Meta Boot Loader

[Paige, Dale W]

Scott - 

I agree, I also feel uncomfortable with it.  I am not aware of a tool to
make it easier, but it may exist.

One tool that is highly recommended is a suction cup device to handle the
flash parts.

I do not recommend this process unless required.  I was thinking that your
desire to port your own RTOS to the IXP1200EB might be most cost effectively
attained if you were to use the Cygnus SA1 tool chain which has recently
completed a revamp to put cygmon onto the IXP1200 and use that with GDB as a
monitor from which you can port your RTOS.  Attainment of this goal would
require you to go through the pain of removing and programming the flash
parts.  

Also, as I already recommended, keep the original flash in reserve as a fall
back.  

    Best Regards  -   Dale


-----Original Message-----
From: Scott C. Karlin [mailto:scott at CS.Princeton.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 10:28 AM
To: dale.w.paige at intel.com
Cc: ixp1200 at CS.Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: Meta Boot Loader


Thanks, Dale.

I was able to "open" the socket.  Since it required considerable
force, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they really want
to get the chip out.  Is there a trick or a tool to close the lid
when the time comes?  It seems like it will require more force
than I am comfortable exerting on the board.

-Scott


Paige, Dale W writes:
> 
> Scott - 
> 
> For a low cost solution I think that you should consider 2.  If you can
load
> your own bootloader, or maybe the cygmon monitor for the SA1 then you
should
> only have to deal with reprogramming the flash a few times.  Once you have
> some way to boot code you can then use the BSP code as an example of how
to
> program the flash form your program.  When that is successfully integrated
> into a bootable option you should not have to open the flash packages.
> 
> To open them you need to be careful.  There are some arrows on the top
> pointing in the direct that it must be slid (away from the "front" of the
> board).  Once the tabs protruding from the front have cleared you can
gently
> lift the lid, it kind or hinges on the protrusions on the "back" side of
> the socket.  Note the orientation of the flash in the socket.  Save the
> originals, you can do some stuff just with the vxWorks bootup interface,
and
> the Angel and diagnostics are totally functional.
> 
> 
>    Happy coding    -   Dale
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott C. Karlin [mailto:scott at CS.Princeton.EDU]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 5:27 PM
> To: ixp1200 at CS.Princeton.EDU
> Subject: Meta Boot Loader
> 
> 
> We'd like to begin porting our own operating system (Scout)
> to the StrongARM core of the IXP1200.  To do this we'll
> need a way to get code into the device.  We have a couple
> of thoughts on this and would like to get some feedback
> (especially from the Intel folks who are on the list).
> We basically need a way to load a raw image into the core
> and start running it.  We are not using VxWorks or eCOS.
> 
> Approaches:
> 
>    1.  Purchase or lease a NetROM device.
>    2.  Use a device programmer to program the flash EEPROM.
>        Is the flash in a socket?  The chip packaging looks
>        unfamiliar.
>    3.  Use a Meta Boot Loader.  This is code that runs
>        under VxWorks.  The preprogrammed boot loader in
>        ROM can load the meta boot loader which will, in
>        turn, load our OS code.  
> 
> Number 3 has the advantage that it is an all software solution.
> The problem is that it appears to need a VxWorks executable
> (the meta boot loader) but we aren't interested in purchasing
> a license for this one little program.  Is this something
> that someone else has done (or could do)?
> 
> -Scott