"Start address" error with DMA memory sections (IMXRT)

[jackking]

Hello,  I am getting an error for the Start Address when trying to generate a bootable image using the Provisioning Tool.

My project uses a section of OCRAM for a noncached DMA buffer location.  

If I remove this section, the Start Address is correct.

How can I use the Provisioning Tool with this DMA buffer section?

[addiyi]

Hi Jack,

It is possible for you to provide an image and a map? Not necessary of your application, but an example so we can reproduce and debug the issue.

Thanks,

Adrian

[jackking]

Sure,  here is a simple example based on hello_world sample.  

I added a DMA memory region and initialized a byte array in the DMA region.

I use an Embedded Artists EVK, so you would need to change the flash driver if you want to build it for the NXP EVK, but I included the Debug .axf file in the zip file.

[addiyi · Accepted solution]

Hi Jack,

I took a look at the example attached and discovered two possible issues:

1. First one is about XIP_BOOT_HEADER_ENABLE preprocessor defined symbol which is set to 1 and must be set to 0. This version of SPT is not handle XIP_BOOT_HEADER_ENABLE=1;

2. Did you intentional set NonCacheable section as .bss? When NonCacheable section is set as .bss, then there is no relocation of the .data_RAM4 section from flash, because the size of this section is 0. 

.data_RAM4 00000000 20240000 20240000 00030004 2**2

CONTENTS

Once NonCacheable section is placed in .data, relocation data is added and image can be loaded by SPT with no error.

.data_RAM4 00000c80 20240000 60005b64 00020000 2**5
CONTENTS, ALLOC, LOAD, DATA

Adrian

[jackking]

The XIP header was an error, as I created this project just to demonstrate the address error for you, not actually create a bootable image.

The NonCacheable setting is from the default settings in Hello World example.  All I did was change the memory region used. 

After changing it to .data, the address is correct for SPT.  Thanks!