How do I use uboot to run stand alone applications that I compile with ARM DS-5 on the i.MX6 ?

[kyleengstrom]

I made a couple simple programs using the ARM DS-5 compiler and now I would like to run them on the i.MX6 through UBOOT.

Uboot version:

U-Boot 2013.10-rc1-00097-g75ad664 (Sep 17 2013 - 14:40:03)

arm-linux-gcc (Freescale MAD -- Linaro 2011.07 -- Built at 2011/08/10 09:20) 4.6.2 20110630 (prerelease)

GNU ld (Freescale MAD -- Linaro 2011.07 -- Built at 2011/08/10 09:20) 2.21.52.20110702

Step 1: Compile .axf file with ARM DS-5 Compiler

Step 2: Use makeelf.exe to make a .bin file from the .axf file

Step 3: Save .bin file onto an USB drive

Step 4: Execute the following commands into UBOOT

usb dev 0:1

fatload usb 0:1 0x900000 serial.bin

go 0x900000

When I run my binary file I always get a software interrupt error:

U-Boot > go 0x900000

go 0x900000

## Starting application at 0x00900000 ...

software interrupt

pc : [<00902f78>]   lr : [<00902f78>]

sp : 0093efe0  ip : 0093e010 fp : 00903f24

r10: 00903f24  r9 : 00000002 r8 : 2f357f38

r7 : 00903f13  r6 : 00000000 r5 : 00000000  r4 : 00000000

r3 : 00000000  r2 : 0093e000 r1 : 00000000  r0 : 00000010

Flags: nzCv  IRQs off  FIQs off  Mode SVC_32

Resetting CPU ...

resetting ...

U-Boot 2013.10-rc1-00097-g75ad664 (Sep 17 2013 - 14:40:03)

CPU:   Freescale i.MX6SOLO rev1.1 at 792 MHz

Reset cause: WDOG

Board: Nitrogen6X

Is the 'go' command only for running specialized uboot applications or can I run binary files compiled from the ARM DS-5 Compiler?

Thank you so much!

(Austin is an amazing place!)

[LeonardoSandova]

Hi Kyle, I fully agree with your last statement about Austin :smileyhappy:

I have not used the 'go' command instead I have used 'bootelf'. Can you try it with bootelf?

Here is a related document ysing the iMX6 Platform SDK

iRAM (OCRAM) i.MX6 SDK Application

Leo

[kyleengstrom]

Thanks for your fast reply Leo, I haven't tried that as my UBoot version does not have the bootelf command in it and I was trying to avoid compiling my own UBoot. But I have a good set of instructions on how to do that and how to add the bootelf command to my UBoot. Hopefully this helps my problem.

[LeonardoSandova]

Actually I ran into trouble (building issue) adding the macro (+#define CONFIG_CMD_ELF) on LTIB u-boot, but then I moved to latest code (remotes/origin/imx_v2013.04_3.5.7_1.0.0_alpha, I think) and worked fine.

[kyleengstrom]

Well, after spending way to long figuring out how to compile U-Boot with the boot elf command I finally got it working and here are my results. Nothing really changed...

In more detail...

U-Boot > fatload usb 0:1 0x12000000 serial.axf

fatload usb 0:1 0x12000000 serial.axf

reading serial.axf

88256 bytes read in 50 ms (1.7 MiB/s)

U-Boot > bootelf

bootelf

## Starting application at 0x00900000 ...

software interrupt

pc : [<00902f78>]   lr : [<00902f78>]

sp : 0093efe0  ip : 0093e010 fp : 00903f24

r10: 00903f24  r9 : 2f359f38 r8 : 2f35b9a0

r7 : 00903f13  r6 : 00000000 r5 : 00000000  r4 : 00000000

r3 : 00000000  r2 : 0093e000 r1 : 00000000  r0 : 00000010

Flags: nzCv  IRQs off  FIQs off  Mode SVC_32

Resetting CPU ...

resetting ...

So I loaded serial.axf into memory at hex 12 million and then proceeded to use the boot elf command. I got the exact same problem, a software interrupt. Is it safe to assume that the problem is not with U-Boot but in the .axf code itself?

I miss the Alamo Drafthouse!!!

[LeonardoSandova]

Really dummy question: Does your app have printf statements? what does your app suppose to do/print?

[kyleengstrom]

My app opens up a comm port and transmits "Hello World." on a loop. It does not have printf statements.