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RE: Request for comments - Redboot load command writing directlyto flash
- From: Gary Thomas <gary at mlbassoc dot com>
- To: Øyvind Harboe <oyvind dot harboe at zylin dot com>
- Cc: eCos patches <ecos-patches at sources dot redhat dot com>
- Date: 14 Jul 2003 06:27:34 -0600
- Subject: RE: Request for comments - Redboot load command writing directlyto flash
- Organization: MLB Associates
- References: <000901c349d9$d2a2ee90$73dea8c0@lair>
On Mon, 2003-07-14 at 01:30, Øyvind Harboe wrote:
> Forwarding some comments I've received:
>
> - By adding the "write directly to flash" capability to the "load"
> command,
> there is a lot of implied generality in the command line arguments that
> isn't there, e.g. there is no elf/srec support, deflate not
> supported(?),
> etc.
Yes, this is a weak spot in your proposal, along with some of the
technical issues I already pointed out.
>
> - The intended audience for this command are mainly
> technical personell in the field and possibly endusers. The current
> raft of options that must be given to "load" to write an
> application to flash is a source of confusion.
>
Proper documentation and/or some predefined macros would help this.
> - There is no check in Redboot that the data written to flash is
> in any way relevant to the device. This is a source of confusion.
>
> Possible solution:
>
> - Add a new command to Redboot, e.g. "upgrade". The intended audience
> is technical personell in the field and endusers.
>
> - The typical usage would be to download firmware file from the
> internet,
> enter the "upgrade" command and upload via seriall port and ymodem.
>
> - There should be some sort of check that the right sort of firmware
> is being uploaded, e.g. a globally unique identifier that must match
> in the firmware file and Redboot.
>
> - Although the "upgrade" command has no command line options, it should
> be configureable compiletime(e.g. to use TCP/IP).
>
> - Possibly a configurable desktop firmware upgrade application that
> guides the user through the process.
>
Indeed, such an "upgrade" utility function has always been considered
the way it would be done. However, since enough functionality was
already present in RedBoot, no project has yet funded the development
of such improved [and more robust] functionality.
If you'd like to propose such a command, it would be well received.
--
Gary Thomas <gary@mlbassoc.com>
MLB Associates