• State Resolved
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 5 replies
  • Subscribers 79 subscribers
  • Views 1058 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Related

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

(BSL) Bootloader using external serial flash.

WayneB
Intellectual 260 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430F5335

Wondering if anyone has used an external serial flash to store and boot load from?
I have done this with other processors.  Just not sure how well suited the base BSL code is for something like this. 

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 22815 points
    Wayne,

    The problem you are going to run into with using an external serial flash to boot load a 430 from is that the factory BSL in the 430 expects an active BSL host (issuing commands, etc). To use a serial flash, the MSP430 would need a custom bootloader than read the serial flash to program the device. Depending on your application, this is doable, but in most scenarios would not be the most effective solution.

    Can you provide some details on your system and why you think a serial flash might be the best BSL solution?

    Thanks,
    Mike
  • 0 in reply to Mike Pridgen
    Intellectual 260 points
    Hi Mike,

    I figured I'd have to customize the BSL just wasn't sure how much.

    The application is for a low power device with a radio link( no other interfaces). The issue is the radio link may not be reliable. So I am not comfortable with a system that would rely on the link and risk bricking. The BSL would only be for updates. Also, I need most of the available on-board flash for my application so storing a copy of the image on-board isn't an option.

    The idea behind using the serial flash is we could slowly build the image on the external flash using the over the air link. This would be done by the application not the BSL. When its uploaded and verified we would then initiate the update. In many ways the BSL would only really need a trigger and the ability to use the SPI port.

    Thanks
    Wayne
  • 0 in reply to WayneB
    TI__Mastermind 22815 points
    Wayne,

    Which device are you planning on using? If you use a device with a flash based BSL (F5xx/6xx, but NOT FR5xx/6xx), you can put your own code in the BSL space (2KB). However, that may not be sufficient for what you need.

    Depending on which device you are are trying to use, we might be able to help you come up with a reasonable solution.

    Mike
  • 0 in reply to Mike Pridgen
    Intellectual 260 points
    Mike,

    We are currently using F248. For our next gen we still have the ability to change processors. Something like the MSP430F5335 might be a viable alternative.

    Thanks
    Wayne
  • 0 in reply to WayneB
    TI__Mastermind 22815 points

    With the F248, the BSL memory is all ROM, which means if you want a custom bootloader, you will need to add it to main application space.  This is doable, but will require some Flash space, and will be a fair amount of effort.  A good starting point would be MSP-BOOT, but you will need to add a LOT of customization on top of it.  MSP-BOOT follows the traditional MSP BSL format of accepting commands from a host, whereas your bootloader will need to make decisions mostly on its own.

    Mike

**Attention** This is a public forum