Stack overflow protection: How to allocate the stack at the start of the RAM?

Mathieu Houde

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: MSP430F5309

I'm developping on MSP430, which as a stack growing downward.

To prevent the stack to overflow on data and code running in RAM (in case of occurrence), I would like to allocate the stack in the start of the RAM.

How should I edit my cmd linker file, so the .stack is located at the start of the RAM?

In my cmd file, I have a MEMORY block named RAM and here is a copy of the SECTIONS part allocating code to RAM:

SECTIONS

{

.bss : {} > RAM /* GLOBAL & STATIC VARS */
.data : {} > RAM /* GLOBAL & STATIC VARS */
.sysmem : {} > RAM /* DYNAMIC MEMORY ALLOCATION AREA */
.stack : {} > RAM (HIGH) /* SOFTWARE SYSTEM STACK */

[...]

Are the sections allocated in this order?

I tried to set .stack first, but it didn't change any in the "Memory Allocation view" window.

Thank you for help,

over 9 years ago

0 Archaeologist over 9 years ago

TI__Guru* 84285 points

You can place .stack at an absolute address. If RAM is:
RAM: origin = 0xabc length = ...
You can specify:
.stack > 0xabc

0 Mathieu Houde over 9 years ago in reply to Archaeologist

Prodigy 180 points

thanks

0 George Mock over 9 years ago in reply to Mathieu Houde

TI__Guru**** 253580 points

Please see this wiki article for a similar solution that is a bit more general and easier to maintain.

Thanks and regards,

-George

0 Mathieu Houde over 9 years ago in reply to George Mock

Prodigy 180 points

So here is the solution (tested OK), built using George's and Archaeologist's comments.

In linker cmd file :

//set stack size:
-stack 384 /* SOFTWARE STACK SIZE */

//define RAM start addr per device datasheet
#define RAM_START_ADDR 0x1C00

//Set memory block
MEMORY
{
[...]
RAM : origin = RAM_START_ADDR, length = 0x17FF //msp430f5309 RAM mem : 0x33FF - 0x1C00
[...]
}

//Allocate stack at the start of the RAM:
SECTIONS
{
.stack : {} > RAM_START_ADDR /* SOFTWARE SYSTEM STACK */ // Force stack to be at the start of the RAM
.bss : {} > RAM /* GLOBAL & STATIC VARS */
.data : {} > RAM /* GLOBAL & STATIC VARS */
.sysmem : {} > RAM /* DYNAMIC MEMORY ALLOCATION AREA */

.text : {} > FLASH /* CODE */

[...]
}

Regards,
M.

Code Composer Studio™︎

Code Composer Studio forum

Stack overflow protection: How to allocate the stack at the start of the RAM?