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Disabling the bootstrap loader (BSL)

A. Kirchhoff
Intellectual 535 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430F5419A

I am using a MSP430F5419A part in a security and safety critical application and I want to disable use of the bootstrap loader (BSL) as much as possible.  I have set the SYSBSLOFF in the SYSBSLC register to prevent access by the application firmware.  To disable external access, I planned to erase the BSL in the Flash, but I read a post on this forum that this was a bad idea.

Why is erasing the BSL not a good idea?  I have erased it on one of my parts and see to be able to debug, program, etc. via Spi-by-Wire.

Thanks,
Austin

  • 0
    Guru 58965 points

    If you do not use BSL and do not want others to use BSL, erasing the BSL-Flash is not a bad idea.

  • 0
    Guru 227245 points

    A. Kirchhoff said:
    Why is erasing the BSL not a good idea?  I have erased it on one of my parts and see to be able to debug, program, etc. via Spi-by-Wire.

    BSL ha snothing to do with SBW/JTAG,

    BSL is a last-chance to revive an MSP that isn't responding to JTAG anymore. Or a convenient wy to do field updates without need for a FET.

    Since the BSL is password-protected and a wrong password erases the MSP content, there is no need to disable it. At lesat not on the 5x family (and on older families, there was no way to disable/erase it anyway).

    If you erase the BSL, well, the last chance is spoiled, but everyhting else will still work. As long as you don't break something (e.g. by flashing a software that causes a reset loop and blocks JTAG)

  • 0 in reply to Jens-Michael Gross
    Intellectual 535 points

    Jens-Michael,

    Got it.  Thanks for your reply.

    I agree the BSL is a nice backup in case something goes wrong after blowing the JTAG fuse, but good to know the two (SBW/JTAG) are unrelated.

    Austin

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