i.MX8MNano FlexSPI QSPI NAND Flash Boot

[tprueckl]

Does the i.MX8M Nano support booting from a serial NAND Flash via FlexSPI?

If Yes, how are bad blocks managed by the boot ROM?

[tprueckl]

We received the following Information from NXP via Email:

"I looked over available for me internal materials regarding the serial NAND and as I see  -  i.MX8Mn does not support serial NAND boot and there is no mentions about plans to provide it in the nearest future."

[igorpadykov]

please refer to below part of  i.MX 8M Nano Applications Processor Reference Manual

Best regards
igor

[tprueckl]

We already noticed that Serial NAND is mentioned in some parts of the IMX8Mn Reference Manual. It looks like the Table 6-11 "FlexSPI Configuration block" is copied from a device that supports NAND-Serial-Boot.

For example, the RT1050 supports Serial NAND boot and has the same definition of "FlexSPI Configuration block" (Table 9-14 in RT1050RM).

In addition, the RT1050RM defines detailed Information like:

- 9.6.2.2 FlexSPI NAND Flash Boot Flow and Boot Control Blocks (BCB)

- 9.6.2.3 Firmware Configuration Block

- 9.6.2.4 Discovered Bad Blocks Table (DBBT)

Why is this information missing in the IMX8Mn RM? Or does the IMX8Mn support only a special kind of Serial NAND devices?

[igorpadykov · Accepted solution]

I checked internally and you are right -

there is no boot Nand flash via FlexSPI interface. Only NOR flash
Sorry.

Best regards
igor

[igorpadykov]

Hi T

yes boot serial NAND Flash via FlexSPI is supported as described in

Table 6-11. FlexSPI Configuration block

i.MX 8M Nano Applications Processor Reference Manual

Bad blocks are not managed by the boot ROM, they should be managed by nand

in the same way as in emmc.

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