IMX8ULP: How to update M33 firmware from A35?

[texnikk]

We are working o a project where M33 in iMX8ULP should boot from SPI flash and A35 from eMMC.

Is there a documented process for updating the M33 firmware from the A35? Can this be done via some form of remote communication, such as SPI or another inter-core communication protocol? If so, what are the recommended approaches for this?

Thanks

[Manuel_Salas]

Hello @texnikk 

For single boot option it appears to be possible since code is copied to either TCM or DDR once execution of the M33 firmware finished loading. With this in consideration it is possible to overwrite the flash.bin created by imx-mkimage using kernel commands (dd), but please note that a reboot will be needed for the changes to be seen. Take the following as a reference of how it should be done:

//mmc is the block number of the eMMC on the system

$ echo 0 > /sys/block/mmcblk${mmc}boot0/force_ro
$ dd if=/tmp/_flash.bin of=/dev/mmc${mmc}boot0 bs=1K seek=32
$ echo 1 > /sys/block/mmcblk${mmc}boot0/force_ro

In other i.MX processor it is easier to achieve because there is a remoteproc driver, but in i.MX8ULP this is not supported.

Best regards,

Salas.

[sert1m]

Thanks for your reply!

It was figured out if M33 firmware was corrupted A35 is not booting. It stops in U-Boot SPL and it is not possible to update M33 firmware anymore. Is there any recovery process?

[texnikk]

Hello @Manuel_Salas
Thank you for reply. Can you advice any options in case a dual boot option is being used?
Thanks