MX7 How to flash Linux to NAND without SD card?

[demoniacmilk]

Hello,

we have designed a custom hardware based on the i.mx7.

Both eMMC and NAND are available as mass storage.

eMMC is connected to the SD1 interface (and SPI2 Interface to get a total of 8 data lines).

NAND is connected to SD3+SAI1 and shall be used as the primary boot source.

JTAG is available.

How do I get my uboot/linux/device tree stored in NAND?
Most articles/posts I find recommend to use an SD card and uboot to copy the boot image to NAND. But theres no SD card here. I guess an emulator or is needed to transfer the file through JTAG? If this is correct: What kind of emulator may I use? Do I need anything besides the MFG Tools? Any other software? Any hardware?

Thanks,
Regards,
Lars

[demoniacmilk]

Hello Igor,

thank you.

What do we need on the hardware side? The presentation you linked uses USB.
If there is no USB available, what other options do we have?
Any chance to do all of this using JTAG? What kind of emulator/debugger may be used?

Regards,

Lars

[igorpadykov]

Hi Lars

I am afraid there is no easy way to program nand with jtag.

Best regards
igor

[demoniacmilk]

Hello Igor,

okay so this means if we want to be able to flash Linux to our NAND memory a USB connection is mandatory?
That sounds a bit weird. But if its the case I'll redesign the hardware.

Regards,
Lars

[igorpadykov]

Hi Lars

right, usb is necessary. NXP provides standard tool for programming

images - mfg tools which uses usb.

Best regards
igor

[demoniacmilk]

Okay thanks Igor!
Any specific USB port that must be used?
I have both USB ports in use already, so this will be pretty tricky :\

Regards,
Lars

[igorpadykov]

it is USB OTG1, used for Serial Downloader mode

and described in Boot Chapter of i.MX7D Reference Manual.

Best regards
igor

[demoniacmilk]

Hello Igor,

mind pointing me to a chapter in the reference manual?
Also, most documents handle software/tools. Are there any NXP documents on the hardware part of the USB OTG interface?
The SABRE uses a seperate power switch and some more stuff, that I'd like to cut if possible. (I dont need OTG functionality, just the simplest solution possible to get linux loaded).

[igorpadykov · Accepted solution]

Hi Lars

link to Reference Manual

https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/reference-manual/IMX7DRM.pdf 

sect.6.6 System Boot, p.1135

other documentation

i.MX 7Dual Arm Cortex-A7 Processor|NXP 

AN4589 describes usb module

https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/application-note/AN4589.pdf 

Best regards
igor

[igorpadykov]

Hi Lars

for such purpose one can use mfg tool (with script

mfgtool2-yocto-mx-19x19-arm2-nand.vbs) from

i.MX 6 / i.MX 7 Series Software and Development Tool|NXP 

AMF-ACC-T1652 

Best regards
igor
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: If this post answers your question, please click the Correct Answer button. Thank you!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------