The bootloader U-Boot

<meta name="description" content="All you need to know about the U-Boot bootloader for IGEP Processor Boards. How to cross compile, get stable versions and get the latest development versions, etc."></meta> <meta name="keywords" content="U-Boot, IGEP, ARM, OMAP3, AM335x, OMAP5"></meta>

Overview

This page is meant to be a starting point for people to learn build a u-boot image and show to people the current status of different u-boot versions for IGEP Processor Boards.

What is U-Boot?

Das U-Boot (Universal Bootloader) is an open source, primary boot loader used in embedded devices. It is available for a number of different computer architectures, including PPC, ARM, MIPS, AVR32, x86.

How to cross compile the U-Boot

In order to compile and build the U-Boot for IGEP PROCESSOR BOARDS you should set the CROSS_COMPILE variable. Set this to the prefix of your toolchain (including the trailing dash "-"). So if your toolchain is invoked as say arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc, just chop off that trailing gcc and that's what you use: arm-linux-gnu-.

As example, once you've downloaded the u-boot source, you should follow these steps:

make CROSS_COMPILE=[cross compiler] [board config]
make CROSS_COMPILE=[cross compiler]

The result will be a MLO and a u-boot.img file. You can install these files, for example, in the boot partition of a SD-card.

Stable U-Boot

For OMAP3 based platforms, ISEE do not support u-boot, instead of, ISEE provides The IGEP X-loader

U-Boot 2015.04.y-iMX6 series

The 2015.04.y-iMX6 u-boot series are supported by IGEP PROCESSOR BOARDS based on:

• iMX6.png

See the U-Boot 2015.04.y article

U-Boot 2014.01.y-omap5 series

The 2014.01.y-omap5 u-boot series are supported by IGEP PROCESSOR BOARDS based on:

• omap5.png

See the U-Boot 2014.01.y article

U-Boot 2015.07.y series

The 2015.07.y u-boot series are supported by IGEP PROCESSOR BOARDS based on:

• am335x.png

See the U-Boot 2015.07.y article

Unstable U-Boot

NOTE: These u-boot series are where the development work takes place and you should use this if you're after to work with the latest cutting edge developments. It is possible trunk can suffer temporary periods of instability while new features are developed and if this is undesirable we recommend using one of the release branches. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK

The mainline series are supported by IGEP PROCESSOR BOARDS based on:

• omap3.png
• am335x.png
• omap5.png

See the U-Boot Mainline Series article.

End Of Life U-Boot (EOL)

An "End of Life" U-Boot means that its support will stop and all the users are urged to upgrade to a new version.

U-Boot 2013.07.y series

NOTE: These series are end-of-life, dead, gone, buried

The 2013.07.y u-boot series are supported by IGEP PROCESSOR BOARDS based on:

• am335x.png

See the U-Boot 2013.07.y article

U-Boot 2010.06-y series

NOTE: These series are end-of-life, dead, gone, buried

The 2010.06-y u-boot series are supported by IGEP PROCESSOR BOARDS based on:

• omap3.png

See the U-Boot 2010.06-y series article.

U-Boot 2009.11-y series

NOTE: These series are end-of-life, dead, gone, buried

The 2009.11-y u-boot series are supported by IGEP PROCESSOR BOARDS based on:

• omap3.png

See the U-Boot 2009.11-y series article.