IMXRT1020EVK - Partition flash into two segments to store data and code.

[mahesh3]

Hello,

I am working with the IMXRT1020EVK and I am interested in partitioning the available 8MB on-board flash into two different segments. On one segment I am interested in storing the code and on the other I want to store data. I am also interested in mounting the file system on the data segment.

Please let me know if there is any application note / example code which I can refer to achieve this.

Thanks,

Mahesh Murty

[mjbcswitzerland]

Hi

See https://www.utasker.com/iMX/RT1020.html
The uTasker project includes using QSPI flash for file system use as standard part of its operation. It can operate as linear file system (most efficient for general embedded firmware usage), parameter system (failure tolerant parameter storage) and for FAT. It also inherently supports OTA firmware upgraded based on these.

Regards

Mark
[uTasker project developer for Kinetis and i.MX RT]

[mahesh3]

Hi jeremyzhou‌,

I want the app to do XIP. I just want to partition the flash into two different portions and then load the file system on the data partition. Is it possible?

[jeremyzhou]

Hi Mahesh Murty,

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, it's possible if your flash chip support the Read While Write(RWW) feature which allows storing the data to flash, and running code simultaneously.

Have a great day,
TIC

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[mjbcswitzerland · Accepted solution]

Hi

The QSPI flash on the 1020 EVB can only be used for other storage purposes when not used by XiP. You can share it but you need to execute the drivers in RAM and stop any other XiP access during such operations.

If you are designing new HW that needs to be able to do both at the same time there are chips from Adesto that allow XiP and flashing operations at the same time.

A more general solution is however to just use the existing QSPI for XiP and add a cheap SPI flash on any of the SPI interfaces and use that for file system operations.

Regards

Mark

[uTasker project developer for Kinetis and i.MX RT]

.

[jeremyzhou]

Hi Mahesh Murty,

Thank you for your interest in NXP Semiconductor products and for the opportunity to serve you.
For this application, I'd like to suggest to select the non-XIP mode, after boot-up, the code will run in either RAM or SDRAM, then utilizing the file system to handle the data in the part of QSPI area.
In the SDK library, there's no similar demo for you to use directly, however, you can refer to the attachment to learn how to employ the file system on QSPI flash.

Have a great day,
TIC

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Note:
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- We are following threads for 7 weeks after the last post, later replies are ignored
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