Milk-V Mars Bootloader Update Guide

Whether Mars starts the system through the SD card or the eMMC module, it must be started through the Bootloader boot program. This boot program is stored in an SPI Flash on the board and contains two parts: SPL and U-Boot.

tip

The Bootloader in Mars can be understood as the BIOS in PC

When Mars is shipped, it already comes with a pre-installed initial Bootloader program. There is no need to upgrade this program during normal usage. Bootloader upgrade is only necessary in the following situations:

1. When the bootloader program in SPI Flash is accidentally damaged, causing the system to fail to start normally.
2. When upgrading the official system image (such as Debian), it must be matched with the new bootloader, otherwise it cannot be started.
3. U-Boot has fixed some bugs or added new functions. When you need to use these new functions.

There are several ways to update the Bootloader in SPI Flash on Mars, such as Windows burning tools, TFTP, flashcp commands, etc. Here are the methods of using the flashcp command and using the UsbFlashTool burning tool in Windows systems.

Update Bootloader using flashcp command

If the current bootloader of your Mars can boot the Debian system normally, you can use the flashcp command in the Debian system to update the bootloader.

1. Install flashcp command

   The flashcp command in the Debian system is included in the mtd-utils package. Execute the following command to install:

   sudo apt install mtd-utils

2. Download Bootloader Firmware

   Bootloader firmware

   The firmware contains two files, SPL and U-Boot:

   SPL:    mars_u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out
   U-Boot: mars_visionfive2_fw_payload.img

   You can download it directly on Mars, or download it on PC and then transfer it to Mars through scp command or USB flash drive.

3. View SPI Flash partition information

   cat /proc/mtd

   The output is as follows:

   user@milkv:~$ cat /proc/mtd
   dev:    size   erasesize  name
   mtd0: 00040000 00001000 "spl"
   mtd1: 00300000 00001000 "uboot"
   mtd2: 00100000 00001000 "data"

   We need to update SPL to the mtd0 partition and U-Boot to the mtd1 partition.

4. Update Bootloader

   Update SPL:

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

   Update U-Boot:

   sudo flashcp -v mars_visionfive2_fw_payload.img /dev/mtd1

   The output of successful execution is as follows:

   user@milkv:~$ sudo flashcp -v mars_u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out /dev/mtd0
   Erasing blocks: 36/36 (100%)
   Writing data: 143k/143k (100%)
   Verifying data: 143k/143k (100%)
   user@milkv:~$
   user@milkv:~$ sudo flashcp -v mars_visionfive2_fw_payload.img /dev/mtd1
   Erasing blocks: 723/723 (100%)
   Writing data: 2890k/2890k (100%)
   Verifying data: 2890k/2890k (100%)

After powering on again, you can determine whether the bootloader has been updated based on the timestamp in the UART serial port log:

U-Boot SPL 2021.10 (Nov 24 2023 - 10:21:39 +0800)

U-Boot 2021.10 (Nov 24 2023 - 10:21:39 +0800)

Use UsbFlashTool to upgrade bootloader under Windows

Download UsbFlashTool burning tool and Bootloader firmware

UsbFlashTool

Bootloader firmware

SPL:    mars_u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out
U-Boot: mars_visionfive2_fw_payload.img

Install driver for the burning tool

tip

Driver installation is only required for the first use.

Extract the downloaded Mars-UsbFlashTool-*-Windows.zip into the Windows system.

1. Connect the USB to TTL serial port cable to the 40 pin header on Mars, connect the USB to the PC and note down the serial port number

   How to connect USB to serial cable: Use Serial Console

   

   Note: If any other serial port program is open and using the serial port, please exit the program to release the port and avoid occupying it.

2. Connect the PC and Mars using a USB 2.0 interface with a type A Male to Male USB data cable

   

   

3. Press and hold the upgrade button on Mars, and then power on Mars through the Type C interface. At this time, Mars will enter the upgrade mode. You can release the upgrade button to continue the operation.

   

4. Run the UsbFlashTool-*-Windows.exe flashing program in the flashing tool directory

   

5. Set the serial port number in the Serial Setting on the right side to the serial port number noted in step 1

   

6. Select Firmware in File Type, then click File Select to select the usbprog-mars-230510.out in the update directory, then click Load, and wait for the message Loaded to appear after loading

   

7. At this time, the JH7110 device has been identified in the Windows Device Manager and the driver needs to be installed

   

8. Run the zadig-2.5 program in the flashing tool directory, select List All Devices in the menu Options, select StarFive JH7110 Device in the drop-down list, and then click Install Driver to complete the driver installation

   

   After the driver is successfully installed, check whether the status in the device manager has become a normal USB device

   

9. After the driver is successfully installed, close the UsbFlashTool window and power off Mars.

Upgrade Bootloader

The first 5 steps of burning the bootloader are the same as the first 5 steps of installing the driver above.

1. Connect the USB to TTL serial port cable to the 40 pin header on Mars, connect the USB to the PC and note down the serial port number

   How to connect USB to serial cable: Use Serial Console

   

   Note: If any other serial port program is open and using the serial port, please exit the program to release the port and avoid occupying it.

2. Connect the PC and Mars using a USB 2.0 interface with a type A Male to Male USB data cable

   

   

3. Press and hold the upgrade button on Mars, and then power on Mars through the Type C interface. At this time, Mars will enter the upgrade mode. You can release the upgrade button to continue the operation.

   

4. Run the UsbFlashTool-*-Windows.exe flashing program in the flashing tool directory

   

5. Set the serial port number in the Serial Setting on the right side to the serial port number noted in step 1

   

6. Select Firmware in File Type, then click File Select to select the usbprog-mars-230510.out in the update directory, then click Load, and wait for the message Complete to appear after loading

   

7. Flash the SPL

   Click File Select, select the SPL firmware u-boot-spl.bin.normal.out to be burned, select SPL in File Type, select FLASH in Memory Type, Click Load to start burning firmware.

   

   After successful burning, SUCCEED and Complete will be displayed.

   

8. Flash the U-BOOT

   Click File Select, select the U-BOOT firmware visionfive2_fw_payload.img to be burned, select U-Boot in File Type, select FLASH in Memory Type, and then click Load to start burning firmware.

   

   After successful burning, SUCCEED and Complete will be displayed.

   

9. After burning is completed, close the UsbFlashTool window and power off Mars.

After powering on again, you can determine whether the bootloader has been updated based on the time information in the serial port log.

U-Boot SPL 2021.10 (Aug 31 2023 - 12:55:45 +0800)

U-Boot 2021.10 (Aug 31 2023 - 12:55:45 +0800), Build: jenkins-github_visionfive2-17