Is Second Stage bootloader (U-boot) mandatory for firmware update on RTOS based system

[vamshig51]

Dear All,

I am working on Zynq7000 SoC, running FreeRTOS based applicaton. I have few queires/understanding on firmware/partition update during device operational in feild

My understanding:

1) U-boot not necessary just to support firmware update, as FSBL can meet all our requirements.

2) Download the updated firmware image/partition to DDR, and application code (similar to partition loader xapp1224 ) to validate the image and write to QSPI, do software reset, FSBL will find the latest image in the subsequent  boot. 

Note: Sytem/Firmware Update is user initiated.

Do you see any hurdles (secure/non-secure boot mode) & need for u-boot to have firwmare update feature?

Thanks & Regards,

Vamshi G.

[ibaie · Accepted solution]

Hi @vamshig51 

You are right, U-Boot is not required at all to implement a firware update feature. U-Boot is mainly used to boot Linux into the target as FSBL is not able to boot Linux straight away.

Regards