TS-7600 SPI Flash Backup

The SPI flash on-board can be used as a boot device by storing a bootable copy of the i.MX28 bootstream (bootrom, kernel, and initramfs combined). The SPI flash can only be programmed from a booted SBC.

The nov052013 Image (and later) includes a command that can be run from the initramfs to flash the i.MX28 bootstream to the SPI flash using a bootstream image on the SD card located at /mnt/root/lib/modules/imx28_ivt_linux.spi This file is generated and installed during kernel compilation. When booted to the initramfs, enter the following command:

kernel_from_sd

The SPI flash can be manually programmed as well, see the following commands for a pre-nov052013 image, or to flash a SPI bootstream that is not located at /mnt/root/lib/modules/imx28_ivt_linux.spi

Download the latest SPI bootstream image on a booted SBC. Then, run the following commands:

wget https://files.embeddedTS.com/ts-arm-sbc/ts-7600-linux/binaries/ts-images/ts4600_7600-latest.spi
spiflashctl --lun 0 --erase --verify
spiflashctl --lun 0 --verify -W16384 -z512 -i ts4600_7600-latest.spi

Note that this SPI flash interface is implemented though DIO bitbanging, which can result in slower speeds. While the CPU has an SPI peripheral that this SPI flash is connected to, the peripheral is electrically connected to the second SD card and the driver for this takes control of the peripheral. Speeds in writing to the SPI flash can vary, however it averages around 100kb/s