[Arm-netbook] evaluating rk3188

[Tom Cubie]

On Tue, Jul 16, 2013 at 8:21 AM, Dr. David Alan Gilbert
<dave at treblig.org> wrote:
> * FUKAUMI Naoki (fun at naobsd.org) wrote:
>
> Hi,
>   Thanks for the reply.
>
>> On 07/16/2013 05:38 AM, Dr. David Alan Gilbert wrote:
>
>> structure of firmware image/flash rom and USB flashing protocol
>> should be basically same from RK28 ages(from users' PoV). there are
>> some amount of experiences.
>>
>> some open source tools such as rkflash/rkflashtool can do some work
>> for RK3188 too.
>>
>> >OK, so my understanding for the rk3066 is that:
>> >  a) The flash driver is a closed binary blob - i.e. you can't even read the flash
>>
>> probably you're talking about kernel NAND/MTD driver. it's binary
>> blob, true, it's strange(some difference from standard MTD device),
>> true, but
>
> Yes, the NAND/MTD driver - which seems a bit fundamental to getting
> an open board.
>
>> >   a1) It's broken enough that people tell you never to dd into a partition,
>>
>> it's possible. all you need is 'don't use MEMERASE ioctl, use bs=16384'.
>> if you need working flash_image command, you can get it from my site,
>>
>>  http://androtab.info/clockworkmod/rockchip/
>
> OK, useful to know; a bit late for my board at the moment.
>
>> >because as I did it broke it so that the following didn't work.
>> >
>> >  b) There are at least 2 levels of USB programming protocol
>> >   b1) 'rkflashtool' (there are various github copies) can reflash one layer
>> >   b2) But if it's too broken for that you're stuck....
>> >   b3) .... except with rkbatchtool which is a windows program that
>> >can reflash via USB if you short some pin on the chip to force
>> >some fallback mode.
>> >      (Which I've not got a windows box to try; doesn't work in wine,
>> >even with the wine USB hacks)
>> >
>> >Dave
>>
>> there are 2 modes for USB communication.
>>
>> mask rom mode, like as FEL mode on sunxi, bootloader needs to be
>> loaded by rockchip official tools such as RKAndroidTool,
>> RKBatchTool, etc.
>> rkflash/rkflashtool doesn't support this mode yet.
>
> Is the protocol for that mode known so that it could be supported?
>
>> bootloader mode, bootloader(currently made by rockchip only) is
>> loaded from flash or USB, it should be possible to read/write RAM,
>> NAND and IDB(bootloader) via USB.
>> rkflashtool can read/write NAND and can read RAM/IDB for now.
>>
>> if you don't touch bootloader, rkflashtool works nicely for
>> kernel/userland development.
>
> Well, I didn't intend to touch the bootloader - thus is life!

I heard rockchips is planning open source some time in the future.
Someone told me they are working on u-boot. But when i visited them,
they said no interest in open source.

>
> Dave
> --
>  -----Open up your eyes, open up your mind, open up your code -------
> / Dr. David Alan Gilbert    |       Running GNU/Linux       | Happy  \
> \ gro.gilbert @ treblig.org |                               | In Hex /
>  \ _________________________|_____ http://www.treblig.org   |_______/
>
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