[U-Boot] Using U-boot command to write NAND flash

Please help, I am new to u-boot. The processor that we are using is AVR32 (AT32AP7000). U-Boot is a Boot Loader, its primary purpose is to load some operating system. Can we use the U-Boot to load our small application before loading the operating system (Linux)? Our small application will read a FPGA bit file from the NAND flash and configure the FPGA. U-Boot includes a basic interactive command interpreter, support for download over Ethernet and the capability to program the flash. Can we update the FPGA bit file (by programming NAND flash using U-boot command)? If yes, then which flash file system that U-boot uses to program the flash? and does that flasf file system take care of wear leveling in the NAND flash?
Thank you so much,

On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 10:16:35AM -0600, Lyn.Tran@L-3com.com wrote:
Can we update the FPGA bit file (by programming NAND flash using U-boot command)? If yes, then which flash file system that U-boot uses to program the flash? and does that flasf file system take care of wear leveling in the NAND flash?
U-boot has low-level support for writing to NAND flash, but AFAIK does not have writeable support for any filesystems, wear-leveling, etc. If you need that, I suggest using Linux to update your flash.
-Scott

Dear Lyn.Tran@L-3com.com,
In message 615935CE76907149AFEC6599C969D4D5356B31@XCGTXH01.corp.eos.l-3com.com you wrote:
U-Boot is a Boot Loader, its primary purpose is to load some operating system. Can we use the U-Boot to load our small application before loading the operating system (Linux)? Our small application will read a FPGA bit file from the NAND flash and configure the FPGA.
You could do that - but it raises the question why you would need a separate application to do that - U-Boot itself contains code to boot FPGAs. Why are you not using U-Boots capabilities?
U-Boot includes a basic interactive command interpreter, support for download over Ethernet and the capability to program the flash. Can we update the FPGA bit file (by programming NAND flash using U-boot command)? If yes, then which flash file system that U-boot uses to program the flash? and does that flasf file system take care of wear leveling in the NAND flash?
You can use U-Boot to write JFFS2 and UBIFS images, but both of these are read-only, i. e. you cannot write a single file into an existing file system. Normally you would create a separate partition for such data if you need to update it in U-Boot context. UBI provides some flexible options for such tasks.
Best regards,
Wolfgang Denk
participants (3)
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Lyn.Tran@L-3com.com
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Scott Wood
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Wolfgang Denk