"

  Please advice how to proceed.

Thanks and Regards

    Karthik R

Hi Karthik,

Karthik Raveendranath said:

In the above mail, the instructions under the #if and #else conditions are identical ryt. So why the #if / #else condition is introduced ?

The symbol names are a bit different for EABI and COFF format. The #if associates symbols that EABI uses and the #else associates symbol names that COFF uses which begin with an underscore.

Karthik Raveendranath said:

now its throwing error mentioning code cannot be fit in "FLASH_BANK0_SEC1"

In the error the output will indicate the size of the code that did not fit. Likely this is more than the FLASH_BANK0_SEC1 size and hence the error. You will need to allocate more Flash.

Also, going forward some more suggestions:

1. Please make sure the code is compiler with Optimization -O2 at least for good performance.

2. In terms of system design, it will be helpful to do an analysis and check which pieces of code are timing critical and selectively have those loaded to RAM instead of the entire  application. As the application grows, it may not all fit in RAM which is 100KB vs Flash which is 256KB.

Thanks,

Ashwini 

Hi Karthik,

If you set breakpoints where GPIO is initialized  and where GPIO toggles are those breakpoints being taken? After loading application and entering main you can set breakpoints and step through code to make sure the functions are being correctly copied and executed from RAM.

Thanks,

Ashwini

Hi Aswini,

  In flash mode, we can put breakpoints...?? Sorry, I didn't knew that.

   Is there no solid examples which simply copies entrie flash content to ram n execute form it...?

Thanks and Regards

  Karthik R

Hi Karthik,

Yes, you can use Hardware breakpoints to debug code in Flash and RAM. In your initialization code, you should have following lines that copy code to RAM.

memcpy(&RamfuncsRunStart, &RamfuncsLoadStart, (size_t)&RamfuncsLoadSize);

Run past this source line. You can then set HWBP at the function you want to debug which has the GPIO toggling.

I don't believe we have an application that copies entire code to RAM. However the steps above should allow you to debug the issue.

Thanks,

Ashwini

Hi Aswini,

   Thanks for the information regarding the same. It was quite new to me. Infact I am not that versed in modifying default settings of linkers and script unless the condition demands it. I am confused whether we need to proceed with breakpoint insertion n all. GPIO setting is my first instruction inside the ISR which is not happening means there is something fundamentally wrong.

   I have repeated the entire process once again. For both modes, "--ramfunc=on" flag is added in the compiler flag options.

   While debugging from RAM, the DSC is behaving as expected (by monitoring the GPIO).

   After Flashing, now GPIO is not toggling at all. Can you please see whats wrong with the linker files. I believe this should throw light into the fundamental thing which is wrong. I have included the complete linker file contents.

_____________________________

RAM LINKER FILE CONTENT

______________________________

MEMORY

{

PAGE 0 :

/* BEGIN is used for the "boot to SARAM" bootloader mode */

BEGIN : origin = 0x000000, length = 0x000002

RAMM0 : origin = 0x0000F5, length = 0x00060B

RAMLS0 : origin = 0x008000, length = 0x000800

// RAMLS1 : origin = 0x008800, length = 0x000800

// RAMLS2 : origin = 0x009000, length = 0x000800

// RAMLS3 : origin = 0x009800, length = 0x000800

// RAMLS4 : origin = 0x00A000, length = 0x000800

RAMLS1234 : origin = 0x008800, length = 0x002000

RESET : origin = 0x3FFFC0, length = 0x000002

PAGE 1 :

BOOT_RSVD : origin = 0x000002, length = 0x0000F3 /* Part of M0, BOOT rom will use this for stack */

RAMM1 : origin = 0x000700, length = 0x000100 /* on-chip RAM block M1 */

RAMLS5 : origin = 0x00A800, length = 0x000800

RAMLS6 : origin = 0x00B000, length = 0x000800

RAMLS7 : origin = 0x00B800, length = 0x000800

RAMGS0 : origin = 0x00C000, length = 0x002000

RAMGS1 : origin = 0x00E000, length = 0x002000

RAMGS2 : origin = 0x010000, length = 0x002000

RAMGS3 : origin = 0x012000, length = 0x002000

}

SECTIONS

{

codestart : > BEGIN, PAGE = 0

.TI.ramfunc : > RAMLS1234 PAGE = 0

.text : >>RAMM0 | RAMLS0 | RAMLS1234, PAGE = 0

//.TI.ramfunc : > RAMM0 PAGE = 0

//.text : >>RAMM0 | RAMLS0 | RAMLS1 | RAMLS2 | RAMLS3 | RAMLS4, PAGE = 0

.cinit : > RAMM0, PAGE = 0

.pinit : > RAMM0, PAGE = 0

.switch : > RAMM0, PAGE = 0

.reset : > RESET, PAGE = 0, TYPE = DSECT /* not used, */

.stack : > RAMM1, PAGE = 1

.ebss : > RAMLS5, PAGE = 1

.econst : > RAMLS5, PAGE = 1

.esysmem : > RAMLS5, PAGE = 1

ramgs0 : > RAMGS0, PAGE = 1

ramgs1 : > RAMGS1, PAGE = 1

}

____________________

FLASH LINKER FILE

____________________

MEMORY

{

PAGE 0 :

/* BEGIN is used for the "boot to Flash" bootloader mode */

BEGIN : origin = 0x080000, length = 0x000002

RAMM0 : origin = 0x0000F5, length = 0x00060B

RAMLS0 : origin = 0x008000, length = 0x000800

// RAMLS1 : origin = 0x008800, length = 0x000800

// RAMLS2 : origin = 0x009000, length = 0x000800

// RAMLS3 : origin = 0x009800, length = 0x000800

// RAMLS4 : origin = 0x00A000, length = 0x000800

RAMLS1234 : origin = 0x008800, length = 0x002000

RESET : origin = 0x3FFFC0, length = 0x000002

/* Flash sectors */

/* BANK 0 */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC0 : origin = 0x080002, length = 0x000FFE /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC1n2 : origin = 0x081000, length = 0x002000 /* on-chip Flash */

//FLASH_BANK0_SEC1 : origin = 0x081000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

//FLASH_BANK0_SEC2 : origin = 0x082000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC3 : origin = 0x083000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC4 : origin = 0x084000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC5 : origin = 0x085000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC6 : origin = 0x086000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC7 : origin = 0x087000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC8 : origin = 0x088000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC9 : origin = 0x089000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC10 : origin = 0x08A000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC11 : origin = 0x08B000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC12 : origin = 0x08C000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC13 : origin = 0x08D000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC14 : origin = 0x08E000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK0_SEC15 : origin = 0x08F000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

/* BANK 1 */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC0 : origin = 0x090000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC1 : origin = 0x091000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC2 : origin = 0x092000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC3 : origin = 0x093000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC4 : origin = 0x094000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC5 : origin = 0x095000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC6 : origin = 0x096000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC7 : origin = 0x097000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC8 : origin = 0x098000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC9 : origin = 0x099000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC10 : origin = 0x09A000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC11 : origin = 0x09B000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC12 : origin = 0x09C000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC13 : origin = 0x09D000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC14 : origin = 0x09E000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

FLASH_BANK1_SEC15 : origin = 0x09F000, length = 0x001000 /* on-chip Flash */

PAGE 1 :

BOOT_RSVD : origin = 0x000002, length = 0x0000F3 /* Part of M0, BOOT rom will use this for stack */

RAMM1 : origin = 0x000700, length = 0x000100 /* on-chip RAM block M1 */

RAMLS5 : origin = 0x00A800, length = 0x000800

RAMLS6 : origin = 0x00B000, length = 0x000800

RAMLS7 : origin = 0x00B800, length = 0x000800

RAMGS0 : origin = 0x00C000, length = 0x002000

RAMGS1 : origin = 0x00E000, length = 0x002000

RAMGS2 : origin = 0x010000, length = 0x002000

RAMGS3 : origin = 0x012000, length = 0x002000

}

SECTIONS

{

codestart : > BEGIN, PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)

.text : >>FLASH_BANK0_SEC1n2 | FLASH_BANK0_SEC3, PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)

//.text : >>FLASH_BANK0_SEC1 | FLASH_BANK0_SEC2 | FLASH_BANK0_SEC3, PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)

.cinit : > FLASH_BANK0_SEC1n2, PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)

.pinit : > FLASH_BANK0_SEC1n2, PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)

.switch : > FLASH_BANK0_SEC1n2, PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)

.reset : > RESET, PAGE = 0, TYPE = DSECT /* not used, */

.stack : > RAMM1, PAGE = 1

.ebss : > RAMLS5, PAGE = 1

.esysmem : > RAMLS5, PAGE = 1

.econst : > FLASH_BANK0_SEC4, PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)

ramgs0 : > RAMGS0, PAGE = 1

ramgs1 : > RAMGS1, PAGE = 1

.TI.ramfunc : {} LOAD = FLASH_BANK0_SEC1n2,

RUN = RAMLS1234,

LOAD_START(_RamfuncsLoadStart),

LOAD_SIZE(_RamfuncsLoadSize),

LOAD_END(_RamfuncsLoadEnd),

RUN_START(_RamfuncsRunStart),

RUN_SIZE(_RamfuncsRunSize),

RUN_END(_RamfuncsRunEnd),

PAGE = 0, ALIGN(4)

}

Can you please see what's wrong with these files

Thanks. 

      Karthik R

Hi Karthik,

I could not spot any issues with the Flash linker command file which is what you will need (RAM linker command file does not need to be included in your project). You can also refer to the linker command files in C2000Ware in device_support - "28004x_generic_flash_lnk.cmd"

I would recommend that you use the steps I indicated above to debug and check that all you code is being copied to RAM as expected and the ISRs are being triggered. If the ISR isbeing triggered as expected - then maybe the GPIO configuration did not get executed as expected.

Thanks,
Ashwini