Compiler/TMS320C6748: Binary file structure - linker sections NOLOAD - COPY

Bruno Scherrer

Intellectual 820 points

Part Number: TMS320C6748

Tool/software: TI C/C++ Compiler

Hi,

My code is growing more and more impacting boot time.

I'f like to know

1- if there is a way of NOT loading some sections that are not mandatory for startup (e.g. data arrays, bitmaps etc...)

2- if there is a way of loading theses sections later on when the processor is already running the first loaded sections?

Output format: COFF

I'm using AISgen for D800K008 for building the flash image.

The processore boots form the nor flash (Logicpd architecture)

Right now I'm trying to figure out if I can use linking section types like NOLOAD or COPY. for that purpose

Another, as far as I can see, coud be to load more than one .out file in a flash image (.bin file) with the AIS tool. Is this possible? If yes, how can I retreive their adress?

Regards,

Bruno

over 6 years ago

0 Yordan Kovachev over 6 years ago

TI__Guru**** 161600 points

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know that this is forwarded to the appropriate experts, but there may be delay in the answer due to holidays in the US.

Best Regards,
Yordan

0 Rahul Prabhu over 6 years ago

TI__Guru** 116400 points

Bruno,

Are you using TI RTOS based code or simply bare-metal/no OS code and need guidance on doing this using linker command file script. If you are looking for a simple linker command file script then please take a look at

processors.wiki.ti.com/.../Linker_Special_Section_Types

If the primary motivation is to speed up boot time, have you checked the AIS configuration is using SPI clock of >25 Mhz or just the default SPI clock? IS the device PLL setup to max correct clock speed. SPI is natively slow speed. IS there an option to pick a faster boot media based on data provided here:
processors.wiki.ti.com/.../OMAP-L138_Boot_Benchmarks

Note: This is the superset device C6748+ARM9 so the benchmarks apply to the device that you are using in the design.

ROM only supports loading one bin image from the base of the NOR flash. If you want to customize the boot, you will need to use a secondary bootloader and add the control to pick between the two images to load in the secondary user level bootloader. Examples implementation to use as reference:
processors.wiki.ti.com/.../OMAPL138_StarterWare_Booting_And_Flashing

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Rahul

Processors

Processors forum

Compiler/TMS320C6748: Binary file structure - linker sections NOLOAD - COPY