IOT-GATE-IMX8PLUS and SBC-IOT-IMX8PLUS: U-Boot: Installation

Overview

This article provides instructions needed to install the U-Boot firmware onto the Compulab IOT-GATE-IMX8PLUS / SBC-IOT-IMX8PLUS internal storage. The recommended installation procedure is using a host PC with a Debian-based operating system.

Preparing Installation Media

Prepare Debian Linux Live Media

Installing U-Boot Firmware onto the internal storage

Booting into installation environment

• Insert the Live USB flash drive into one of the USB ports. It's recommended to use USB3.0 port
• Power on the device
• Press a key to prevent a possible autoboot and get into the U-Boot command prompt.
• Run a command below:

run bsp_bootcmd

U-Boot 2021.04-compulab-1.5 version or later runs bsp_bootcmd by default

• Wait for the Linux login prompt
• Login as compulab user

Running U-Boot Firmware installation

• Invoke cl-uboot utility

compulab@compulab-imx8mp:~$ sudo cl-uboot

• Select an appropriate U-Boot image by determining device's DRAM size

Select a U-Boot file:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

       ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
       │  Available U-Boot files:                                            │
       │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
       │ │                                                                 │ │
       │ │                      ( ) flash.bin.d1d8                         │ │
       │ │                      (*) flash.bin.d2d4                         │ │
       │ │                                                                 │ │
       │ │                                                                 │ │
       │ │                                                                 │ │
       │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
       │                     <  OK  >        <Cancel>                        │
       └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

• Select mmcblk2boot0 as a boot device

Select a boot device:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

       ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
       │  Available boot devices:                                            │
       │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
       │ │                                                                 │ │
       │ │                      ( ) mmcblk2                                │ │
       │ │                      (*) mmcblk2boot0                           │ │
       │ │                                                                 │ │
       │ │                                                                 │ │
       │ │                                                                 │ │
       │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
       │                     <  OK  >        <Cancel>                        │
       └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

• Installation will start
• When installation is complete, the following message will show up:

       ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
       │ U Boot flash result:                                                │
       │─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│
       │ 1807+1 records in                                                   │
       │ 1807+1 records out                                                  │
       │ 1850392 bytes (1.9 MB, 1.8 MiB) copied, 0.120991 s, 15.3 MB/s       │
       │                                                                     │
       │                                                                     │
       │─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│
       │                              <  OK  >                               │
       └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

• Press OK to exit utility

After Installation

• Turn off the device
• Remove installation media
• Turn on the device
• Press a key to prevent a possible autoboot and get into the U-Boot command prompt
• Restore default boot environment, save it and reset device:

env default -a ; saveenv ; reset