[ECOS] E7T ROMRAM startup anyone? Alternatives?

[ECOS] E7T ROMRAM startup anyone? Alternatives?

[Ali Sina]

Hello all,

another E7T question -
has anyone succeeded at implementing a ROMRAM startup for the ARM E7T?

Or what other options are there for having an app. stored in ROM (see my 
previous posts) and have it run from RAM?

Can I somehow use Redboot "mcopy" in an automated way (i.e. upon startup) to 
copy it from ROM to RAM and start it from RAM? (assuming the app was 
compiled to run from RAM, of course)

Any other ideas of how to achieve ROMRAM type of behavior?

Thanks,

AS

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Re: [ECOS] E7T ROMRAM startup anyone? Alternatives?

[Gary Thomas]

On Wed, 2005-06-15 at 19:39 +0000, Ali Sina wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> another E7T question -
> has anyone succeeded at implementing a ROMRAM startup for the ARM E7T?
> 
> Or what other options are there for having an app. stored in ROM (see my 
> previous posts) and have it run from RAM?
> 
> Can I somehow use Redboot "mcopy" in an automated way (i.e. upon startup) to 
> copy it from ROM to RAM and start it from RAM? (assuming the app was 
> compiled to run from RAM, of course)
> 
> Any other ideas of how to achieve ROMRAM type of behavior?

ROMRAM startup mode is really only for *the* monitor program, e.g.
RedBoot.  It's purpose is to take a program which has to run from
FLASH/ROM from the start (e.g. the system initialization code) and
allow it to run from RAM after some suitable minimal setup.

RedBoot has FIS (FLASH Image System) which can store images.  These
can be programs or data.  You simply put your RAM program into a
FIS image then load and execute it at boot time.

Sadly, I think the E7T has such little FLASH &/or RAM that these
features are normally left turned off.

-- 
------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Thomas                 |  Consulting for the
MLB Associates              |    Embedded world
------------------------------------------------------------


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Re: [ECOS] E7T ROMRAM startup anyone? Alternatives?

[Ali Sina]

Hello Gary,

thanks a lot, you helped clear some of the confusion.

In case anyone else is interested in this:

There are some redboot images and .ecm files with flash support for ARM E7T 
at http://www.sweeneydesign.co.uk/downloads.htm

I have found an earlier post with some links that did not work, so you may 
want to try this one.
The image executes and the fis commands are available.

Also, Redboot's fconfig seems to offer the solution to "scripted booting". 
However I have not tried it out yet.

Thanks again,

AS


>From: Gary Thomas <gary@mlbassoc.com>
>To: Ali Sina <replay688@hotmail.com>
>CC: eCos Discussion <ecos-discuss@ecos.sourceware.org>
>Subject: Re: [ECOS] E7T ROMRAM startup anyone? Alternatives?
>Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 13:48:35 -0600
>
>On Wed, 2005-06-15 at 19:39 +0000, Ali Sina wrote:
> > Hello all,
> >
> > another E7T question -
> > has anyone succeeded at implementing a ROMRAM startup for the ARM E7T?
> >
> > Or what other options are there for having an app. stored in ROM (see my
> > previous posts) and have it run from RAM?
> >
> > Can I somehow use Redboot "mcopy" in an automated way (i.e. upon 
>startup) to
> > copy it from ROM to RAM and start it from RAM? (assuming the app was
> > compiled to run from RAM, of course)
> >
> > Any other ideas of how to achieve ROMRAM type of behavior?
>
>ROMRAM startup mode is really only for *the* monitor program, e.g.
>RedBoot.  It's purpose is to take a program which has to run from
>FLASH/ROM from the start (e.g. the system initialization code) and
>allow it to run from RAM after some suitable minimal setup.
>
>RedBoot has FIS (FLASH Image System) which can store images.  These
>can be programs or data.  You simply put your RAM program into a
>FIS image then load and execute it at boot time.
>
>Sadly, I think the E7T has such little FLASH &/or RAM that these
>features are normally left turned off.
>
>--
>------------------------------------------------------------
>Gary Thomas                 |  Consulting for the
>MLB Associates              |    Embedded world
>------------------------------------------------------------
>

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Re: [ECOS] E7T ROMRAM startup anyone? Alternatives?

[Ali Sina]

Hello Gary,

thanks a lot, you helped clear some of the confusion.

In case anyone else is interested in this:

There are some redboot images and .ecm files with flash support for ARM E7T 
at http://www.sweeneydesign.co.uk/downloads.htm

I have found an earlier post with some links that did not work, so you may 
want to try this one.
The image executes and the fis commands are available.

Also, Redboot's fconfig seems to offer the solution to "scripted booting". 
However I have not tried it out yet.

Thanks again,

AS


>From: Gary Thomas <gary@mlbassoc.com>
>To: Ali Sina <replay688@hotmail.com>
>CC: eCos Discussion <ecos-discuss@ecos.sourceware.org>
>Subject: Re: [ECOS] E7T ROMRAM startup anyone? Alternatives?
>Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 13:48:35 -0600
>
>On Wed, 2005-06-15 at 19:39 +0000, Ali Sina wrote:
> > Hello all,
> >
> > another E7T question -
> > has anyone succeeded at implementing a ROMRAM startup for the ARM E7T?
> >
> > Or what other options are there for having an app. stored in ROM (see my
> > previous posts) and have it run from RAM?
> >
> > Can I somehow use Redboot "mcopy" in an automated way (i.e. upon 
>startup) to
> > copy it from ROM to RAM and start it from RAM? (assuming the app was
> > compiled to run from RAM, of course)
> >
> > Any other ideas of how to achieve ROMRAM type of behavior?
>
>ROMRAM startup mode is really only for *the* monitor program, e.g.
>RedBoot.  It's purpose is to take a program which has to run from
>FLASH/ROM from the start (e.g. the system initialization code) and
>allow it to run from RAM after some suitable minimal setup.
>
>RedBoot has FIS (FLASH Image System) which can store images.  These
>can be programs or data.  You simply put your RAM program into a
>FIS image then load and execute it at boot time.
>
>Sadly, I think the E7T has such little FLASH &/or RAM that these
>features are normally left turned off.
>
>--
>------------------------------------------------------------
>Gary Thomas                 |  Consulting for the
>MLB Associates              |    Embedded world
>------------------------------------------------------------
>

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Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

[Ali Sina]

Hi,

actually now I noticed that after leaving the application execute (with no 
interaction whatsoever) the board resets all by itself after a few seconds 
and I get the Redboot prompt again.

What could be the cause??? Please help

AS






Hello,

is there any difference between loading an application to RAM and running it 
there via Redboot as opposed to via GDB?

On the E7T with a ROM Redboot I observe the following:
- loading the app to RAM via GDB and starting it (continue) works fine. 
Application has not crashed in months.
- loading the same code to RAM via Redboot (load -m xmodem) and starting it 
(go) will start the application but the systems hangs after a few seconds.

Anyone a clue as to why this could be happening?

Thanks,

AS

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RE: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

[Paul D. DeRocco]

> From: Ali Sina
> 
> actually now I noticed that after leaving the application execute 
> (with no 
> interaction whatsoever) the board resets all by itself after a 
> few seconds 
> and I get the Redboot prompt again.
> 
> What could be the cause??? Please help

Smells like the watchdog timer.

Either that, or you have a conventional bug in your software.

-- 

Ciao,               Paul D. DeRocco
Paul                mailto:pderocco@ix.netcom.com


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Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

[Ali Sina]

Hello,

is there any difference between loading an application to RAM and running it 
there via Redboot as opposed to via GDB?

On the E7T with a ROM Redboot I observe the following:
- loading the app to RAM via GDB and starting it (continue) works fine. 
Application has not crashed in months.
- loading the same code to RAM via Redboot (load -m xmodem) and starting it 
(go) will start the application but the systems hangs after a few seconds.

Anyone a clue as to why this could be happening?

Thanks,

AS


>From: Gary Thomas <gary@mlbassoc.com>
>To: Ali Sina <replay688@hotmail.com>
>CC: eCos Discussion <ecos-discuss@ecos.sourceware.org>
>Subject: Re: [ECOS] E7T ROMRAM startup anyone? Alternatives?
>Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 13:48:35 -0600
>
>On Wed, 2005-06-15 at 19:39 +0000, Ali Sina wrote:
> > Hello all,
> >
> > another E7T question -
> > has anyone succeeded at implementing a ROMRAM startup for the ARM E7T?
> >
> > Or what other options are there for having an app. stored in ROM (see my
> > previous posts) and have it run from RAM?
> >
> > Can I somehow use Redboot "mcopy" in an automated way (i.e. upon 
>startup) to
> > copy it from ROM to RAM and start it from RAM? (assuming the app was
> > compiled to run from RAM, of course)
> >
> > Any other ideas of how to achieve ROMRAM type of behavior?
>
>ROMRAM startup mode is really only for *the* monitor program, e.g.
>RedBoot.  It's purpose is to take a program which has to run from
>FLASH/ROM from the start (e.g. the system initialization code) and
>allow it to run from RAM after some suitable minimal setup.
>
>RedBoot has FIS (FLASH Image System) which can store images.  These
>can be programs or data.  You simply put your RAM program into a
>FIS image then load and execute it at boot time.
>
>Sadly, I think the E7T has such little FLASH &/or RAM that these
>features are normally left turned off.
>
>--
>------------------------------------------------------------
>Gary Thomas                 |  Consulting for the
>MLB Associates              |    Embedded world
>------------------------------------------------------------
>

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Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

[Mark Salter]

On Thu, 2005-06-16 at 20:45 +0000, Ali Sina wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> is there any difference between loading an application to RAM and running it 
> there via Redboot as opposed to via GDB?
> 
> On the E7T with a ROM Redboot I observe the following:
> - loading the app to RAM via GDB and starting it (continue) works fine. 
> Application has not crashed in months.
> - loading the same code to RAM via Redboot (load -m xmodem) and starting it 
> (go) will start the application but the systems hangs after a few seconds.
> 
> Anyone a clue as to why this could be happening?
> 

The go command will turn off caches by default. Loading and running with
gdb won't turn off caches.

--Mark



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Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

[Ali Sina]

Hello,

ok, here is what I did:

-------
RedBoot> cache ON
RedBoot> cache
Data cache: On, Instruction cache: On
RedBoot> load -b 0x00010000 -m xmodem
CCC\x06Entry point: 0x00010040, address range: 0x00010000-0x00037884
xyzModem - CRC mode, 1838(SOH)/0(STX)/0(CAN) packets, 3 retries
RedBoot> go -c 0x00010000
---------

The -c option is to ensure that the caches are on.

I get the same problem, this does not fix it either.
This is crazy

Anything else that could be different from running via GDB? Here is what 
works there:
--
arm-elf-gdb -nw filename.elf -x .arm-elf-gdbinit
--
..with the latter containing:

set remotebaud 38400
target remote /dev/ttyS0
load
continue



Another suggestion was to look after the watchdog timer, but there is
none in the standard E7T which I am using.


AS


>From: Mark Salter <msalter@redhat.com>
>To: Ali Sina <replay688@hotmail.com>
>CC: gary@mlbassoc.com, ecos-discuss@ecos.sourceware.org
>Subject: Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)
>Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 15:34:07 -0400
>
>On Thu, 2005-06-16 at 20:45 +0000, Ali Sina wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > is there any difference between loading an application to RAM and 
>running it
> > there via Redboot as opposed to via GDB?
> >
> > On the E7T with a ROM Redboot I observe the following:
> > - loading the app to RAM via GDB and starting it (continue) works fine.
> > Application has not crashed in months.
> > - loading the same code to RAM via Redboot (load -m xmodem) and starting 
>it
> > (go) will start the application but the systems hangs after a few 
>seconds.
> >
> > Anyone a clue as to why this could be happening?
> >
>
>The go command will turn off caches by default. Loading and running with
>gdb won't turn off caches.
>
>--Mark
>
>

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Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

[Ali Sina]

Hi,

ok, here something else I tried.
This is now getting slightly superstitious but I guess I will do a lot to 
get this to work..

- arm-elf-gdb -nw filename.elf
- load

At the serial port entered "++$k#6b" as suggested by A.Massa (page 202) to 
regain Redboot control.

"go -c 0x00010000" will produce the same effect: application starts, runs 
for 20 sec. or so, and then suddenly stops all by itself, whereas starting 
it with continue is fine.
Any other difference between go and continue?

Or am I missing something really that fundamental? - I really wish..


AS



----------------------------------

    * From: "Ali Sina" <replay688 at hotmail dot com>
    * To: msalter at redhat dot com
    * Cc: gary at mlbassoc dot com, ecos-discuss at ecos dot sourceware dot 
org
    * Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 06:46:31 +0000
    * Subject: Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)
    * Bcc:

Hello,

ok, here is what I did:

-------
RedBoot> cache ON
RedBoot> cache
Data cache: On, Instruction cache: On
RedBoot> load -b 0x00010000 -m xmodem
CCC\x06Entry point: 0x00010040, address range: 0x00010000-0x00037884
xyzModem - CRC mode, 1838(SOH)/0(STX)/0(CAN) packets, 3 retries
RedBoot> go -c 0x00010000
---------


The -c option is to ensure that the caches are on.

I get the same problem, this does not fix it either.
This is crazy


Anything else that could be different from running via GDB? Here is what 
works there:
--
arm-elf-gdb -nw filename.elf -x .arm-elf-gdbinit
--
..with the latter containing:

set remotebaud 38400
target remote /dev/ttyS0
load
continue




Another suggestion was to look after the watchdog timer, but there is
none in the standard E7T which I am using.



AS


>From: Mark Salter <msalter@redhat.com>
>To: Ali Sina <replay688@hotmail.com>
>CC: gary@mlbassoc.com, ecos-discuss@ecos.sourceware.org
>Subject: Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)
>Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 15:34:07 -0400
>
>On Thu, 2005-06-16 at 20:45 +0000, Ali Sina wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > is there any difference between loading an application to RAM and 
>running it
> > there via Redboot as opposed to via GDB?
> >
> > On the E7T with a ROM Redboot I observe the following:
> > - loading the app to RAM via GDB and starting it (continue) works fine.
> > Application has not crashed in months.
> > - loading the same code to RAM via Redboot (load -m xmodem) and starting 
>it
> > (go) will start the application but the systems hangs after a few 
>seconds.
> >
> > Anyone a clue as to why this could be happening?
> >
>
>The go command will turn off caches by default. Loading and running with
>gdb won't turn off caches.
>
>--Mark
>
>

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Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

[Ali Sina]

Hello,

the culprit is found, the problem solved:

My code contained some "char" declarations which gcc apparently did not like 
at all.
Changing the "char" to the corresponding "unsigned char" declarations fixed 
the problem. The code is now loading and running just as it is when via GDB.

Thanks,

Ali


>From: Mark Salter <msalter@redhat.com>
>To: Ali Sina <replay688@hotmail.com>
>CC: gary@mlbassoc.com, ecos-discuss@ecos.sourceware.org
>Subject: Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)
>Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 15:34:07 -0400
>
>On Thu, 2005-06-16 at 20:45 +0000, Ali Sina wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > is there any difference between loading an application to RAM and 
>running it
> > there via Redboot as opposed to via GDB?
> >
> > On the E7T with a ROM Redboot I observe the following:
> > - loading the app to RAM via GDB and starting it (continue) works fine.
> > Application has not crashed in months.
> > - loading the same code to RAM via Redboot (load -m xmodem) and starting 
>it
> > (go) will start the application but the systems hangs after a few 
>seconds.
> >
> > Anyone a clue as to why this could be happening?
> >
>
>The go command will turn off caches by default. Loading and running with
>gdb won't turn off caches.
>
>--Mark
>
>

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Re: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

[Ali Sina]

Hello Paul,

Thanks a lot for the reply. I will look into it, as it is one place to 
start.

In the meantime, do you(or anyone) have a possible explaination as to why 
this behavior only occurs if I use the Redboot "load" command to get my code 
to the board, and not when I use GDB ? I have been reading up and could not 
find anything suspicious.

I have been using GDB all along during development cycle and never had this. 
Application has been running correctly for long periods of time (48+ hrs) 
and then turned off. So if it is a bug in there, I wouldn't know where to 
look.

Thanks again,

Ali S.



    * From: "Paul D. DeRocco" <pderocco at ix dot netcom dot com>
    * To: "eCos Discuss" <ecos-discuss at ecos dot sourceware dot org>
    * Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2005 10:38:12 -0700
    * Subject: RE: [ECOS] Redboot vs GDB application download (ARM E7T)

>From: Ali Sina
>
>actually now I noticed that after leaving the application execute (with no 
>interaction whatsoever) the board resets all by itself after a few seconds 
>and I get the Redboot prompt again.
>
>What could be the cause??? Please help

Smells like the watchdog timer.

Either that, or you have a conventional bug in your software.

--

Ciao,               Paul D. DeRocco
Paul                mailto:pderocco@ix.netcom.com


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