2009-05-02 09:21:48 Final application without U-boot?

zigma dsp (GERMANY)

Message: 73524

Hi all,

The U-boot, if I am correct is a second stage bootloader (which runs the boot mechanism with several options - above the bootrom). This loads the kernel first. In a stand alone application, is it possible that we can load the kernel + application without the U-boot. Or is the kernel load operation strictly bounded to U-boot operation?

Regards

JA.

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2009-05-03 23:27:00 Re: Final application without U-boot?

Yi Li (CHINA)

Message: 73537

Kernel need to be loaded from flash memory, network, or serial port, etc to SDRAM by some program, and I don't think kernel itself can do this. So we need a boot loader.

-Yi

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2009-05-04 10:12:25 Re: Final application without U-boot?

Robin Getz (UNITED STATES)

Message: 73567

It is possible to create a ldr image of the kernel directly - but it isn't practical - since the bootrom doesn't support compressed formats.

From a pratical standpoint - you wouldn't save much time, so most people use use it. See:

https://docs.blackfin.uclinux.org/doku.php?id=fast_boot_example

The time to get the bootloader going is around 20ms.

-Robin

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2009-05-04 13:26:04 Re: Final application without U-boot?