Hi!
I'm trying to get started with software development on the RT-1170 platform, but have run into problems when trying to configure booting from external flash on my custom board. To divide the problem I went back to the EVKB-board and tried getting a small (and verified on EVKB) program working using a barebones project (i.e. without the default files). It seems that I can program the flash by simply adding the region under "Edit project settings > MCU settings > memory details", but when I cycle power to the board it locks up and I have to switch to a different boot mode (serial downloader) to recover the MCU with an EVKB-example project.
Could I please get some help with figuring out what is going wrong?
Is there a software development guide for the imxrt MCUs similar to the hardware development guide (MIMXRT1170HDUG)? I of course know about the refernce manual but a checklist would have been nice for someone who has not gone through the "metal to hello world"-process onb this platform before.
I have attached an export of the project.
Thank you in advance!
Hello @Henrik12345,
In order to support you better, could you please provide me the following information?
-Are you able to debug your project?
-Which SDK version are you currently using?
-Which flash device are you using? Is it the same one used on our EVK? If not, have you made any modifications to support your flash device?
-I understand that you are using MCUXpresso IDE. Is my understanding correct? If so, could you please let me know which version you are currently using?
Regarding your question about software development, there is no document equivalent to the Hardware Development Guide. However, you can take the SDK examples as a reference, as they provide demonstrations of the peripherals available on the RT1170.
You can download the SDK through the SDK Builder. Instructions on how to obtain it are available in Part 2 "Get Software" of the Getting Started with the i.MX RT1170 Evaluation Kit. Although this guide is designed for the RT1170-EVK, it can also be used as a reference for the RT1170-EVKB.
The SDK includes a project template that can be used as a starting point for your development. As shown the following image:
BR
Habib
Hello @Henrik12345,
Additional changes are required if you want to boot from a different external flash device. I would recommend reviewing the following app notes to better understand the boot process and the image structure required for external flash devices. Although these app notes are designed for the RT1050, you can use them by reference for the RT1170:
How to Enable Debugging for FLEXSPI NOR Flash
AN12108: How to Enable Boot from QSPI Flash – Application Note
The RT1170-EVKB only has incorporated the following memories:
As you may know each memory has specific commands to performing read, write or erase operations. For this reason, the LUT and drivers related to the RT1170-EVKB may not be compatible with your flash device. To properly evaluate your flash, you will need to perform the tests on your custom board.
I can suggest you use the Boot Memory Configuration feature in the MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning Tool v26.06. This feature allows you to test different flash configurations and generate the boot memory settings required by your device. Once you have completed the tests, please let me know the results.
As a first step, I recommend verifying the communication with your MCU by following the instructions in the "Connection" section of the tool documentation. Please note that Secure Provisioning Tool supports communication through USB and UART, as it works through blhost commands for device access. Are you able to connect your custom board through either USB or UART?
BR
Habib
Hi Habib!
To clarify some things, I work with two different boards:
- The custom board which I have designed myself
- MIMXRT1175AVM8A
- DDR QSPI NOR flash, specifically the FS-S (1.8 V) series from Infineon
- Boot pins are strapped to
- BOOT_MODE = Internal Boot
- FLEXSPI_INSTANCE = FLEXSPI1
- xSPI_FLASH_TYPE = Boot with default 0x03 Read Enabled
- FLASH_PROBE_TYPE = QuadSPI NOR
- ENCRYPT_XIP_EN = 0
- FLASH_AUTO_PROBE_EN = 0
- The official RT1170-EVKB kit
- Same boot pin settings
I was not able to write to the flash memory on my custom board immediately so I tried to bring up the EVKB kit from scratch instead, which has not worked out.
- Are you able to debug your project?
- I'm able to debug the program on immediately after writing to flash on the EVKB-board and the program works as intended, but when I cycle power the core locks itself which leads me to believe that the boot rom program gets stuck. Probably by a bad header/data in the flash memory. I know that I'm able to write to the flash memeory as I can extract the data from the flash memeory and see that it changes between a working demo from the SDK and my "from scratch" program (which was the one I attached before).
- Which SDK version are you currently using?
- Which flash device are you using? Is it the same one used on our EVK? If not, have you made any modifications to support your flash device?
- No, it is not the same. See hardware specifics in answer for question 1.
- The only thing I modified was that I added the flash region in "Memory Details" under "MCU Settings" in the Project settings. I used the same driver script as the EVKB kit (MIMXRT1170_SFDP_QSPI.cfx)
- I understand that you are using MCUXpresso IDE. Is my understanding correct? If so, could you please let me know which version you are currently using?
- Yes, I'm using MCUXpresso v25.6.136
- I'll try to use the demo project template and see if that solves the issue. How would I need to change this template to adapt it to my flash memory and MCU part number?
BR
Henrik