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Linux/PROCESSOR-SDK-AM335X: eMMC flashing questions

Tobias Meier
Prodigy 55 points
Part Number: PROCESSOR-SDK-AM335X
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: UNIFLASH

Tool/software: Linux

Hello,

i wanted to use the instructions found at  

to flash my BBB via ethernet and do some testing. Unfortunately, the page seems out of date and all the links to the flasher image and flasher.sh are broken. How can i achieve this using the latest SDK? 

Thanks

  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 30526 points
    Tobias,

    You are certainly correct that those pages need an update. I can provide the files linked to if that would help you. They should largely still work with a new SDK, with some slight tweaking.

    The overall process if largely the same. The default U-Boot image should boot over Ethernet on a BBB by default (but I haven't checked specifically). That will get you to a U-Boot prompt where you can load the kernel and DTSs over TFTP. This will get to you a kernel. The small FS referenced should still work with modern kernels and run the script, which should provide everything needed to flash the eMMC over Ethernet.

    The BBB has to be modded to boot over Ethernet, but that is pretty simple.

    Let me know if you'd like the files.
  • 0 in reply to RonB
    Prodigy 55 points

    Hello RonB,

    thanks for your quick reply on my issue!

    I would love to have access to all files linked in the page posted above :)

    I already have brought the board to the point where it automatically loads u-boot via tftp over ethernet. But the main goal is to automatically flash the board for production. 

    May i ask you if there are any limitations in flash file size in the approach described in the wiki? 

    I have a 750MB image here, including filesystem and i want to flash it over ethernet. Will it be a problem? My concern is that the flasher image has to load the 750MB over ethernet before it can be written to eMMC. Is that correct? I guess, if so, it would have to store it in memory which is 512MB and obviously to small to hold the data to be flashed. Am i right or am i missing something?

    thanks again for help!!

  • 0 in reply to Tobias Meier
    TI__Mastermind 30526 points
    Tobias,

    You have raised a great question about eMMC size and flashing. Theoretically, there is no limit. However, the way this process works is that RAM is used as a go between buffer. So, the process will be limited by the amount of RAM that can be used contiguously to store the temporary copy to eMMC. The target eMMC image will then need to be divided up into separate images that can be copied and written to the eMMC one at a time, within the size of the RAM.

    dd can do this effectively. tar may also be able to do this pretty easily. Build the image in the eMMC that you want. Test it thoroughly. Then use dd to break it up into chunks to be written one at a time. Obviously, the flasher script will need to be customized to comprehend all of this.

    I've sent you a PM request. Please accept it and I can share the files.
  • 0 in reply to RonB
    Prodigy 220 points

    Hi RonB,

    I would like to boot from eMMC, But still the link to flasher.sh script is broken,
    Could you please share the correct link to flasher.sh?

    Thanks