AM6421: Device configuration for building Uboot image from buildroot for AM64x evm board

shraddha naik

Part Number: AM6421

Hello,

I am using AM64 evm board (green color) and trying to build uboot & kernel using buildroot for the same. I am referring the procedure from below FAQ

https://e2e.ti.com/support/processors-group/processors/f/processors-forum/1226815/faq-buildroot-support-for-sitara-am62x-am62ax-am62px-am64x-devices

I have doubt on taking which device config for AM64 boards. Buildroot have default config files as shown in below image

Whats the difference between sk_defconfig and sk_tisdk_defconfig, and when should i use both?

Also same config i can use for sk & evm boards?

I have tried to build it with ti_am64x_sk_defconfig and output got generated but during boot i get below errors,

So in this case we need to modify dts file & build again ?

Regards,

Shraddha N.

7 months ago

0 Vinuchandran A V 7 months ago

TI__Expert 5960 points

Hi Shraddha,

sk_defconfig would be the basic configuration intended to boot the hardware with standard kernel, u-boot, ATF etc.

sk_tisdk_defconfig is based in the existing defconfig, but is customised with

* TI Kernel 6.1.80 (w/ TI config-pruning step applied)
* TI U-Boot 2023.04
* ATF 2.10 (public tree)
* OPTEE 4.1 (public tree)
* TIFS/DM/DMSC Device Firmwares 9.2

Also the patch given in the FAQ (https://e2e.ti.com/support/processors-group/processors/f/processors-forum/1226815/faq-buildroot-support-for-sitara-am62x-am62ax-am62px-am64x-devices) only creates the sk_tisdk_defconfig files.

Please try to rebuild using the ti_am64x_sk_tisdk_defconfig config as mentioned in the FAQ.

The differences between AM64 SK and EVM boards are on the expandibility and additional interfaces. (https://e2e.ti.com/support/processors-group/processors/f/processors-forum/1179454/sk-am64b-sk-am64b-vs-tmds64evm--main-differences)

The same config should work for both SK and EVM boards.

Regards,

Vinu

0 shraddha naik 7 months ago in reply to Vinuchandran A V

Intellectual 440 points

hi Vinuchandran A V ,

I tried to build image with ti_am64x_sk_tisdk_defconfig & tried it on EVM board but not able to boot successfully.

Below are the logs attached

þ
U-Boot SPL 2023.04 (Jan 09 2026 - 14:21:22 +0000)
Resetting on cold boot to workaround ErrataID:i2331
Please resend tiboot3.bin in case of UART/DFU boot
resetting ...

U-Boot SPL 2023.04 (Jan 09 2026 - 14:21:22 +0000)
SYSFW ABI: 3.1 (firmware rev 0x0009 '9.2.7--v09.02.07 (Kool Koala)')
SPL initial stack usage: 13392 bytes
Trying to boot from MMC2
Authentication passed
Authentication passed
Loading Environment from MMC... *** Warning - No MMC card found, using default environment

Authentication passed
Authentication passed
Starting ATF on ARM64 core...

NOTICE:  BL31: v2.10.0(release):00f1ec6b8740ccd403e641131e294aabacf2a48b
NOTICE:  BL31: Built : 14:10:31, Jan  9 2026
I/TC:
I/TC: OP-TEE version: Unknown_4.1 (gcc version 12.3.0 (Buildroot 2024.02-645-g0423e16308-dirty)) #1 Fri Jan  9 14:10:19 UTC 2026 aarch64
I/TC: WARNING: This OP-TEE configuration might be insecure!
I/TC: WARNING: Please check https://optee.readthedocs.io/en/latest/architecture/porting_guidelines.html
I/TC: Primary CPU initializing
I/TC: GIC redistributor base address not provided
I/TC: Assuming default GIC group status and modifier
I/TC: SYSFW ABI: 3.1 (firmware rev 0x0009 '9.2.7--v09.02.07 (Kool Koala)')
I/TC: HUK Initialized
I/TC: Activated SA2UL device
I/TC: Enabled firewalls for SA2UL TRNG device
I/TC: SA2UL TRNG initialized
I/TC: SA2UL Drivers initialized
I/TC: Primary CPU switching to normal world boot

U-Boot SPL 2023.04 (Jan 09 2026 - 14:23:16 +0000)
SYSFW ABI: 3.1 (firmware rev 0x0009 '9.2.7--v09.02.07 (Kool Koala)')
Trying to boot from MMC2
Authentication passed
Authentication passed


U-Boot 2023.04 (Jan 09 2026 - 14:23:16 +0000)

SoC:   AM64X SR2.0 HS-FS
Model: Texas Instruments AM642 EVM
Board: AM64-EVM rev C
DRAM:  2 GiB
Core:  91 devices, 32 uclasses, devicetree: separate
NAND:  0 MiB
MMC:   mmc@fa10000: 0, mmc@fa00000: 1
Loading Environment from nowhere... OK
In:    serial@2800000
Out:   serial@2800000
Err:   serial@2800000
Net:   eth3: icssg1-eth, eth0: ethernet@8000000port@1
Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
switch to partitions #0, OK
mmc1 is current device
SD/MMC found on device 1
Failed to load 'boot.scr'
Failed to load 'uEnv.txt'
## Error: "main_cpsw0_qsgmii_phyinit" not defined
19442176 bytes read in 826 ms (22.4 MiB/s)
Failed to load '/boot/dtb/ti/k3-am642-evm.dtb'
libfdt fdt_check_header(): FDT_ERR_BADMAGIC
No FDT memory address configured. Please configure
the FDT address via "fdt addr <address>" command.
Aborting!
ERROR: Did not find a cmdline Flattened Device Tree
Could not find a valid device tree
switch to partitions #0, OK
mmc0(part 0) is current device
Scanning mmc 0:1...
No EFI system partition
No EFI system partition
Failed to persist EFI variables
BootOrder not defined
EFI boot manager: Cannot load any image
switch to partitions #0, OK
mmc1 is current device
Scanning mmc 1:1...
BootOrder not defined
EFI boot manager: Cannot load any image
starting USB...
No working controllers found
USB is stopped. Please issue 'usb start' first.
starting USB...
No working controllers found
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
missing environment variable: pxeuuid
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/01-1c-63-49-1a-de-33
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/00000000
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/0000000
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/000000
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/00000
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/0000
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/000
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/00
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/0
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/default-arm-k3-am64x
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/default-arm-k3
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/default-arm
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Retrieving file: pxelinux.cfg/default
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
Config file not found
starting USB...
No working controllers found
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
ethernet@8000000port@1 Waiting for PHY auto negotiation to complete......... TIMEOUT !
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: phy_startup failed
am65_cpsw_nuss_port ethernet@8000000port@1: am65_cpsw_start end error
** File not found /lib/firmware/ti-pruss/am65x-sr2-pru0-prueth-fw.elf **
No UBIFS volume mounted!
prueth icssg1-eth: failed to boot PRU0: -1
=> <INTERRUPT>
=>
=>
=>
=>

Regards

shraddha

0 Vinuchandran A V 7 months ago in reply to shraddha naik

TI__Expert 5960 points

Hi Shraddha,

Can you confirm if BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_TIBOOT3_BIN is changed to tiboot3-am64x-gp-evm.bin?

Also, it looks like the FDT, '/boot/dtb/ti/k3-am642-evm.dtb' is not found.

Can you try replacing the DTB at boot/dtb/ti/ on the SD card with buildroot/output/build/linux-09.02.00.009/arch/arm64/boot/dts/ti/k3-am642-evm.dtb?

Regards,

Vinu

0 shraddha naik 7 months ago in reply to Vinuchandran A V

Intellectual 440 points

Hi Vinuchandran A V ,

Vinuchandran A V said:
Can you confirm if BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_TIBOOT3_BIN is changed to tiboot3-am64x-gp-evm.bin?

In which file i need to modify this? becai=use I cannot find this command in ti_am64x_sk_tisdk_defconfig file.

But i tried to use ti_am64x_sk_defconfig file and modified this file as below:

BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT_ARGS to take k3-am642-evm.dtb

and BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_INTRESS_DTS_NAME to "ti/ k3-am642-evm"

and Genimage.cfg file to take k3-am642-evm.dtb

with this i was able to boot device in LInux.

Now my concern is the built images is of size 193MB, how we can reduce this within 10MB using buildroot for basic functionality using UART, USB, SPI etc

Regards,

shraddha

+1 Vinuchandran A V 6 months ago in reply to shraddha naik

TI__Expert 5960 points

Hi Shraddha,

I'm sharing a patch file with the changes required for AM64x EVM.

From bcc74429b6881feee0337576652d17f6b87a5a5f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Vinuchandran <x1123550@ti.com>
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:45:30 +0530
Subject: [PATCH] Update configs for AM64 EVM

---
 board/ti/am64x-sk/genimage.cfg       |  2 +-
 boot/ti-k3-r5-loader/Config.in       |  2 +-
 configs/ti_am64x_evm_tisdk_defconfig | 57 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 59 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 configs/ti_am64x_evm_tisdk_defconfig

diff --git a/board/ti/am64x-sk/genimage.cfg b/board/ti/am64x-sk/genimage.cfg
index 88dff8fe23..a37559a257 100644
--- a/board/ti/am64x-sk/genimage.cfg
+++ b/board/ti/am64x-sk/genimage.cfg
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ image boot.vfat {
 			"tiboot3.bin",
 			"tispl.bin",
 			"u-boot.img",
-			"k3-am642-sk.dtb",
+			"k3-am642-evm.dtb",
 			"Image"
 		}
 		file extlinux/extlinux.conf {
diff --git a/boot/ti-k3-r5-loader/Config.in b/boot/ti-k3-r5-loader/Config.in
index c276528fad..d450a649e3 100644
--- a/boot/ti-k3-r5-loader/Config.in
+++ b/boot/ti-k3-r5-loader/Config.in
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ config BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_CUSTOM_DTS_PATH
 
 config BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_TIBOOT3_BIN
 	string "tiboot3.bin binary name"
-	default "tiboot3.bin"
+	default "tiboot3-am64x-gp-evm.bin"
 	help
 	  Name of the TI K3 tiboot3.bin binary to use.
 
diff --git a/configs/ti_am64x_evm_tisdk_defconfig b/configs/ti_am64x_evm_tisdk_defconfig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..17e9b98184
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configs/ti_am64x_evm_tisdk_defconfig
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+BR2_aarch64=y
+BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_LINUX_HEADERS_CUSTOM_6_1=y
+BR2_GLOBAL_PATCH_DIR="board/ti/am64x-sk/patches"
+BR2_DOWNLOAD_FORCE_CHECK_HASHES=y
+BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT="board/ti/common/am6xx/post-build-ti.sh"
+BR2_ROOTFS_POST_IMAGE_SCRIPT="support/scripts/genimage.sh"
+BR2_ROOTFS_POST_BUILD_SCRIPT_ARGS="-d k3-am642-evm.dtb"
+BR2_ROOTFS_POST_IMAGE_SCRIPT_ARGS="-c board/ti/common/am6xx/genimage_ti.cfg"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL=y
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_GIT=y
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_REPO_URL="https://git.ti.com/git/ti-linux-kernel/ti-linux-kernel.git"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CUSTOM_REPO_VERSION="09.02.00.009"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_USE_ARCH_DEFAULT_CONFIG=y
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_CONFIG_FRAGMENT_FILES="board/ti/common/am6xx/ti_arm64_prune.config"
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_DTS_SUPPORT=y
+BR2_LINUX_KERNEL_INTREE_DTS_NAME="ti/k3-am642-evm"
+BR2_PACKAGE_LINUX_FIRMWARE=y
+BR2_PACKAGE_LINUX_FIRMWARE_TI_WL18XX=y
+BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT2=y
+BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT2_4=y
+BR2_TARGET_ROOTFS_EXT2_SIZE="120M"
+BR2_TARGET_ARM_TRUSTED_FIRMWARE=y
+BR2_TARGET_ARM_TRUSTED_FIRMWARE_CUSTOM_GIT=y
+BR2_TARGET_ARM_TRUSTED_FIRMWARE_CUSTOM_REPO_URL="https://git.trustedfirmware.org/TF-A/trusted-firmware-a.git"
+BR2_TARGET_ARM_TRUSTED_FIRMWARE_CUSTOM_REPO_VERSION="00f1ec6b8740ccd403e641131e294aabacf2a48b"
+BR2_TARGET_ARM_TRUSTED_FIRMWARE_PLATFORM="k3"
+BR2_TARGET_ARM_TRUSTED_FIRMWARE_TARGET_BOARD="lite"
+BR2_TARGET_ARM_TRUSTED_FIRMWARE_BL32_OPTEE=y
+BR2_TARGET_OPTEE_OS=y
+BR2_TARGET_OPTEE_OS_CUSTOM_GIT=y
+BR2_TARGET_OPTEE_OS_CUSTOM_REPO_URL="https://github.com/OP-TEE/optee_os.git"
+BR2_TARGET_OPTEE_OS_CUSTOM_REPO_VERSION="012cdca49db398693903e05c42a254a3a0c0d8f2"
+BR2_TARGET_OPTEE_OS_NEEDS_PYTHON_CRYPTOGRAPHY=y
+BR2_TARGET_OPTEE_OS_PLATFORM="k3-am64x"
+BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER=y
+BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_CUSTOM_GIT=y
+BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_CUSTOM_REPO_URL="https://git.ti.com/git/ti-u-boot/ti-u-boot.git"
+BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_CUSTOM_REPO_VERSION="09.02.00.009"
+BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_BOARD_DEFCONFIG="am64x_evm_r5"
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT=y
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_BUILD_SYSTEM_KCONFIG=y
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_CUSTOM_GIT=y
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_CUSTOM_REPO_URL="https://git.ti.com/git/ti-u-boot/ti-u-boot.git"
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_CUSTOM_REPO_VERSION="09.02.00.009"
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_BOARD_DEFCONFIG="am64x_evm_a53"
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_NEEDS_DTC=y
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_NEEDS_OPENSSL=y
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_NEEDS_ATF_BL31=y
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_USE_BINMAN=y
+# BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_FORMAT_BIN is not set
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_FORMAT_IMG=y
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_SPL=y
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_SPL_NAME="tispl.bin"
+BR2_TARGET_UBOOT_CUSTOM_MAKEOPTS="TEE=$(BINARIES_DIR)/tee-pager_v2.bin"
+BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_DOSFSTOOLS=y
+BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_GENIMAGE=y
+BR2_PACKAGE_HOST_MTOOLS=y
-- 
2.43.0

You can use the newly created ti_am64x_evm_tisdk_defconfig config to create the image for EVM.

shraddha naik said:
In which file i need to modify this? becai=use I cannot find this command in ti_am64x_sk_tisdk_defconfig file.

It contains the BR2_TARGET_TI_K3_R5_LOADER_TIBOOT3_BIN change as well.

Also, to reduce the image size, you'll have to disable unwanted packages using make menuconfig, strip binaries, remove debug symbols, increase optimisation level etc.

These are standard Buildroot optimisations working on upstream/generic builds which are out of the scope of this forum.

Regards,
Vinu

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AM6421: Device configuration for building Uboot image from buildroot for AM64x evm board