Install an image to SPI Nor Flash

Meles has a SPI nor Flash on board. It contains the Bootloader and supports booting other media that the SoC download mode itself does not directly support such Micro SD card and USB.

Install an image to SPI Nor Flash via UART port

Requirements

Meles with proper power
Bootloader for Meles
Image writer
USB to TTL serial cable
Linux Ubuntu PC

Install tools on PC

Install yoctools

$ sudo pip install yoctools -U

Check version

$ yoc --version 2.0.74

Get image writer, iw-single-line.bin

$ wget https://github.com/milkv-meles/thead-bin/raw/main/image-writer/iw-single-line.bin

Get essential images

Download Meles Bootloader from here, https://github.com/milkv-meles/meles-images/releases.

$ wget https://github.com/milkv-meles/meles-images/releases/download/v2024-0329/u-boot-with-spl-meles.bin
$ wget https://github.com/milkv-meles/meles-images/releases/download/v2024-0329/u-boot-with-spl-meles-4g.bin

Download zero image.

$ wget https://github.com/milkv-meles/thead-bin/raw/main/image-writer/zero-1m.img

Boot Meles to download mode

To boot Meles to download mode is simple:

Power down Meles
Plug USB to TTL serial cable to Meles debug port
Press download button and hold it
Plug USB Type-C power adapter to Meles Type-C port to power on Meles
Release download button

Write Bootloader to SPI Nor Flash

Step 1: Check available devices with cct tool

Run the following command. /dev/ttyUSB0 is the serial port on PC.

$ sudo cct list -u /dev/ttyUSB0 Wait ..............

Just ignore the log and go to the Step 2.

Step 2: Boot Meles to download mode

Power down Meles
Plug USB to TTL serial cable to Meles debug port
Press download button and hold it
Plug USB Type-C power adapter to Meles Type-C port to power on Meles
Release download button
Check device

$ sudo cct list -u /dev/ttyUSB0
Wait ............................
Memory device list:
dev = ram0   , size =    1.1MB
dev = qspi0  , size =   16.0MB

Step 3: Download image writer to SRAM

$ sudo cct download -u /dev/ttyUSB0 -d ram0 -f ./iw-single-line.bin -v checksum -r Wait Send file './iw-single-line.bin' to 2:0 ... File ./iw-single-line.bin download success.
Start to verify data with method:[checksum] checksum value is: 0x880572 读出并校验成功! Start to run image...

Step 4: Download Bootloader to SPI Nor Flash

Download bootloader to 8GB Meles.

$ sudo cct download -u /dev/ttyUSB0 -d qspi0 -f ./u-boot-with-spl-meles.bin -v checksum -r -t 1200 Wait Send file './u-boot-with-spl-meles.bin' to 23:0 ... File ./u-boot-with-spl-meles.bin download success. Start to verify data with method:[checksum] checksum value is: 0x428a844 读出并校验成功! Start to run image...

Step 5: Power cycle Meles

Power cycle Meles and the blue LED should be always on.

Erase SPI Nor Flash

Step 1: Check available devices with cct tool

Run the following command. Device /dev/ttyUSB0 is the serial port on PC.

$ sudo cct list -u /dev/ttyUSB0 Wait ..............

Just ignore the log and go to the Step 2.

Step 2: Boot Meles to download mode

Power down Meles
Plug USB to TTL serial cable to Meles debug port
Press download button and hold it
Plug USB Type-C power adapter to Meles Type-C port to power on Meles
Release download button
Check device

$ sudo cct list -u /dev/ttyUSB0
Wait ............................
Memory device list:
dev = ram0   , size =    1.1MB
dev = qspi0  , size =   16.0MB

Step 3: Download image writer to SRAM

Step 4: Download zero image to SPI Nor Flash

$ sudo cct download -u /dev/ttyUSB0 -d qspi0 -f ./zero-1m.img -v checksum -r -t 1200 Wait Send file './zero-1m.img' to 23:0 ... File ./zero-1m.img download success.
Start to verify data with method:[checksum] checksum value is: 0x0 读出并校验成功! Start to run image...

Step 5: Power cycle Meles

Power cycle Meles and the blue LED should be always off.

Install an image to SPI Nor Flash