IMXRT1176 MCU - programming external memory with Segger Jlink using Open Flash Loader

mimlo — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:54:10 GMT

Hi,

Some time ago I managed to create flash loader for LPC-Link2 debug probe. It was created using Open Flash Loader Standard and it was used to download the code into the external memory (Infineon hyperflash S26HL512T) on a custom board with dual core IMXRT1176 MCU on it.

Recently I wanted to check out Segger's Jlink debugger, but I knew from the start, that it behaves differently than LPC-Link2 probe.
Generally I found out that it can handle 2 flash loaders:
1.) Open flash loader which has to be created according to some predefined rules in terms of memory sections in the flahs loader image.
2.) Segger Flash Loader which is supposedly much faster algorithm, but it requires from me to buy a dedicated tool for that, J-Link Device Support Kit.

Now, I know that I could probably use the existing flash loader I have, but it requires some modifications.
First of all, according to the Segger's wikipedia page, There MUST exist some particular memory sections within the flash loader image that is used.
The sections layout is shown on the picture below:

And here comes the problem, I know that embedded studio IDE manages its linker files in some unique way, meaning the use something like palcement.xml file that enforces some memory sections, like on the image below:

I have my own linker script as you can see below, but I have problems with creating the required section layout.
LLinkerscript:

/* * Copyright 2022 NXP * SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause * * Linker script for NXP LPC546xx SPIFI Flash Driver (Messaged) */ __stack_size = 128; /* stack size */ __cache_size = (16 * 1024); /* flash image buffer size */ MEMORY { SRAM (rwx) : ORIGIN = 0x20000000, LENGTH = (64 * 1024) - 32 } __top_SRAM = 0x20000000 + (64 * 1024) - 32; GROUP(libcr_semihost.a libcr_c.a libcr_eabihelpers.a) SEARCH_DIR(..) ENTRY(ResetISR) SECTIONS { /* Marks the start of the SFL. Must be the very first section */ PrgCode : ALIGN(4) { KEEP(*(PrgCode)) } > SRAM /* MAIN TEXT SECTION */ .text : ALIGN(4) { FILL(0xff) KEEP(*(.isr_vector)) /* Global Section Table */ __section_table_start = .; __data_section_table = .; LONG(LOADADDR(.data)); LONG( ADDR(.data)) ; LONG( SIZEOF(.data)); __data_section_table_end = .; __bss_section_table = .; LONG( ADDR(.bss)); LONG( SIZEOF(.bss)); __bss_section_table_end = .; __section_table_end = . ; /* End of Global Section Table */ *(.after_vectors*) *(.text*) *(.rodata .rodata.*) . = ALIGN(4); } > SRAM /* * for exception handling/unwind - some Newlib functions (in common * with C++ and STDC++) use this. */ .ARM.extab : ALIGN(4) { *(.ARM.extab* .gnu.linkonce.armextab.*) } > SRAM __exidx_start = .; .ARM.exidx : ALIGN(4) { *(.ARM.exidx* .gnu.linkonce.armexidx.*) } > SRAM __exidx_end = .; _etext = .; /* PrgData section */ PrgData : ALIGN(4) { KEEP(*(PrgData)) *(PrgData) } > SRAM /* MAIN DATA SECTION */ .uninit_RESERVED : ALIGN(4) { KEEP(*(.bss.$RESERVED*)) } > SRAM .data : ALIGN(4) { FILL(0xff) _data = .; *(vtable) *(.data*) . = ALIGN(4) ; _edata = .; } > SRAM /* MAIN BSS SECTION */ .bss : ALIGN(4) { _bss = .; *(.bss*) *(COMMON) . = ALIGN(4) ; _ebss = .; PROVIDE(end = .); } > SRAM /* DevDscr section */ DevDscr : ALIGN(4) { KEEP(*(DevDscr)) *(DevDscr) } > SRAM PROVIDE(_pvHeapStart = .); PROVIDE(_vStackTop = __top_SRAM - 0); }

When I analize the output file I get the following section header tables:

My question is as follows.
How can I make sure that the linker script used by MCUXpresso places the sections as defined above in the memory map of the output image?

Re: IMXRT1176 MCU - programming external memory with Segger Jlink using Open Flash Loader

nxf77486 — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 17:50:09 GMT

Hello,

Thank you for contacting NXP support.

I understand that you are working on your own linker script and you will like to make sure MCUXpresso is using this memory placements. In this case I will recommend the MCUXpresso User Guide in the chapter 20 you will find the memory and liker scripts information and configuration.

Please let me know if there is anything else where I can help you.

Re: IMXRT1176 MCU - programming external memory with Segger Jlink using Open Flash Loader

mimlo — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:17:31 GMT

Yes, I'm using my own which is based on the MCUXpresso's one. Unfortunately, MCUXpresso does not seem to support generation of OFL like linker script requirements.
I will take a look into the documentation, thanks.

i.MX RT Crossover MCUsのトピックIMXRT1176 MCU - programming external memory with Segger Jlink using Open Flash Loader

IMXRT1176 MCU - programming external memory with Segger Jlink using Open Flash Loader

Re: IMXRT1176 MCU - programming external memory with Segger Jlink using Open Flash Loader

Re: IMXRT1176 MCU - programming external memory with Segger Jlink using Open Flash Loader