U-BOOT Clarifications & Linux version 2.4.27-vrs1-ssv1

[wildpossum]

Hi All. I am somewhat new to this forum.

I have problem(s) in trying to setup development desk(s) with DNP9200's & DHCP, tftp, boop and nfs connectivity.

U-Boot 1.1.2 (Dec 14 2005 - 13:12:14)
U-Boot code: 21F00000 -> 21F1666C BSS: -> 21F1AC44
RAM Configuration:
Bank #0: 20000000 32 MB
Flash: 16 MB
In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
Hit any key to stop autoboot: 0


Q1> I do "setenv serverip=192.168.3.9", "saveenv" and the serial console reports that changes where done, but as you can see not all environment variables are reported, no even the one just modified. Why is this so? I would have expected "printenv" to display all environmental variables to the user.

Example; is I re-do a "printenv" command and I don't see anything about serverip describtion at all. I have tied this on three DNP9200 boards (all same build/fireware releases) but unfortunately the same effect.

Now "printenv" doesn't reply with any settings for serverip on any boards.

U-Boot> setenv serverip=192.168.3.9
U-Boot> saveenv
Saving Environment to Flash...
Un-Protected 1 sectors
Erasing Flash...
. done
Erased 1 sectors
Writing to Flash...\done
Protected 1 sectors

Environment size: 209/4092 bytes

U-Boot> printenv
bootdelay=3
baudrate=115200
netmask=255.255.255.0
bootfile="img-dnp9200"
bootargs=console=ttyS0,115200 root=/dev/ram
bootcmd=bootm 0x10040000
ethaddr=02:80:ad:20:b4:ed
stdin=serial
stdout=serial
stderr=serial

U-Boot> nfs
***ERROR: 'serverip' is not set.

I don't know if the following flash info helps, but here it is anyhow:

U-Boot> imls
Image at 10040000:
Image Name: LINUXIMAGE-DNP9200-SSV20051209
Image Type: ARM Linux Multi-File Image (uncompressed)
Data Size: 2603468 Bytes = 2.5 MB
Load Address: 20008000
Entry Point: 20008000
Contents:
Image 0: 1053292 Bytes = 1 MB
Image 1: 1550164 Bytes = 1.5 MB
Verifying Checksum ... OK

U-Boot> iminfo
## Checking Image at 21000000 ...
Bad Magic Number

Note the above Bad Magic Number - I suspect that this is a correct response as it is not the start of a elf program etc. - Is my understanding correct?

You will note that other setenv's (are not displayed by post 'printenv" either).
I have tried cold booting but this doesn't change any "printenv" output dialog.
I have looked at the uboot source without seeing why this should be so.
Any know problems here? Any suggestions ?

I have been able to set each DNP9200's "ipaddress" my using "/sbin/ipaddree" and would very much appreciate if you could post a copy of its source-code so that I (and others) could build utilites to modify other on-the-fly uboot variables.

-------------

Q2> Given:

U-Boot> protect
Usage:
protect - enable or disable FLASH write protection

What is the correct parameter to pass to the U-Boot CLI?

I have tried "protect enable","protect 0" &
"protect disable", "protect 1", all don't seem to be acceptable by the CLI.

Is this a known issue?

What could I have done incorrectly?

-------------

Q3> I am trying to get all the DNP9200's targets running off my multi-nic server (networks 192.168.X.0 where X = [0..3]). Dhcpd and nfsserver are operational and have been tested with a laptop to ensure conformance. However, I am unable to get any of the DNP9200 to remotely boot the /tfpt/img-dnp9200. I suspect that and answer to my Q1 is the issue, but just thought I would ask if there are any other known issues (I have searched the forums - but my German language is very elementary - Apologies).

So course trying to do "nfs" give the return error:

This is getting really frustrating.

-------------

NB: I am using the newly released (May 2007) Pentice Hall book "Embedded Linux Primer" by Christopher Halliman - ISBN-0131679848 which is a really good book IMHO.
I have been a Linux small time developer for some 8+ years. I especially like the books in-depth discussion on MTD. Something I have not had much to do with over the years, but now need a strong understanding of.


Thanks for your time.


_________________
Cheers. Grahame

[ssc]

Hello Grahame,

let me try to answer your questions and end your frustration.
First of all there's an excellent online manual for the u-boot bootloader at:
http://www.denx.de/wiki/view/DULG/Manual

Although it is written for a different platform it might clear up some issues and explain the syntax of the u-boot commandline interface.

[wildpossum]

Thanks for your detailed reply SSC

The only environmental variable I don't seem to be able to save in flash is "ipaddr".
It keeps being overwritten by something else so it is NULL and when I do a "tftpboot" it always reply that "ipaddr" is not set. I can live with this as it is only a little annoying, but it would make auto-tftpboot much more easier if it was save correctly in flash.

"tftboot" works wonderfully. No problems.
I am able to upload the latest kernel and "bootm" correctly.

On "nfsboot" it is another issue, not working 100% yet but I need to do more investigations. Even though I have been able to check and confirm my dhcpd & dhcpd.config setup is working well via a laptop, DNP9200 has issues which are not apparent unfortunately. The reason each DNP9200 has a different LAN, is so developer(s)/student(s) can play to their heart content without me being concerned that they may upset other internal net(s)/system(s).

Any further suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks.
Grahame

[ssc]

Hi Grahame,

unfortunately i got no useful suggestion for the nfs stuff at the moment, but let me help you with the u-boot settings:

[wildpossum]

OK, I have found what the issue was with my dhcpd.conf.

You can't have both a fixed IP address and a Host name for the same sub-group - It is an exclusive OR issue. Removing either but not both from the dhcpd.conf sub-group fixes the issue which I thought (unwisely) was a DNP9200 & u-boot dhcpcd handling issue.

I am not at my workstation currently, so I'll look at the "saveenv" issue tomorrow and NFS further tomorrow.

Thanks again from Australia.
_________________
Cheers. Grahame

[wildpossum]

All is OK with the setenv on u-boot now. Thanks.
_________________
Cheers. Grahame