Hi, Pardon me if this is out of scope in this groups..
The discussion is about usage of S-Record files for Downloads instead of Binary file. Generally S-Record Downloads are used when the medium of communication is Serial Port , which has no Error Checking mechanism inbuilt in hardware. Whereas when we consider the Network download throgh Ethernet, most bootloaders (u-boot as well) does a binary download. Is this because the Ethernet hardware has a Error Checking mechanism inbuilt ? If yes, even using a USB hardware for download also can use Binary instead of S-Records??
Please comment on my arguments?
Rupesh
Dear Rupesh,
in message 000f01c326ce$12c7ac60$6706a8c0@SPLENDOR you wrote:
The discussion is about usage of S-Record files for Downloads instead of Binary file. Generally S-Record Downloads are used when the medium of communication is Serial Port , which has no Error Checking mechanism inbuilt in hardware.
...or which may be not 8-bit clean so binary transmission is impossible.
Whereas when we consider the Network download throgh Ethernet, most bootloaders (u-boot as well) does a binary download. Is this because the Ethernet hardware has a Error Checking mechanism inbuilt ?
This is one of the reasons. We also use binary protocols (like kermit binary protocol with the "loadb" command) over serrial lines.
If yes, even using a USB hardware for download also can use Binary instead of S-Records??
Define "a USB hardware"... A mass storage device? A communications device? A network device?
Please comment on my arguments?
S-Records is a very simple protocol, which is easy to implement with relatively small memory footprint, so it is usable even on small micros where you could only dream of things like ethernet or USB host functions.
Best regards,
Wolfgang Denk
having said that the S-Record decode algorithm is simple in terms of footprint and easeness to implement, the S-Record algorithm is highly inefficient with respect to speed of transfer of file. because decoding is done byte by byte basis.
Rupesh ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wolfgang Denk" wd@denx.de To: "Rupesh S" rupeshs@myw.ltindia.com Cc: u-boot-users@lists.sourceforge.net Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 3:32 AM Subject: Re: [U-Boot-Users] Why S-Records?
Dear Rupesh,
in message 000f01c326ce$12c7ac60$6706a8c0@SPLENDOR you wrote:
The discussion is about usage of S-Record files for Downloads instead of Binary file. Generally S-Record Downloads are used when the medium of communication is Serial Port , which has no Error Checking mechanism inbuilt in hardware.
...or which may be not 8-bit clean so binary transmission is impossible.
Whereas when we consider the Network download throgh Ethernet, most bootloaders (u-boot as well) does a binary download. Is this because the Ethernet hardware has a Error Checking mechanism inbuilt ?
This is one of the reasons. We also use binary protocols (like kermit binary protocol with the "loadb" command) over serrial lines.
If yes, even using a USB hardware for download also can use Binary instead of S-Records??
Define "a USB hardware"... A mass storage device? A communications device? A network device?
Please comment on my arguments?
S-Records is a very simple protocol, which is easy to implement with relatively small memory footprint, so it is usable even on small micros where you could only dream of things like ethernet or USB host functions.
Best regards,
Wolfgang Denk
-- Software Engineering: Embedded and Realtime Systems, Embedded Linux Phone: (+49)-8142-4596-87 Fax: (+49)-8142-4596-88 Email: wd@denx.de "I've finally learned what `upward compatible' means. It means we get to keep all our old mistakes." - Dennie van Tassel
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In message 005e01c32718$579e33f0$6706a8c0@SPLENDOR you wrote:
having said that the S-Record decode algorithm is simple in terms of footprint and easeness to implement, the S-Record algorithm is highly inefficient with respect to speed of transfer of file. because decoding is done byte by byte basis.
Yes, of course. But by the time it was invented the memory size of typical microcumputer systems was usually just a few kB, and default serial speed was often 1200 bps, maybe even 9600 bps.
It was good enough for that purpose. S-Records were not invented to download megabyte-sized images of Unix systems...
If you feel it's slow and clumsy then just don't use it. Disable it from the configuration. Use Ethernet, and enjoy the speed and ease of use.
Wolfgang Denk
participants (2)
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Rupesh S -
Wolfgang Denk