Reply by pozz April 6, 20222022-04-06
Il 06/04/2022 14:07, Stef ha scritto:
> On 2022-04-06 pozz wrote in comp.arch.embedded:
[...]
>> When can you trust that internal SRAM content isn't changed when the MCU >> core is reset? > > The LPC546XX seems to have a quite complicated boot process that > validates boot images. It may use (and afterwards clear?) some ram for > that?
Good point, LPC546XX has a ROM bootloader that always starts at the beginning (and I think even after a software reset like NVIC_SystemReset). However I couldn't find any info about the SRAM it uses, but this could explain the behaviour I observed.
Reply by Stef April 6, 20222022-04-06
On 2022-04-06 pozz wrote in comp.arch.embedded:
> I often use with success a simple way to implement a bootloader: > > > #define START_MAGIC 0xAA55AA55 > uint32_t start_application __attribute__((section=".noinit")); > > void main(void) { > ... > if (start_application == START_MAGIC) { > start_application = ~START_MAGIC; > launch_application(); > } > /* Stay in bootloader and wait for new application from > * USART, SPI, USB, whatever. */ > ... > start_application = START_MAGIC; > ResetMCU(); /* It's NVIC_SystemReset() */ > } > > > I don't use launch_application() after download, because I think it > isn't good to start the application with some already configured > peripherals (USART, SPI, USB). I know I can deinitialize peripherals and > clocks before launch_application(), but the technique above it's much > more simple. > Of course, start_application variable shouldn't be touched after a > reset, so I put it in noinit section. > > Recently I tried to implement a bootloader on a LPC546XX from NXP and I > noticed it didn't work. After some investigation I found that > start_application variable is reset to zero immediately after ResetMCU(). > After other investigation I noticed that the first 4kB space of SRAM > doesn't change after a reset, while the next 4kB space is really put to > zero. > I changed the location of start_application variable to the first 4kB > space and the bootloader started working perfectly. > > This is the first time I see this behaviour, so my question. > > When can you trust that internal SRAM content isn't changed when the MCU > core is reset?
The LPC546XX seems to have a quite complicated boot process that validates boot images. It may use (and afterwards clear?) some ram for that? -- Stef Happiness isn't having what you want, it's wanting what you have.
Reply by pozz April 6, 20222022-04-06
I often use with success a simple way to implement a bootloader:


#define START_MAGIC		0xAA55AA55
uint32_t start_application __attribute__((section=".noinit"));

void main(void) {
   ...
   if (start_application == START_MAGIC) {
     start_application = ~START_MAGIC;
     launch_application();
   }
   /* Stay in bootloader and wait for new application from
    * USART, SPI, USB, whatever. */
   ...
   start_application = START_MAGIC;
   ResetMCU();   /* It's NVIC_SystemReset() */
}


I don't use launch_application() after download, because I think it 
isn't good to start the application with some already configured 
peripherals (USART, SPI, USB). I know I can deinitialize peripherals and 
clocks before launch_application(), but the technique above it's much 
more simple.
Of course, start_application variable shouldn't be touched after a 
reset, so I put it in noinit section.

Recently I tried to implement a bootloader on a LPC546XX from NXP and I 
noticed it didn't work. After some investigation I found that 
start_application variable is reset to zero immediately after ResetMCU().
After other investigation I noticed that the first 4kB space of SRAM 
doesn't change after a reset, while the next 4kB space is really put to 
zero.
I changed the location of start_application variable to the first 4kB 
space and the bootloader started working perfectly.

This is the first time I see this behaviour, so my question.

When can you trust that internal SRAM content isn't changed when the MCU 
core is reset?