AM625: Firmware update while keeping the system running

Daisuke Maeda

Guru 20425 points

Part Number: AM625

Our customer may use AM625 with Linux. They need to update firmware while keeping the system running.

Does AM62x have any hardware features to support updating firmware while keeping the system running?

For example, some automotive microcontrollers can use on-chip A/B (dual-bank) Flash to update firmware while keeping the system running. But MPUs such as the AM62x do not have on-chip Flash.

Best regards,

Daisuke

3 months ago

+1 Vinuchandran A V 3 months ago

TI__Expert 5200 points

Hi Daisuke san,

Currently TI doesn't officially support A/B swap-based OTA updates.

But this is planned to be supported, and an RFC has already been sumitted in Dec, 2025 for AM62x, which makes use of eMMC's boot0/boot1 partitions.

Please refer https://patchwork.yoctoproject.org/project/arago/cover/20251202111603.1616989-1-anshuld@ti.com/

The work was de-prioritized in favor of migrating to the new LTS baseline in preparation for the 12.x release. The devs will start back on SWUpdate once the new SDK is in a good shape.

Regards,
Vinu

0 Daisuke Maeda 3 months ago in reply to Vinuchandran A V

Guru 20425 points

Hi Vinu-san,

Thank you for your reply.

I understand that this is not a hardware function, but that boot partitions are switched by U-Boot; is that correct?

Best regards,

Daisuke

0 Vinuchandran A V 3 months ago in reply to Daisuke Maeda

TI__Expert 5200 points

Hi Daisuke-san,

The bootloader will be switched by HW registers. RBL to SBL using eMMC's internal registers.

Linux will be switched by SW (U-boot).

Regards,
Vinu

0 Daisuke Maeda 3 months ago in reply to Vinuchandran A V

Guru 20425 points

Hi Vinu-san,

Thank you for your reply.

Vinuchandran A V said:
The bootloader will be switched by HW registers. RBL to SBL using eMMC's internal registers.

The HW registers and the eMMC's internal registers are NOT registers inside AM62x but rather registers inside an external eMMC device, right?

I understand that RBL supports switching SBL images by using the eMMC’s internal registers and AM62x does NOT any hardware features prepared for the A/B swap-based OTA updates, is that correct?

Best regards,

Daisuke

+1 Vinuchandran A V 3 months ago in reply to Daisuke Maeda

TI__Expert 5200 points

Hi Daisuke-san,

Daisuke Maeda said:
The HW registers and the eMMC's internal registers are NOT registers inside AM62x but rather registers inside an external eMMC device, right?

This is correct.

Regards,
Vinu

0 Daisuke Maeda 3 months ago in reply to Vinuchandran A V

Guru 20425 points

Hi Vinu-san,

Thank you for your reply.

I apologize for asking repeatedly.

Daisuke Maeda said:
I understand that RBL supports switching SBL images by using the eMMC’s internal registers and AM62x does NOT any hardware features prepared for the A/B swap-based OTA updates, is that correct?

If so, is it already supported by RBL, or will it be supported in the next silicon revision for RBL?

If not, does AM62 need to be reset and rebooted after a software on AM62 switches the eMMC's boot partitions using the eMMC’s internal registers?

Best regards,

Daisuke

+1 Vinuchandran A V 3 months ago in reply to Daisuke Maeda

TI__Expert 5200 points

Hi Daisuke-san,

Daisuke Maeda said:
I understand that RBL supports switching SBL images by using the eMMC’s internal registers and AM62x does NOT any hardware features prepared for the A/B swap-based OTA updates, is that correct?

A/B swap-based OTA updates with internal/on-chip flash will not be given on MPUs.

Daisuke Maeda said:
If so, is it already supported by RBL, or will it be supported in the next silicon revision for RBL?

According to devs, this is not yet validated and it's not supported in the current silicon, as it requires changes in RBL too.

Vinuchandran A V said:
Linux will be switched by SW (U-boot).

Only this is validated.

Regards,
Vinu

0 Daisuke Maeda 3 months ago in reply to Vinuchandran A V

Guru 20425 points

Hi Vinu-san,

Thank you for your reply.

Vinuchandran A V said:
A/B swap-based OTA updates with internal/on-chip flash will not be given on MPUs.

I understand that AM62x does not have any hardware features prepared for the A/B swap-based OTA updates.

Vinuchandran A V said:
According to devs, this is not yet validated and it's not supported in the current silicon, as it requires changes in RBL too.

We hope that a future silicon revision will support RBL switching SBL images by using the eMMC’s internal registers.

Best regards,

Daisuke

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AM625: Firmware update while keeping the system running