[En-Nut-Discussion] Robust Ethernet bootloader

[Philipp Burch]

Hi Gregor,

thanks for the update. I've used U-Boot only with Linux kernels so far,
good to know that it also supports bare-metal applications. I'll have a
look at it.

Regards,
Philipp

On 05.06.2018 12:59, Gregor Mackenzie wrote:
> It's possible to configure u-boot to automatically execute Nut O/S programs
> on power up. It can also handle tftp and other tcp/ip based transfers.
> U-boot will also allow boot over tftp, so you could make your boards load
> the application from your central server each time they start if you wish
> too.
> 
> I did a little experimentation with an Ethernut 5 board to this end a while
> ago using the stock Ethernut 5 u-boot image and replacing the Linux image
> with a Nut O/S executable.
> 
> There are various tftp servers around. I think Harald's preferred one at
> the time was tftp32.
> 
> On Tue, 5 Jun 2018, 12:00 , <en-nut-discussion-request at egnite.de> wrote:
> 
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>> Today's Topics:
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>>    1. Robust Ethernet bootloader (Philipp Burch)
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>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2018 15:06:05 +0200
>> From: Philipp Burch <phip at hb9etc.ch>
>> To: "Ethernut User Chat (English)" <en-nut-discussion at egnite.de>
>> Subject: [En-Nut-Discussion] Robust Ethernet bootloader
>> Message-ID: <a0bebd81-2efe-ab8d-802a-b4852fdd49c0 at hb9etc.ch>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> I'm in a project where we will soon have to deploy some boards running
>> Nut/OS into "the field". Those boards are all connected to a local
>> computer using Ethernet, but the computer itself is usually only
>> accessible over the net. In the first prototype, we simply put a J-Link
>> into the machine to be able to update the MCU firmware (or even debug
>> it), in case a problem arises, but this definitely is no productive
>> solution. We use Ethernet to have a robust and isolated connection after
>> all, which USB and JTAG is not.
>>
>> Our target platform is a TIVA TM4C1294NCPDT processor, which has an
>> integrated Ethernet MAC and PHY. My primary concern is robustness of the
>> bootloader, it should be rather hard to brick the device. I see that
>> there is some Ethernet-based bootloader functionality in the ROM of this
>> MCU, but as far as I can tell, this must be invoked from the application
>> code. So in case the update fails, there will most likely be no way to
>> re-flash the firmware without local intervention. What I would prefer is
>> a small self-contained bootloader that always runs when the firmware
>> starts (after power-on, watchdog-reset, hard-fault, etc.), validates the
>> firmware image and then starts the application. In case the validation
>> fails, it should sit there and wait for a new image to be downloaded.
>>
>> My questions:
>>
>> - What are your experiences and suggestions for Ethernet bootloaders?
>>
>> - Did I miss anything important?
>>
>> - Does Nut/OS offer some functionality for this?
>>
>> - How do I need to compile the target application, so that it can be
>> started from the bootloader? Especially considering the interrupt vector
>> table and such stuff.
>>
>> Thank you and best regards,
>> Philipp
>>
>>
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