Ts-4200 bootrom update: Difference between revisions

From embeddedTS Manuals
(Added two notes regarding alternative update processes.)
m (Non-link text auto-updated for 2022 re-branding ( support@embeddedarm.com. →‎ support@embeddedTS.com. ftp://ftp.embeddedarm.com/ts-socket-macrocontrollers/ts-4200-linux/binaries/ts-images/ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd.bz2</source> →‎ ftp://ftp.embeddedTS.com/ts-socket-macrocontrollers/ts-4200-linux/binaries/ts-images/ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd.bz2</source>))
 
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<b>Updating to XNAND2</b>
It is possible to upgrade TS-4200 systems that are using XNAND1 to the new XNAND2 technology.  While we do recommend doing so, it is not critical to existing applications.  This upgrade can be applied to products prior to deployment or after they have been deployed to the field.   The update process described below will preserve all of the data in the file system.  In order to use XNAND2, the platform must have its bootrom updated to support XNAND2, the NAND device formatted to XNAND2, and the final image on NAND and/or SD must have a nandctl binary that supports XNAND2All of these are updated in the provided USB update disk image and process that is outlined below.  Additionally, the system being updated must have reliable power for the upgrade process or else data integrity could be compromised or the unit itself may be rendered unbootable if power is lost during mid-process.
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To use XNAND2, the TS-SOCKET Macrocontroller must have an updated BootROMThis update is only applicable to TS-4200 shipped before January 15, 2017.


This update process will update the TS-4200 BootROM and XNAND components to XNAND2.   
The instructions below presume that the device being upgraded is accessible and has an available USB Host port.  If this is not the case it is possible to convert the script used below to work from another available interface which provides remote access to the unit.  It is not possible to perform the update directly from the TS-4200 SD card due to the SD card being disabled in order to write the bootrom to SPI flash.  The USB media image provided contains all files and scripts necessary to develop your own custom update and deployment strategyFor more information please feel free to contact Technologic Systems Support, support@embeddedTS.com.




<b>Prerequisites</b>  
<b>Prerequisites</b>  
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----
(you will need these before starting):<br>
*A Linux workstation, either in a virtual machine or native install
 
*A Linux Desktop Computer.
*A TS-4200 on a baseboard with USB Host ports  
*A TS-4200 on a baseboard with USB Host ports  
**The TS-8200 and TS-8500 are both perfect.
**Non-TS baseboards should have at least one USB Type-A Host port.
**Non-TS baseboards should have at least one USB Type-A Host port.
*A serial terminal connected to the TS-4200 serial console output (optional:  For diagnostic purposes if there is an error).
*A serial terminal connected to the TS-4200 serial console output (optional, for diagnostic purposes if there is an error).
*Internet access.
*A USB data storage device (thumb drive or equivalent) of at least 32 MB capacity (note that this procedure will erase all data on the USB disk).
*A USB data storage device (thumb drive or equivalent) of at least 4GB capacity (note this procedure will erase this media).
 
**Note:  While Technologic Systems cannot support every update scenario, it is possible to update using other media, including remote update via Ethernet.  The files contained in the USB disk image make an excellent starting point for your development team's effort toward a custom update procedure.
**Note2:  If using this procedure as a launch point for a custom update process, for reasons of hardware conflicts, the BootROM cannot be updated while the SD media socket is in use.  It is strongly advised to avoid SD media entirely for purposes of implementing this process.  If there are any questions, please feel free to email or call the Technologic Systems Support Engineers (support@embeddedarm.com).


<b>Preparation</b>
<b>Preparation</b>
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:1. Download the TS-4200 XNAND2 USB Updater disk image from the Technologic Systems FTP site [ftp://ftp.embeddedarm.com/ts-socket-macrocontrollers/ts-4200-linux/binaries/ts-images/ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd.bz2 here].<br>
:1. Download the TS-4200 XNAND2 USB Update disk image from the Technologic Systems FTP site:
:2. De-archive the file on your Desktop Linux PC (or virtual machine) using bunzip2:
::<source lang=bash>wget ftp://ftp.embeddedTS.com/ts-socket-macrocontrollers/ts-4200-linux/binaries/ts-images/ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd.bz2</source>
:2. Extract the file on the Linux workstation using bunzip2:
::<source lang=bash>bunzip2 ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd.bz2</source>
::<source lang=bash>bunzip2 ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd.bz2</source>
:3. Connect your USB media to the Desktop computer.  If using a virtual machine, make sure the USB device is available to Linux before continuing.<br>
:3. Connect the USB media to the Linux workstation.  If using a virtual machine, make sure the USB device is available to Linux before continuing.<br>
:4. If automatically mounted, unmount all USB media partitions.  Note, in the example below '/dev/sdXy' should be replaced with the actual device node on your desktop computer - the X is the device letter, and y is the partition number.
:4. If automatically mounted, unmount all USB media partitions.  Note, in the example below '/dev/sdXy' should be replaced with the actual device node on your desktop computer - the X is the device letter, and y is the partition number.
::<source lang=bash>sudo umount /dev/sdXy</source>
::<source lang=bash>sudo umount /dev/sdXy</source>
:5. Install the decompressed image on the USB media device using dd.  Note, in this case observe there is no partition number:  The image should use the device node ONLY.  This process may take several minutes, and the ALL data on the USB device will be erased:
:5. Install the image on the USB media device using dd.  Note that the image is being written to the whole disk rather than a partition.  This process may take several minutes, and the data on the USB device will be erased:
::<source lang=bash>dd if=ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4M conv=fsync && sync && sleep 1 </source>
::<source lang=bash>dd if=ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4M conv=fsync && sync && sleep 1 </source>
:6. The updater USB device is now ready for use.  Disconnect it from the desktop computer.
:6. The updater USB device is now ready for use.  Disconnect it from the workstation.
 


<b>Installation:</b>
<b>Installation:</b>
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#Ensure your TS-4200 is properly seated on your chosen baseboard.
#Insert the USB update disk to the USB Host port of the TS-4200
#Connect the USB updater media to the USB Host port.
#Apply power to the unit.
#Apply power to the baseboard.
#Allow the USB update scripts to run.  Note:  This process will take a long time.  Allow at least 20 minutes.  During this time the green LED (if present on baseboard) will blink slowly through the process.
#Allow the USB update scripts to run.  Note:  This process will take a long time.  Allow at least 20 minutes.
#When the script is finished executing, the baseboard's green LED (if present) will turn on and remain solid.  If the process fails, the red LED will turn on and remain solid.  More information about the failure will be on the TS-4200 serial console output.
#When the script is finished executing, the baseboard's green LED (if present) will turn on and remain solid.  If the process fails, the red LED will turn on and remain solid.  More information about the failure will be on the TS-4200 serial console output.

Latest revision as of 14:38, 18 January 2022

It is possible to upgrade TS-4200 systems that are using XNAND1 to the new XNAND2 technology. While we do recommend doing so, it is not critical to existing applications.  This upgrade can be applied to products prior to deployment or after they have been deployed to the field.   The update process described below will preserve all of the data in the file system.  In order to use XNAND2, the platform must have its bootrom updated to support XNAND2, the NAND device formatted to XNAND2, and the final image on NAND and/or SD must have a nandctl binary that supports XNAND2. All of these are updated in the provided USB update disk image and process that is outlined below. Additionally, the system being updated must have reliable power for the upgrade process or else data integrity could be compromised or the unit itself may be rendered unbootable if power is lost during mid-process.

The instructions below presume that the device being upgraded is accessible and has an available USB Host port.  If this is not the case it is possible to convert the script used below to work from another available interface which provides remote access to the unit. It is not possible to perform the update directly from the TS-4200 SD card due to the SD card being disabled in order to write the bootrom to SPI flash. The USB media image provided contains all files and scripts necessary to develop your own custom update and deployment strategy. For more information please feel free to contact Technologic Systems Support, support@embeddedTS.com.


Prerequisites


  • A Linux workstation, either in a virtual machine or native install
  • A TS-4200 on a baseboard with USB Host ports
    • Non-TS baseboards should have at least one USB Type-A Host port.
  • A serial terminal connected to the TS-4200 serial console output (optional, for diagnostic purposes if there is an error).
  • A USB data storage device (thumb drive or equivalent) of at least 32 MB capacity (note that this procedure will erase all data on the USB disk).


Preparation


1. Download the TS-4200 XNAND2 USB Update disk image from the Technologic Systems FTP site:
wget ftp://ftp.embeddedTS.com/ts-socket-macrocontrollers/ts-4200-linux/binaries/ts-images/ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd.bz2
2. Extract the file on the Linux workstation using bunzip2:
bunzip2 ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd.bz2
3. Connect the USB media to the Linux workstation. If using a virtual machine, make sure the USB device is available to Linux before continuing.
4. If automatically mounted, unmount all USB media partitions. Note, in the example below '/dev/sdXy' should be replaced with the actual device node on your desktop computer - the X is the device letter, and y is the partition number.
sudo umount /dev/sdXy
5. Install the image on the USB media device using dd. Note that the image is being written to the whole disk rather than a partition. This process may take several minutes, and the data on the USB device will be erased:
dd if=ts4200-XNAND2-upgrade-usb-20161003.dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4M conv=fsync && sync && sleep 1
6. The updater USB device is now ready for use. Disconnect it from the workstation.


Installation:


  1. Insert the USB update disk to the USB Host port of the TS-4200
  2. Apply power to the unit.
  3. Allow the USB update scripts to run. Note: This process will take a long time. Allow at least 20 minutes. During this time the green LED (if present on baseboard) will blink slowly through the process.
  4. When the script is finished executing, the baseboard's green LED (if present) will turn on and remain solid. If the process fails, the red LED will turn on and remain solid. More information about the failure will be on the TS-4200 serial console output.