STM32 MPU ROM code overview

Revision as of 14:59, 13 January 2023 by Registered User (Flash memory boot)

Applicable for STM32MP13x lines, STM32MP15x lines

1 ROM code overview[edit]

The ROM code is the first code executed by the Arm® Cortex®-A7 core(s) after reset.
The main features of the ROM code are listed in the table below for each STM32MP1 series processor:

ROM code features STM32MP13x lines More info.png STM32MP15x lines More info.png
STM32 header for FSBL loading v2 v1
Boot mode selection Serial boot Yes Yes
Flash memory boot Yes Yes
Developer (also known as "engineering") mode Yes Yes
SSP (secure secrets provisioning) Yes Yes
RMA (return material analysis) Yes Yes
Image loading binary size (without STM32 header) 128 KB 247 KB
Secure boot FSBL authentication (ECDSA) Yes Yes
FSBL authentication key revocation Yes (x8) No
FSBL anti-rollback mechanism Yes Yes
FSBL decryption (AES) Yes No
Cryptographic accelerators (ECDSA, AES) Yes No
Secondary core boot No (N.A.) Yes
Wake up from low power modes Yes Yes
Secure services export No Yes


The diagram below puts these features in sequence. It illustrates the ROM code execution flow, and each step is further described in the following sections.

Alternate text

2 STM32 header[edit]

To be properly recognized by the ROM code, the binary file loaded from the boot device must comply with a proprietary format, starting with a STM32 header.
The STM32MP15x lines More info.png complie with STM32 header v1, whereas the STM32MP13x lines More info.png uses the v2. The difference between these versions is mainly due to the introduction of the new secure boot features, listed in the previous section and described in the following ones.

3 Boot mode selection[edit]

3.1 Boot device selection[edit]

As shown in the figure and table below, the boot mode is determined by the boot pin states, OTP words and one TAMP register.

Alternate text
ROM code - boot source selection
BOOT pins STM32MP13 TAMP_REG[30]
STM32MP15 TAMP_REG[20]
(Force Serial)
Primary boot source Secondary boot source Boot source #1 Boot source #2
if #1 fails
Boot source
if #2 fails
b000
(Force Serial)
x (don't care) x (don't care) x (don't care) Serial - -
b001 != 0xFF 0 (virgin) 0 (virgin) QSPI NOR Serial -
b010 != 0xFF 0 (virgin) 0 (virgin) eMMC Serial -
b011 != 0xFF 0 (virgin) 0 (virgin) FMC NAND Serial -
b100
(DEV Boot)
x (don't care) x (don't care) x (don't care) NoBoot - -
b101 != 0xFF 0 (virgin) 0 (virgin) SD-Card Serial -
b110 != 0xFF 0 (virgin) 0 (virgin) Serial - -
b111 != 0xFF 0 (virgin) 0 (virgin) QSPI NAND Serial -
!= b100 != 0xFF Primary1 0 (virgin) Primary1 Serial -
!= b100 != 0xFF 0 (virgin) Secondary1 Secondary1 Serial -
!= b100 != 0xFF Primary1 Secondary1 Primary1 Secondary1 Serial
!= b100 0xFF x (don't care) x (don't care) Serial - -

1Primary and Secondary are fields stored in OTP. When the selected boot mode is Serial boot or Flash memory boot, the ROM code configures the interface as specified in the following sub-sections. It loads the FSBL image into internal memory and runs Secure boot.

3.2 Serial boot[edit]

The ROM code supports UART and USB serial interfaces.

When serial boot is selected, the ROM code scans, in parallel, all bootable UART instances and the USB OTG. When activity is detected on an interface, the boot process proceeds with this interface and the others are ignored.

Note that it is possible to disable the USB or some UART instance by blowing relevant fuses of the boot source disable field in OTP. In all cases, whether the USB is disabled or not, HSE is mandatory.

3.2.1 USB boot[edit]

The ROM code supports boot on the USB OTG interface with HS PHY.

The ROM code uses OTG_HS_DP/DM signals available as additional functions on the USB_DP2/DM2 pins.

The USB OTG_HS is clocked by a 48 MHz and a 60 MHz clock, generated by using the HSE clock (from RCC).

The ROM code supports the following HSE values: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24, 25, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 48 MHz

The ROM code selects which HSE must used by following these steps:

  • if the disable HSE frequency autodetection OTP bit is set to 1, the ROM code considers HSE = 24 MHz.
  • If the HSE value OTP field is 0b00 (default behavior), then the ROM code autodetects the HSE by using the HSI clock (from RCC).
    • Recognized values are: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24, 32, 36, 28, 40, or 48 MHz.
    • If none of these values are recognized, the ROM code considers that HSE = 24 MHz.
  • If HSE value OTP field is 0b01, then it considers that HSE=24 MHz
  • If HSE value OTP field is 0b10, then it considers that HSE=25 MHz
  • If HSE value OTP field is 0b11, then it considers that HSE=26 MHz
Warning white.png Warning
On STM32MP15x lines More info.png, in the case of USB boot, the application has to unmux the UART Rx GPIO pins, especially if it wants to use a given UART Rx signal on a different pin

3.2.2 UART Boot[edit]

The ROM code supports the following UART interfaces:

  • USART/UART instances:
    • USART2, USART3, UART4, UART5, USART6, UART7, UART8
(one start bit, 8 data bits, even parity bit and one stop bit).

Configuration:

By default the ROM code scans all UARTs listed above. This list may be reduced by blowing OTP fuses in UART instances disabling field.

In the case of serial boot, the ROM code applies the following AFmuxes.
The ROM code first muxes only the Rx pins of bootable UART instances, and scans all these Rx lines in parallel. When activity is detected on a UART interface, the ROM code muxes the related TX, all others Rx are unmuxed, and the boot process proceeds with this interface.

Warning white.png Warning
On STM32MP15x lines More info.png, in the case of USB boot, the application has to unmux the UART Rx GPIO pins, especially if it wants to use a given UART Rx signal on a different pin
Signal GPIO pin and alternate function (AF) for
USART2 USART3 UART4 UART5 USART6 UART7 UART8
Rx STM32MP15x lines More info.png only :
PA3 (AF07)
PB12 (AF08) STM32MP13x lines More info.png :
PD8 (AF08)
STM32MP15x lines More info.png :
PB2 (AF08)
PB5 (AF12) PC7 (AF07) PF6 (AF07) PE0 (AF08)
TX STM32MP15x lines More info.png only :
PA2 (AF07)
PB10 (AF07) STM32MP13x lines More info.png :
PD6 (AF06)
STM32MP15x lines More info.png :
PG11 (AF06)
PB13 (AF14) PC6 (AF07) PF7 (AF07) PE1 (AF08)

3.3 Flash memory boot[edit]

The ROM code supports the following flash interfaces:

For more details on the mapping of each memory, refer to the STM32 MPU Flash mapping article.


Warning white.png Warning
BootROM searches the FSBL partitions only in the first 4Gbytes.

3.3.1 Boot from parallel / serial NAND[edit]

The NAND contains n copies of the FSBL in the first valid blocks. If the FSBL uses N blocks in the memory (N is usually 2 for a maximum 247 Kbyte FSBL with a memory having a 128 Kbyte block size), the ROM code scans blocks from the first and looks for the FSBL in the first N consecutive valid blocks found.

The ROM code supports parallel (via FMC) NAND and serial (via QSPI) NAND.

Supported parallel NAND:

The ROM code supports parallel NAND with the following parameters.

Block size
(KBytes )
Page size
(KBytes)
Data width ECC1(bits and code)
128 2 8, 16 4 (bch), 8 (bch), 1 (hamming)
256 4 8, 16 4 (bch), 8 (bch), 1 (hamming)
512 4 8, 16 4 (bch), 8 (bch), 1 (hamming)
512 8 8, 16 4 (bch), 8 (bch), 1 (hamming)
1: The ROM code supports both parallel NAND with or without on-die ECC. The ECC given here is for NAND without on-die ECC.


Supported serial NAND:

The ROM code supports serial NAND with the following parameters.

Block size
(KBytes)
Page size
(KBytes)
128 2
256 4
512 4
512 8

The ROM code only supports serial NAND with embedded ECC.
Some serial NANDs are multi-plane. The ROM code supports such multi-plane features when the OTP bit spinand needs plane select is set to 1.

Configuration:

In order to read a NAND flash memory, the ROM code needs to know the page size, the block size and the number of blocks. For parallel NAND, it also needs to know the width and the number of ECC bits.

The ROM code detects the NAND-parameter storage location by checking nand param stored in otp OTP bit value.

If the nand param stored in otp OTP bit value is equal to 0 (which is the default), the NAND must provide an ONFI compatible parameter table in which the ROM code looks for NAND parameters. “ONFI compatible ” means that the NAND provides a get parameter feature that returns a table where at least parameters needed by ROM code are located at standard ONFI offsets.


If the nand param stored in otp OTP bit value is equal to 1, the ROM code looks for the NAND parameter in OTP.

The number of ECC bits is a particular case, as it can be set by OTP even if the nand param stored in otp is equal to 0. This is to allow the user to override the recommended number of ECC bits given by the parameter table of an ONFI NAND.

Note that serial NANDs are neither ONFI compliant nor ONFI compatible :

  • on STM32MP13x lines More info.png, this OTP bit value is not used for serial NAND, and the ROM code always looks for serial NAND parameters in OTP.
  • on STM32MP15x lines More info.png, this OTP bit value must be set to 1 for serial NAND to force the ROM code to look for serial NAND parameters in OTP.
Warning white.png Warning
ECC parameters configured in ROM code above (ONFI or OTP) need to be aligned with upper components (boot stages or operating systems). This is done through the devicetree configuration, see FMC_device_tree_configuration.

The following table shows which ONFI parameters may be used by the ROM code:

Parameter Table
Offset
Description Needed for
parallel NAND
Needed for
serial NAND
6 Supported features
(used to determine data width)
Yes No
80-83 Number of data bytes per page Yes No
84-85 Number of spare bytes per page Yes No
92-95 Number of pages per block Yes No
96-99 Number of blocks per unit Yes No
112 Number of ECC bits correctability Yes No

The following table lists the NAND parameters that may be stored in fuses:

Parameter STM32MP13x lines More info.png STM32MP15x lines More info.png
bank1 bank2
Page size nand page size nand page size nand page size
Block size nand block size nand block size nand block size
Number of blocks nand block nb nand block nb nand block nb
Parallel NAND width fmc nand width fmc nand width fmc nand width
Parallel NAND ECC bits fmc ecc bit nb fmc ecc bit nb fmc ecc bit nb
Serial NAND needs plane select spinand needs plane select spinand needs plane select spinand needs plane select

On STM32MP13x lines More info.png there are two banks of parameters. By default the ROM code looks for a serial NAND configuration in bank1, and a parallel NAND configuration in bank2. This setting can be reversed by blowing fuse NAND configuration distribution.

On STM32MP15x lines More info.png there is only one bank (bank1). Therefore only one non ONFI NAND can be used at a time.

In the case of serial NAND boot, the ROM code applies the same AFmuxes as those for serial NOR.

In the case of parallel NAND boot, the ROM code applies the following AFmuxes:

Signal GPIO pin and alternate function (AF) for
8 bits parallel NAND 16 bits parallel NAND
FMC_NOE PD4 (AF12)
FMC_NWAIT STM32MP13x lines More info.png : PA9 (AF10)
STM32MP15x lines More info.png : PD6 (AF12)
FMC_NWE PD5 (AF12)
FMC_NCE PG9 (AF12)
FMC_ALE PD12 (AF12)
FMC_CLE PD11 (AF12)
FMC_D0 PD14 (AF12)
FMC_D1 PD15 (AF12)
FMC_D2 PD0 (AF12)
FMC_D3 PD1 (AF12)
FMC_D4 PE7 (AF12)
FMC_D5 PE8 (AF12)
FMC_D6 PE9 (AF12)
FMC_D7 PE10 (AF12)
FMC_D8 NA PE11 (AF12)
FMC_D9 NA PE12 (AF12)
FMC_D10 NA PE13 (AF12)
FMC_D11 NA PE14 (AF12)
FMC_D12 NA PE15 (AF12)
FMC_D13 NA STM32MP13x lines More info.png : PB8 (AF12)
STM32MP15x lines More info.png : PD8 (AF12)
FMC_D14 NA PD9 (AF12)
FMC_D15 NA PD10 (AF12)

3.3.2 Boot from serial NOR[edit]

The NOR flash memory contains two copies of the FSBL. The ROM code tries to load and launch the first copy. In the case of failure, it then tries to load the second copy.

The ROM code looks for FSBL1 at offset LBA0, and FSBL2 at offset LBA512.

It is possible to use NOR flash memory either in single or in dual mode. In dual mode two NOR flashes are connected to the two ports of the NOR interface, and the two memories are used in interlaced mode.

Configuration:

The ROM code uses SPI legacy mode MOSI/MISO only (it uses only two pins IO0 and IO1 to transfer data).

The ROM code automatically detects single and dual modes.

In dual mode, BK1_nCS shall drive the two chip selects on board and BK2_nCS can remain unused or be used for other functions.

By default the ROM code applies the following AFmuxes:

Signal GPIO pin and alternate function (AF) for
serial NOR (single NOR) serial NOR (dual NOR)
QUADSPI_CLK PF10 (AF9)
QUADSPI_BK1_NCS STM32MP13x lines More info.png : PB2 (AF9)
STM32MP15x lines More info.png : PB6 (AF10)
QUADSPI_BK1_IO0 PF8 (AF10)
QUADSPI_BK1_IO1 PF9 (AF10)
QUADSPI_BK2_IO0 NA PH2 (AF9)
QUADSPI_BK2_IO1 NA STM32MP13x lines More info.png : PG10 (AF10)
STM32MP15x lines More info.png : PH3 (AF9)

These default AFmux can be overwritten by values defined in the AFmux configuration OTP words.

Quad SPI CLK is set to HSI / 2 = 32 MHz

3.3.3 Boot from SD card[edit]

SD cards contain two versions of the FSBL. The ROM code tries to load and launch the first copy. In the case of failure, it then tries to load the second copy.

The ROM code first looks for a GPT. If it finds it, it locates two FSBLs by looking for the two first GPT entries of which the name begins with "fsbl". If it cannot find a GPT, the ROM code looks for FSBL1 at offset LBA128, and FSBL2 at offset LBA640.

Configuration:

The ROM code uses only one data bit.

By default, the ROM code uses an SDMMC1 instance.

If the SD card memory interface OTP field value is not equal to 0, the ROM code uses the value of this field (1 or 2) to determine which SDMMC interface to use.

By default the ROM code applies the following AFmuxes:

Signal GPIO pin and alternate function (AF) for
SD card
SDMMC1_CK PC12 (AF12)
SDMMC1_CMD PD2 (AF12)
SDMMC1_D0 PC8 (AF12)
SDMMC1_CDIR PB9 (AF11)
SDMMC1_D0DIR AFMUX OTP needed

SDMMC CK is set to HSI / 4 = 16 MHz

If the SD card memory interface OTP field value is not equal to 0, the ROM code does not apply these settings, and instead uses the non-default AFmux values defined by the AFmux configuration OTP words.

Note that AFmux for SDMMC1_D0DIR has no default value and, if needed, it must be applied via the AFmux configuration OTP words.

3.3.4 Boot from eMMC[edit]

An eMMC™ contains two copies of the FSBL in its two boot regions, but only one boot region is active at a time. The ROM code tries to load and launch the FSBL copy contained in the active boot region.

Configuration:

The ROM code uses only one data bit.

By default the ROM code uses an SDMMC2 instance.

If the e•MMC™ memory interface OTP field value is not equal to 0, the ROM code uses the value of this field (1 or 2) to determine which SDMMC interface to use.

By default, the ROM code applies following AFmuxes:

Signal GPIO pin and alternate function (AF) for
eMMC
SDMMC2_CK PE3 (AF09)
SDMMC2_CMD PG6 (AF10)
SDMMC2_D0 PB14 (AF09)

SDMMC CK is set to HSI / 4 = 16 MHz

If the e•MMC™ memory interface OTP field value is not equal to 0, the ROM code does not apply these settings, and instead uses the non-default AFmux values defined by AFmux configuration OTP words.

3.4 Developer (also known as "engineering") mode[edit]

Developer boot allows the user to connect a debugger on an opened device. This allows any software to be loaded and run on either the CA7 or the CM4.

The ROM code detects developer boot when the boot pins value is 0b100. The ROM code then simply enters an infinite loop after having:

  • re-opened CA7 secure debug,
  • started running an infinite loop CM4

Engineering boot is not available on closed devices (cf Closing the device).

3.5 Life cycle[edit]

The ROM code behavior is strongly linked to the device state in the product life cycle.

Alternate text
Device states
  • OPEN state: By default the device is in open state. Authentication is not mandatory. An authentication error does not prevent the FSBL from being started.
  • CLOSED state: Once product secrets have been provisioned into the device, it can be closed by blowing closing bit fuses (see is closed on STM32MP13x lines More info.png and is closed on STM32MP15x lines More info.png). On closed devices, authentication is mandatory. An authentication error prevents the FSBL from being started.
  • RMA state: A closed device can be put once into RMA state, and then back to CLOSED state. When the device is in RMA state, all ROM code features, except those used to go back into closed state are disabled.

Note that the secrets provisioning can be done by direct writing into the OTP registers, or relying on the SSP (secure secrets provisioning) process, explained just below.

3.5.1 SSP (secure secrets provisioning)[edit]

The ROM code provides specific boot services allowing the user to store their own secrets in BSEC fuses in a secure way that guarantees the confidentiality and integrity of secrets.

For details about the full secure secrets provisioning (SSP) process, refer to AN5510: Overview of the secure secret provisioning (SSP) on STM32MP1 Series.

The ROM code uses the two following fuses to distinguish SSP boots:

  • SSP request (STM32MP13x lines More info.png) or SSP request (STM32MP15x lines More info.png): when set to 1 it tells the ROM that SSP process is requested.
  • SSP success (STM32MP13x lines More info.png) or SSP success (STM32MP15x lines More info.png) : when set to 1 it tells the ROM that SSP process is finished. Once this bit is set to 1, it is no longer possible to request SSP boots.

3.5.2 RMA (return material analysis)[edit]

RMA boot allows the user to prepare the device for return material analysis (RMA).

  • RMA unlock
The user can request to put a closed device in RMA state by configuring via JTAG the RMA unlock password in BSEC JTAG_IN register, which the ROM code compares after reset to the password stored in rma unlock passwd fuses.
  • RMA boot
When the device is in unlocked for RMA : DFT tests (tests of the silicon done during production) are possible again, but without the possibility of access to any sensitive data stored in fuses by the user. For a full list of locked fuses, refer to the STM32MP15 Reference manuals, "OTP mapping (OTP)" section, swprlock3 column.
  • RMA Relock (STM32MP15x lines More info.png only)
The user can request to put an RMA device back in the closed state by configuring, via JTAG, the RMA relock password in BSEC JTAG_IN register, which the ROM code compares after reset to the password stored in rma relock passwd fuses.
Info white.png Information
The RMA Unlock and RMA Relock sequences execution set two constraints on the platform:
  • The 5-pin standard JTAG interface must be used (2-pin SWD is not possible)
  • The VDDCORE supply must not be power cycled during the reset that allows to come back in the ROM code, to keep BSEC JTAG_IN register content

4 Image loading[edit]

  • In Serial boot and Flash memory boot, the first stage boot loader (FSBL) binary is loaded from the selected boot device into the internal SRAM, following the memory mapping illustrated below:
Alternate text

5 Secure boot[edit]

The ROM code implements the authentication process as described in STM32 MPU ROM code secure boot ("image authentication" chapter).

Alternate text
ROM code - secure boot

If the #Secure boot authentication is successful, then the ROM code stores the address of the boot context in r0 register and jumps to the FSBL entry point defined in image header.

5.1 FSBL authentication (ECDSA)[edit]

FSBL authentication relies on an ECDSA verification algorithm, as described in the Image signing and Image authentication chapters.

5.2 FSBL authentication key revocation[edit]

On STM32MP13x lines More info.png, the ROM code allows the use of up to eight signing keys and provides a mechanism to revoke leaked keys. Details are described in the Image signing and Image authentication chapters.

5.3 FSBL anti-rollback mechanism[edit]

The ROM code provides an FSBL version anti-rollback mechanism to prevent launching of older versions of the FSBL. See details in Image authentication chapters.

5.4 FSBL decryption (AES)[edit]

On STM32MP13x lines More info.png, the ROM code provide an FSBL decryption feature. Details are described in the Image encryption and Image decryption chapters.

5.5 Cryptographic accelerators (ECDSA, AES)[edit]

On the STM32MP13x lines More info.png, the ROM code uses HASH, PKA, CRYP, and SAES cryptographic accelerators.

  • HASH to perform SHA256 hashes.
  • PKA to perform ECDSA signature verification
  • CRYP or SAES to perform AES decryption of the FSBL

On STM32MP15x lines More info.png, the ROM code uses HASH cryptographic accelerators, to perform SHA256 hashes.

6 Secondary core boot[edit]

6.1 On STM32MP13x lines More info.png[edit]

The chip embeds only one Cortex-A7 core.

6.2 On STM32MP15x lines More info.png[edit]

The chip embeds two Cortex-A7 cores. At reset, both cores of the Cortex-A7 start and run the same instructions. The ROM code splits the execution flow so that only core0 runs the boot process. The secondary core of the Cortex-A7 is parked in an infinite loop, waiting for a signal from the application to proceed further. The signal mechanism is based on a secure SGI and the two backup registers MAGIC_NUMBER and BRANCH_ADDRESS.

To unpark core1, the application running on core0 must:

7 Wake up from low power modes[edit]

The ROM code manages exit from "wake up from low power modes" resulting in a reset.

7.1 On STM32MP13x lines More info.png[edit]

Standby exit

The ROM code makes no distinction between Standby exit reset and Power On reset.

LPLV-Stop2 exit

The ROM code reads an address from BSEC SCRATCH register. This address may be any address except a ROM address. If the address is not in ROM range it jumps to it.

7.2 On STM32MP15x lines More info.png[edit]

In the case of Standby exit reset, the ROM code proceeds as shown on following figure:

Alternate text
ROM code - wake up from low power modes

In such resets, the Cortex®-M4 is always held on reset, and only the ROM code on Cortex®-A7 runs. The behavior of the ROM code depends on value of bits MCU_BEN, MPU_BEN of RCC_MP_BOOTCR register.

Cortex®-M4 wake up

If bit MCU_BEN of RCC_MP_BOOTCR register is set to 1, the ROM proceeds to Cortex®-M4 software wake up.

The ROM code wakes up Cortex®-M4 by releasing it from its "hold on reset" state.

  • Cortex®-M4 software integrity check
Before releasing Cortex®-M4 the ROM code can use the backup registers to recover the Cortex®-M4 software integrity check value and compare it to the one computed on RETRAM.
Note: if the device is closed, this check is mandatory.


Cortex®-A7 wake up

The Cortex®-A7 software wake up consists in processing Secure boot. The ROM proceeds to Cortex®-A7 software wake up in three cases:

  • If M4 software wake up is not required (that is, MCU_BEN=0)
  • If M4 software wake up is required (that is, MCU_BEN=1) but fails,
  • If M4 software wake up is required (that is, MCU_BEN=1), is processed successfully and MPU_BEN is also set to 1


Cortex®-A7 returns to CStandby low power mode

If Cortex®-M4 software wake up is required (that is, MCU_BEN=1), is processed successfully and MPU_BEN is set to 0, the ROM enters the Cortex®-A7 in CStandby low power modes.

8 Secure services export[edit]

8.1 On STM32MP13x lines More info.png[edit]

The ROM code does not export any service for the application.

8.2 On STM32MP15x lines More info.png[edit]

The ROM code exports authentication services to the following stages of the STM32MP15 secure boot, starting with the FSBL.

9 Memory mapping[edit]

The ROM code memory mapping is illustrated in the Image loading section.

9.1 On STM32MP13x lines More info.png[edit]

The boot context (see boot_api_context_t structure in plat/st/stm32mp1/include/boot_api.h with STM32MP13 compilation flag) is in the first 512 bytes of SRAM2. It contains information on the boot process (such as the selected boot device), and pointers to the ROM code services (used for secure boot authentication).

9.2 On STM32MP15x lines More info.png[edit]

The boot context (see boot_api_context_t structure in plat/st/stm32mp1/include/boot_api.h with STM32MP15 compilation flag) is in the first 512 bytes of SYSRAM. It contains information on the boot process (such as the selected boot device) and pointers to the ROM code services (used for secure boot authentication).

10 System and peripheral registers modification after boot sequence[edit]

10.1 On STM32MP13x lines More info.png[edit]

See STM32MP13 registers modifications after boot sequence

10.2 On STM32MP15x lines More info.png[edit]

See STM32MP15 registers modifications after boot sequence

11 Debug and error cases[edit]

11.1 Debug and Error messages[edit]

  • PA13 management
The ROM code uses the PA13 pin to communicate some statuses. On STMicroelectronics boards, PA13 is connected to the red LED, as explained in the LEDs and buttons on STM32 MPU boards article.
  • In the case of boot failure, the PA13 pin is set to low open-drain (that is, the red LED lights brightly).
  • During UART/USB boot, the PA13 pin toggles open-drain at a rate of about 5 Hz until a connection is started (that is, red the LED blinks fast).
  • With BOOT[2:0] = 0b100 (engineering boot, used for specific debug), PA13 toggles opendrain at a rate of about 5 kHz (that is, the red LED light is dim).
  • In all other cases, the PA13 is kept in it’s reset value, that is, high-Z until software setting.


  • Traces
  • During its execution, the ROM writes binary traces into memory.
Traces can be downloaded and analyzed with the ROM trace analyzer tool.
  • In the case of an internal blocking error, the ROM code writes a UART log error at 9600 bauds to the PA13 pin.

11.2 Common debug and error cases[edit]

  • Memory boot failure
Secure boot flow always enters the serial boot loop during which the Error LED blinks. Therefore, observing such blinking when Memory boot is required indicates that Memory boot failed.
  • Security issue
If the boot ROM encounters a security issue, it stops the secure boot immediately, and sets the Error LED to light brightly.