Update SPL and U-Boot : Tips and tricks

[Mattia]

1 DOWNLOAD SDIMAGE from github (about 800MB)
2 LOAD SDIMAGE into a sdcard

3 Plug in the ethernet cable on the “middle” ethernet port. The one on the edge does not give you a DHCP address.
3 Insert the microsd card and TURN ON the VF2 board

4 LOOK for the ip of the VF2 board (I used fing from my mobile phone)
5 With a SSH CLIENT use the ip of the VF2 board and log in with user root and password starfive

6 DOWNLOAD the updated U-Boot and SPL files from github and load them on a usb stick
7 CONNECT the usb stick to the VF2 board and mount it in a folder
8 UPDATE the firmware from the terminal

9 VERIFY with the command cat /proc/mtd and check the output that looks like this:

dev: size erase size name
mtd0:00020000 00001000 “spl”
mtd1:00300000 00001000 “uboot”
mtd2: 00100000 00001000 “date”

10 UPDATE spl with command
flashcp -v u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out /dev/mtd0

11 UPDATE u-boot with the command
flashcp -v visionfive2_fw_payload.img /dev/mtd1

you should see output like this

flashcp -v u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out /dev/mtd0

Erasing blocks: 32/32 (100%)
Writing data: 124k/124k (100%)
Verifying data: 124k/124k (100%)

flashcp -v visionfive2_fw_payload.img /dev/mtd1

Erasing blocks: 682/682 (100%)
Writing data: 2727k/2727k (100%)
Verifying data: 2727k/2727k (100%)

12 Shut down the vf2 board and you are ready to use the debian 69 image.

I wanted to share my experience with you because in other ways it is not so simple

[rvalles]

If you have serial port access,

Guide: Upgrading firmware with only a serial/uart connection via u-boot

Please use a terminal that supports YMODEM file transfers. For Windows there is Tera Term. On Linux I recommend minicom, but ensure lrzsz is also installed, as the file transfer feature uses it. Set up connection at 115200 bps, 8N1. First, prepare the files you want to flash, such as from the latest release: https://github.com/starfive-tech/VisionFive2/releases u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out visionfive2_fw_payload.img Boot in flash mode, without a sdcard inserted, or otherwise interrupt u-boot’…

Might be the easiest.

[LivingLinux]

@Mattia

6 DOWNLOAD the updated U-Boot and SPL files from github and load them on a usb stick

People that write the SD card on a Linux machine, can mount it directly after writing and copy the files, before inserting it into the VF2.

[Mattia]

Thanks to all for your contributions, I wanted to share my experience without having access to the serial otherwise I also knew that it was easier to update spl and u-boot via serial.

In my specific case I preferred to burn the image without modifying it to add the files, however you are right. There are many ways to achieve the same result and perhaps this is the beauty of sharing our adventures