How to load and start STM32CubeMP13 applications via eMMC storage

Applicable for

STM32MP13x lines

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This article aims to explain how to load and start STM32CubeMP13 applications via e•MMC^™ using the "eMMC external loader firmware utility" provided into the STM32CubeMP13 package. This use case is useful in production mode.

1 eMMC external loader firmware utility

1.1 Introduction

eMMC external loader firmware utility is used to load and start STM32CubeMP13 applications programmed into external eMMC^™ .

• It allows programming of embedded software applications on external eMMC^™ for an internal ST Board, aka STM32MP13XX_CUSTOM_HW, customized to validate some features. It can be reused for customer boards after binaries adaptations.
• This package contains all the binaries necessary to program the eMMC^™ through serial interface and boot from eMMC^™ .
• This package version :
  • Supports UART & USB DFU serial protocol.
  • OTP Programming is not supported.

Information

The utility source code can be provided as example, on demand, via ST support teams, and easily adapted for customer boards.

1.2 Contents

eMMC^™ External Loader utility contains below binaries, readme and .tsv files. Details about each is described below.

├── Projects
    ├── STM32MP13XX_CUSTOM_HW
       ├── External_Loader
          ├── EMMC_Ext_Loader
          │    ├── [FlashLayout_OpenBL_ExtLoaderEMMC_SerialBoot.tsv]
          │    ├── [FSBLA_eMMC_A7_Signed.bin]
          │    ├── [MP13_BSP_TemplatesA7_VALID2_Signed.bin]
          │    ├── [readme.txt]
          │    ├── [MMC_Ext_Loader.bin]
          │    ├── [STM32PRGFW_UTIL_MP13xx_CP_Serial_Boot.stm32]

• FlashLayout_OpenBL_ExtLoaderEMMC_SerialBoot.tsv
  

This file defines flash memory partitions, binaries and corresponding partition ID. Refer to STM32CubeProgrammer_flashlayout article for more details.

• FSBLA_eMMC_A7_Signed.bin

This binary is the First Stage Boot Loader (FSBLA) programmed via STM32PRGFW_UTIL_MP13xx_CP_Serial_Boot.stm32 in eMMC^™ and is used to load the test application from eMMC^™ to DDR.

• MP13_BSP_TemplatesA7_VALID2_Signed.bin

This binary is the test application, programmed in eMMC^™ via STM32PRGFW_UTIL_MP13xx_CP_Serial_Boot.stm32. On reset, when boot from eMMC^™, it is loaded into DDR for execution by FSBLA.

This can be replaced with any customer test application. Application has to be built for DDR (Refer build test application for DDR) and then properly signed with STM32CubeProgrammer signing tool (or via Postbuild steps and scripts)). In this test application, blue LED is initialized and after successful execution blue LED is toggled at 200ms and logs are printed on serial console

• Read the README file carefully

It provides all the information about the example setup and verdict.

• MMC_Ext_Loader.bin

This binary provides eMMC^™ read, write and erase functionalities. It is used for programming binaries in eMMC^™.

• STM32PRGFW_UTIL_MP13xx_CP_Serial_Boot.stm32

This binary initializes UART & USB interface and reads binaries serially in serial boot mode.

MMC_Ext_Loader.bin is loaded into RAM. FSBLA_eMMC_A7_Signed.bin and MP13_BSP_TemplatesA7_VALID2_Signed.bin are programmed into eMMC^™ for subsequent boot in eMMC^™ mode.

2 Hardware and software prerequisites

• Customer board with
  • external eMMC^™.
  • an ST-Link or UART cable connected between board and PC if programming via UART.
  • a Micro-USB cable connected between USB DFU port on board and PC if programming via USB.
• Power adapter for the board.
• STM32CubeProgrammer PC tool installed (v2.14.0 minimum).

3 How to run utility

3.1 Set boot mode to serial

• Set boot pins to b000 (BOOT0/1/2 to OFF) position to select serial boot mode.
• Connect Micro-USB cable between PC and ST-Link connector on the board OR
• Connect a UART cable between PC and UART connector on the board if programming via UART. In both the case, PC should detect UART interface.

Important

ST-Link provides UART interface via Virtual COM port on the board like STM32MP135x-DK Discovery kit .

Warning

ROM CODE gives preference to USB DFU if USB cable connected at other places than ST-Link USB port. If you want to use UART, USB cable should NOT be connected other than ST-Link USB port on the board.

3.2 Flash eMMC in serial boot

3.2.1 Flash eMMC using STM32CubeProgrammer GUI

Read STM32CubeProgrammer pages for more details.

3.2.1.1 Program via UART

• Click on UART and then select COM port:
  

• Click on Connect button:
  

STM32CubeProgrammer is now connected to ROM Code and logs show the chip ID, bootloader version and other details.

• Click on Open file by clicking on + icon and then select TSV file : FlashLayout_OpenBL_ExtLoaderEMMC_SerialBoot.tsv

• Select Binaries path with Browse button: Firmware\Projects\STM32MP13XX_CUSTOM_HW\External_Loader\MMC_Ext_Loader
  

• Click on Download button :
  

STM32CubeProgrammer now starts downloading the binaries. Once all the binaries are successfully downloaded, there is a pop-up message indicating- Flashing service completed successfully

3.2.1.2 Program via USB DFU

• Click on USB and then select USB port:
  

• Click on Connect button, STM32CubeProgrammer is now connected to ROM Code and logs show the chip ID, bootloader version and other details:
  

• Click on Open file by clicking on + icon and then select TSV file : 'FlashLayout_OpenBL_ExtLoaderEMMC_SerialBoot.tsv
  

• Select Binaries path with Browse button: Firmware\Projects\STM32MP13XX_CUSTOM_HW\External_Loader\MMC_Ext_Loader
  

• Click on Download button :
  

STM32CubeProgrammer now starts downloading the binaries. Once all the binaries are successfully downloaded, there is a pop-up message indicating : Flashing service completed successfully

3.2.2 Flash eMMC using STM32CubeProgrammer CLI

• Browse the installed STM32CubeProgrammer binary directory i.e. STM32CubeProgrammer\bin
• Open command prompt from this directory.
• Execute below command to load the eMMC^™ external loader binaries via UART interface:

$STM32_Programmer_CLI.exe -c port=COM 
<num> -w 
<YourDirectoryPath>\Projects<STM32device>\External_Loader\EMMC_Ext_Loader\FlashLayout_OpenBL_ExtLoaderEMMC_SerialBoot.tsv

OR

• Execute below command to load the eMMC External Loader binaries via USB DFU interface:

$STM32_Programmer_CLI.exe -c port=USB 
<num> -w 
<YourDirectoryPath>\Projects<STM32device>\External_Loader\EMMC_Ext_Loader\FlashLayout_OpenBL_ExtLoaderEMMC_SerialBoot.tsv

• DO NOT reset the board till the command has completed.
• STM32CubeProgrammer now starts downloading all the binaries listed in TSV file. Once all the binaries are successfully downloaded, there is a message indicating : Flashing service completed successfully.

3.3 Run test application

• Once binaries are programmed into eMMC^™ successfully, set boot pins to b010 (BOOT0 and BOOT2 to OFF and BOOT1 to ON) position to select eMMC boot mode and then reset the board.
  
• MP13_BSP_TemplatesA7_VALID2_Signed.bin test application toggles blue LED at 200ms, indicating that it has been loaded and executed successfully from DDR.
  

Multimedia card

Embedded multi-media card, Former spelling for e•MMC ('e' in italic)

also known as

Universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter

Device firmware upgrade

One time programmed

Board support package

Doubledata rate (memory domain)

Light-emitting diode

Random access memory (Early computer memories generally hadserial access. Memories where any given address can be accessed when desired were then called "random access" to distinguish them from the memories where contents can only be accessed in a fixed order. The term is used today for volatile random-acces ssemiconductor memories.)

spelling for older versions of STLink, ST in-circuit debugger and programmer for the STM8 and STM32 microcontroller families

eg Micro-USB connector ('M' in uppercase whatever its position)

Read only memory

Flash memory shortened to gain space in titles, tables and block diagrams

Graphical user interface

Multimedia card

Embedded multi-media card, Former spelling for e•MMC ('e' in italic)

also known as

Universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter

Device firmware upgrade

One time programmed

Board support package

Doubledata rate (memory domain)

Light-emitting diode

Random access memory (Early computer memories generally hadserial access. Memories where any given address can be accessed when desired were then called "random access" to distinguish them from the memories where contents can only be accessed in a fixed order. The term is used today for volatile random-acces ssemiconductor memories.)

spelling for older versions of STLink, ST in-circuit debugger and programmer for the STM8 and STM32 microcontroller families

eg Micro-USB connector ('M' in uppercase whatever its position)

Read only memory

Flash memory shortened to gain space in titles, tables and block diagrams

Graphical user interface

ST in-circuit debugger and programmer for the STM8 and STM32 microcontroller families (See ST-LINK for more details)

Flash memories combine high density and cost effectiveness of EPROMs with the electrical erasability of EEPROMs. For this reason, the Flash memory market is one of the most exciting areas of the semiconductor industry today and new applications requiring in system reprogramming, such as cellular telephones, automotive engine management systems, hard disk drives, PC BIOS software for Plug & Play, digital TV, set top boxes, fax and other modems, PC cards and multimedia CD-ROMs, offer the prospect of very high volume demand.