cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

How to place Bootloader after Application in Flash

I wrote a Bootloader for my STM32F042k6 board that functions pretty well. On System Reset the Bootloader is launched and can later jump to the Application. That was great:). Now I wish to do the opposite in my Flash. I wish Launch my Bootloader at a start address other than 0x08000000 lets say at 0x08007000. When I do the modifications in the Linker Script the Programm cannot be debugged. In simple words I wish to place my bootloader at the end of my Flash. Without forget that the Bootloader is always the first Code to run after Reset. Thanks in advance for your help and comments Here is my Linker Script:

/* Entry Point */
ENTRY(Boot_Reset_Handler)
 
/* Highest address of the user mode stack */
_estack = 0x20001800;    /* end of 6K RAM */
 
/* Generate a link error if heap and stack don't fit into RAM */
_Min_Heap_Size = 0;      /* required amount of heap  */
_Min_Stack_Size = 0x80; /* required amount of stack */
 
/* Specify the memory areas */
MEMORY
{	
  BOOTLOADER (rx) : ORIGIN = 0x08007000, LENGTH = 4K	
  FLASH (rx)      : ORIGIN = 0x08000000, LENGTH = 28K 
  RAM (xrw)       : ORIGIN = 0x200000C0, LENGTH = 6K - 192
  MEMORY_B1 (rx)  : ORIGIN = 0x60000000, LENGTH = 0K
}
 
 
/* Define output sections */
SECTIONS
{
  /* The startup code goes first into BOOTLOADER */
  .isr_vector :
  {
    . = ALIGN(4);
    KEEP(*(.isr_vector)) /* Startup code */
    . = ALIGN(4);
  } >BOOTLOADER
  
  
 
  /* The program code and other data goes into BOOTLOADER */
  .text :
  {
    . = ALIGN(4);
    *(.text)           /* .text sections (code) */
    *(.text*)          /* .text* sections (code) */
    *(.glue_7)         /* glue arm to thumb code */
    *(.glue_7t)        /* glue thumb to arm code */
    *(.eh_frame)
 
    KEEP (*(.init))
    KEEP (*(.fini))
 
    . = ALIGN(4);
    _etext = .;        /* define a global symbols at end of code */
  } >BOOTLOADER
 
  /* Constant data goes into BOOTLOADER */
  .rodata :
  {
    . = ALIGN(4);
    *(.rodata)         /* .rodata sections (constants, strings, etc.) */
    *(.rodata*)        /* .rodata* sections (constants, strings, etc.) */
    . = ALIGN(4);
  } >BOOTLOADER
 
  .ARM.extab   : { *(.ARM.extab* .gnu.linkonce.armextab.*) } >BOOTLOADER
  .ARM : {
    __exidx_start = .;
    *(.ARM.exidx*)
    __exidx_end = .;
  } >BOOTLOADER
 
  .preinit_array     :
  {
    PROVIDE_HIDDEN (__preinit_array_start = .);
    KEEP (*(.preinit_array*))
    PROVIDE_HIDDEN (__preinit_array_end = .);
  } >BOOTLOADER
  .init_array :
  {
    PROVIDE_HIDDEN (__init_array_start = .);
    KEEP (*(SORT(.init_array.*)))
    KEEP (*(.init_array*))
    PROVIDE_HIDDEN (__init_array_end = .);
  } >BOOTLOADER
  .fini_array :
  {
    PROVIDE_HIDDEN (__fini_array_start = .);
    KEEP (*(SORT(.fini_array.*)))
    KEEP (*(.fini_array*))
    PROVIDE_HIDDEN (__fini_array_end = .);
  } >BOOTLOADER
 
  /* used by the startup to initialize data */
  _sidata = LOADADDR(.data);
 
  /* Initialized data sections goes into RAM, load LMA copy after code */
  .data : 
  {
    . = ALIGN(4);
    _sdata = .;        /* create a global symbol at data start */
    *(.data)           /* .data sections */
    *(.data*)          /* .data* sections */
 
    . = ALIGN(4);
    _edata = .;        /* define a global symbol at data end */
  } >RAM AT> BOOTLOADER
 
  /* Uninitialized data section */
  . = ALIGN(4);
  .bss :
  {
    /* This is used by the startup in order to initialize the .bss secion */
    _sbss = .;         /* define a global symbol at bss start */
    __bss_start__ = _sbss;
    *(.bss)
    *(.bss*)
    *(COMMON)
 
    . = ALIGN(4);
    _ebss = .;         /* define a global symbol at bss end */
    __bss_end__ = _ebss;
  } >RAM
 
  /* User_heap_stack section, used to check that there is enough RAM left */
  ._user_heap_stack :
  {
    . = ALIGN(4);
    PROVIDE ( end = . );
    PROVIDE ( _end = . );
    . = . + _Min_Heap_Size;
    . = . + _Min_Stack_Size;
    . = ALIGN(4);
  } >RAM
 
  /* MEMORY_bank1 section, code must be located here explicitly            */
  /* Example: extern int foo(void) __attribute__ ((section (".mb1text"))); */
  .memory_b1_text :
  {
    *(.mb1text)        /* .mb1text sections (code) */
    *(.mb1text*)       /* .mb1text* sections (code)  */
    *(.mb1rodata)      /* read-only data (constants) */
    *(.mb1rodata*)
  } >MEMORY_B1
 
  /* Remove information from the standard libraries */
  /DISCARD/ :
  {
    libc.a ( * )
    libm.a ( * )
    libgcc.a ( * )
  }
 
  .ARM.attributes 0 : { *(.ARM.attributes) }
}

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

Ive got the Solution. 🙂 I forgot adding some Libraries.

View solution in original post

7 REPLIES 7

Get a better debugger.

Make sure the bootloader​ code transfers control properly.

Manage the relocation of the Vector Table to RAM​.

Step the transition code to make sure it works and you understand the process.​

Tips, Buy me a coffee, or three.. PayPal Venmo
Up vote any posts that you find helpful, it shows what's working..

From your point of view is my linker Script Ok? And where exactly should I do the relocation of the Vector Table? In the Main() of the Bootloader?

When I placed the Bootloader at the Start Address( First Case 0x0800000 ) I had to do the relocation in the main() of the Application which started at 0x08000C00.

Your boot loader takes an excessive amount of space, your app has next to no space, and the naming of sections could be more rational/consistent.

I'm confused, why build for 0x08007000 when your application is at 0x08000C00?

On this part the vector table must reside at address 0x00000000, this is normally achieved by mapping the BASE of FLASH (0x08000000) or RAM (0x20000000) there. In the RAM case you need to construct a copy of the vector table you have stored deeper in the FLASH (say 0x08007000 or 0x08000C00)

Tips, Buy me a coffee, or three.. PayPal Venmo
Up vote any posts that you find helpful, it shows what's working..

Oh sorry I didnt take note that the bootloader was so small. Initially I reserved just 3Kb for it. My Hardware has just 32Kb of Flash ie from 0x08000000 - 0x0800 7FFF . lets forget about the bootloader stuff. Lets assume I want to write a LED Blink Application and I change the Address of the Flash from 0x08000000 (Standard) to 0x08000c00. What are the required steps?

@Community member​  I have successfully been able to place the Bootloader at a address other than the start Adresss(0x08000000). In the bootloader I have a normal LED Blink Code. I get a timeout at HAL_Delay() function. Could you suggest somthing for me. Thanks

extern uint32_t BOOTLOADER_ADDRESS;
#define BOOTLOADER_START_ADDR        (uint32_t)(&BOOTLOADER_ADDRESS)
 
void remap_table(void)
  {
		  volatile uint32_t *VectorTable = (volatile uint32_t *)0x020000000;
	      uint32_t VectorIndex = 0;
	      for(VectorIndex = 0; VectorIndex < 48; VectorIndex++)
	      {
	          VectorTable[VectorIndex] = *(__IO uint32_t*)((uint32_t)BOOTLOADER_START_ADDR + 
                 (VectorIndex << 2));
	      }
	      __HAL_RCC_SYSCFG_CLK_ENABLE();
	      __HAL_SYSCFG_REMAPMEMORY_SRAM();
	      __enable_irq();
  }

Thats my remap code. Is it ok?

Ive got the Solution. 🙂 I forgot adding some Libraries.

I had the same issue during entering to debug what is the lib that was missing