Can AM335x boot from SPI FLASH or NOR FLASH?

Frisky Li

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM3359

I can find that AM335xEVM can boot u-boot SPL from NAND, SD, UART in http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/AM335x-PSP_04.06.00.06_Features_and_Performance_Guide.

But my product must use NOR FLASH storage for u-boot SPL and normal u-boot. I'm considering SPI NOR FLASH or NOR FLASH. Can AM335xEVM boot from SPI FLASH or NOR FLASH with current SDK/PSP? If not, is there any plan for supporting this feature? Thanks!

over 13 years ago

0 Qmax over 13 years ago

Expert 2280 points

Hi, I'm interested in booting form SPI Flash too.

One month ago I've asked about when SPI Flash boot support will be added to SPL. This is the thread. But I did not receive any answer, yet.

Hope you will be more lucky...

Max

0 Frisky Li over 13 years ago in reply to Qmax

Prodigy 120 points

Thank you Max. So the only way is waiting for TI's response?

0 Selami CANDAR over 13 years ago in reply to Frisky Li

Prodigy 10 points

We need solution to boot SPI flash too. Our system will have only SPI flash for starting u-boot. OS will load with TFTP. (we don't need boot OS from serial flash)

Have you got u-boot binary for SPI serial flash?

0 Qmax over 13 years ago in reply to Selami CANDAR

Expert 2280 points

Selami,

In the other thread (http://e2e.ti.com/support/dsp/sitara_arm174_microprocessors/f/791/t/168471.aspx), Tom Rini from TI answers that adding SPI flash boot to U-Boot (SPL) is not currently scheduled.

This is quite funny (let's say...), because I think that a lot of projects will not use memory cards nor NAND flashes. And I suppose it would not require a lot of effort for TI to add it (consider that Starterware has already a bootloader working on SPI Flash). But that is...

0 Frank Walzer over 13 years ago in reply to Qmax

TI__Mastermind 44306 points

Considering that u-boot is open source and Starterware SPI FLASH example is released I assume anyone can do this. Usually it is a matter of priorities and resources.

Regards.

0 David Frith over 13 years ago in reply to Frank Walzer

Prodigy 90 points

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the AM335XEVM can do the first stage boot from NOR.

The reason for this is that the internal ROM only configures the first 12 address lines (see the reference manual section 26.1.7.2.2) requiring the board to hold the remaining address lines low. I cannot see that this has been done in the EVM schematics.

Has anyone done a NOR boot loader that works on the EVM?

0 Qmax over 13 years ago in reply to David Frith

Expert 2280 points

Frisky, Selami, if still interested, SPI Flash support has been added in git branches AM335XPSP_04.06.00.08 and amsdk-05.04.01.00.

David, sorry but I know nothing about NOR boot mode, I cannot give any help.

Regards

Max

0 Frisky Li over 13 years ago in reply to Qmax

Prodigy 120 points

Thank you Max, this is very helpful!

0 Mohsen Taheri over 13 years ago in reply to Frank Walzer

Intellectual 510 points

Dear Frank

I searched a lot in the forums but I could not find related one to my problem, so I would like to state my problem for you.

I have a custom board based on AM3359. it has DDR2 memory and SPI flash for booting. all part of the boards work correctly but I can not boot from SPI flash.

I write my application and bootloader binary image into Flash and read it back correctly. My problem is that ROM code does not work to copy boot loader into internal RAM. and there is not any solution to debug it, is there?

Can I use SPI Flash from NUMONYX Co, or I should use an special one?

I appreciate you for any guidance.

Regards,

Amin

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Can AM335x boot from SPI FLASH or NOR FLASH?