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Can Zynq-7000 upgrade flash programs with a burning folder?

Time: 2024-12-27 11:29:11View:

Yes, the Zynq-7000 series can be configured to upgrade or load new programs into its flash memory (often used for booting) via various mechanisms, including the concept of a "burning folder" for firmware upgrades, although it is not a built-in feature by that specific name.

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Here's a breakdown of how you can perform a flash upgrade on the Zynq-7000 series and what the "burning folder" concept might mean in this context:

1. Boot Process in Zynq-7000:

  • The Zynq-7000 uses a bootloader (such as U-Boot) to load the application or bitstream from external memory (e.g., QSPI flash, SD card, or even from an Ethernet server) into the PS (Processing System).
  • The flash typically stores the FPGA bitstream (PL configuration) and boot image (for the ARM processor in the PS).

2. Flash Memory Upgrade (Burning the Flash):

  • Flash memory updates can be done using different methods, depending on your specific needs:
    • U-Boot (or a similar bootloader) can be used to write a new bitstream or software image to the flash memory.
    • If the Zynq system is already running an OS (e.g., Linux), you can use file transfer tools to upload new images to the flash and update the bootloader.

3. "Burning Folder" Concept:

  • The concept of a "burning folder" generally refers to the process of preparing and organizing files that will be written to the flash memory (often the boot partition) for the update.
  • For example, a "burning folder" may contain the necessary files like:
    • boot.bin (the boot image, including the bitstream and the first-stage bootloader),
    • uImage or Image (Linux kernel),
    • root filesystem files.
  • This folder is then used by a tool (like dd, U-Boot commands, or specific flash programming tools) to flash the content to the target device.

4. Flash Burning Methods:

  • Using U-Boot:
    • You can use U-Boot commands to flash the contents of the burning folder to the QSPI flash memory.

    • For instance, U-Boot has commands like sf write that can write binary files (such as boot images or bitstreams) into flash memory. For example:

    bash

sf probe 0       # Probe QSPI flash device
sf write 0x1000000 0x0 0x20000  # Write from memory (0x1000000) to flash (starting from address 0x0)

    • U-Boot can be configured to access the flash memory and write new program images or bitstreams.
  • Using Linux:
    • If your system is running Linux, you can use tools like mtd-utils (flash_erase, nandwrite, etc.) to write to NAND or NOR flash.
    • In this case, the "burning folder" can be copied to the correct partition in the filesystem, and the flash memory can be updated from the terminal or through a script.
  • JTAG or Programmer:
    • If you're using JTAG programming tools, you can upload the new bitstream or bootloader image to the flash directly.
    • This method is commonly used for initial programming or recovery when other methods are unavailable.

5. Automating the Flash Update:

  • You can automate the upgrade process by creating a script or tool that accesses a burning folder, which contains the necessary files and flashes them into the device. This can be done from within the OS (if it's running) or as part of the bootloader process.
  • In Linux, you might use a combination of shell scripts to detect new firmware, copy it to the right place, and then trigger a system reboot to apply the new firmware.

6. Considerations:

  • Flash Size: Ensure that the flash memory has sufficient space for new images, as the Zynq-7000 flash memory can vary in size depending on the configuration.
  • Safety and Recovery: Make sure to have a recovery plan in case an update fails. For example, you might want to maintain a fallback bootloader or a secondary partition in case the update renders the device unbootable.

Summary:

The Zynq-7000 does not have a "burning folder" feature by default, but you can create and use a folder with the appropriate program files (boot images, bitstreams, kernel images, etc.) to update the flash memory. This is typically done through U-Boot, Linux, or dedicated flash programming tools, depending on your system setup. The burning folder concept is simply a collection of files that can be written to the flash during an update.