MCUBoot without Partition Manager

[BenKrug]

Hi, I want to implement DFU on an nRF52832 with a mx25r1635f external flash, originally I implement the partitions and everything using the devicetree since I find it a lot more comfortable to use. I followed this proccess: https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/guides/nrf-connect-sdk-guides/b/software/posts/ncs-dfu , but the CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_MCUBOOT option enables the partition manager by default, is there a way to use it with the devicetree method for partitions? I saw that most applications on Zephyr do actually use the devicetree instead of the partition manager, so I expect it to be possible, but couldn't find a way to do it.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

Which NCS are you using? Is it v2.2.0? If so, You can have .conf and .overly for mcuboot as this example. 

Regards,
Amanda H.

[BenKrug]

Hi, I tried to build the code, but I'm getting a lot of error messages, I tried taking out a couple of config parameters, even after trying many combinations, I still can't make it build. Do you know what config parameters I need to use for the nRF52832 with SPI-NOR flash, not QSPI? 

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

Not sure what causes the issue, but the overlay seems you are using qpsi for mx25r16. If you disable qpsi as following 

&qspi {
	status = "disabled";
};

L114 &mx25r16 will not work because the parent's node &qspi is disabled. To use SPI_NOR driver with your external mx25r16, it should have the thing like this example . Here is my overlay for your reference:
 

/*
 * Copyright (c) 2022 Nordic Semiconductor ASA
 *
 * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 */

/* This DTS overlay allows to test MX25R6435F  using SPI_NOR driver */

&pinctrl {
	spi1_alt_default: spi1_alt_default {
		group1 {
			psels = <NRF_PSEL(SPIM_SCK, 0, 19)>,
				<NRF_PSEL(SPIM_MOSI, 0, 20)>,
				<NRF_PSEL(SPIM_MISO, 0, 21)>;
		};
	};

	spi1_alt_sleep: spi1_alt_sleep {
		group1 {
			psels = <NRF_PSEL(SPIM_SCK, 0, 19)>,
				<NRF_PSEL(SPIM_MOSI, 0, 20)>,
				<NRF_PSEL(SPIM_MISO, 0, 21)>;
			low-power-enable;
		};
	};
};

/delete-node/ &mx25r64;
/ {
	chosen {
		nordic,pm-ext-flash = &mx25r64;
	};

	fstab {
	compatible = "zephyr,fstab";
	lfs1: lfs1 {
		compatible = "zephyr,fstab,littlefs";
		mount-point = "/lfs1";
		partition = <&lfs1_part>;
		automount;
		read-size = <16>;
		prog-size = <16>;
		cache-size = <64>;
		lookahead-size = <32>;
		block-cycles = <512>;
		};
	};
};

&spi1 {
	compatible = "nordic,nrf-spi";
	status = "okay";
	cs-gpios = <&gpio0 17 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
	pinctrl-0 = <&spi1_alt_default>;
	pinctrl-1 = <&spi1_alt_sleep>;
	pinctrl-names = "default", "sleep";
	mx25r64: mx25r6435f@0  {
		compatible = "jedec,spi-nor";
		reg = <0>;
		spi-max-frequency = <33000000>;
		jedec-id = [c2 28 17];
		size = <67108864>;
		wp-gpios = <&gpio0 22 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
		hold-gpios = <&gpio0 23 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
		partitions {
			compatible = "fixed-partitions";
			#address-cells = <1>;
			#size-cells = <1>;
	
		};
	};
};

&qspi {
	status = "disabled";
};

Then, it would show the FS at the external flash as

-Amanda H.

[BenKrug]

Hi, I don't have it in the QSPI bus, as I'm using a nrf52832 it does not even include a QSPI bus, I have the flash SPI definitions on the dts file for the custom board:

 &spi1 {
	 compatible = "nordic,nrf-spi";
	 status = "okay";
	 pinctrl-0 = <&spi1_default>;
	 pinctrl-1 = <&spi1_sleep>;
	 pinctrl-names = "default", "sleep";
	 clock-frequency = <20000000>;
	 mx25r16: mx25r1635f@0 {
		compatible = "jedec,spi-nor";
		reg = <0>;
		spi-max-frequency = <33000000>;
		jedec-id = [c2 28 15];
		size = <DT_SIZE_M(16)>;
	};
 };

I forgot to add this piece of code before, sorry.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Does the issue only happen when the CONFIG_PM_PARTITION_SIZE_LITTLEFS is 0x6000? If not, is it possible to provide the log and the updated overly?

-Amanda H.

[BenKrug]

it happens only when CONFIG_PM_PARTITION_SIZE_LITTLEFS is 0xf000 or more

[Amanda Hsieh]

Please upload the latest overlay file. Thanks. 

-Amanda H.

[BenKrug]

The overlay file I've sent is already updated, but okay. So I'm sending the custom board files, .overlay, pm.yml and prj.conf files, with this you should have everything you need.
updated files.zip

[BenKrug]

Hi, have you got any progress on what the problem could be? Are there any files missing?

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

Thanks for the files. I could not find the clues on my side, so I ask the team to look into them. Please kindly give us time to investigate the issue.

Thanks.
Amanda H. 

[BenKrug]

Hi, ok. I asked just because we're on a tight schedule. Thank you for the quick response.

[Amanda Hsieh]

Hi, 

Sorry for the late reply. Please enable the following configs:

CONFIG_PM_PARTITION_REGION_LITTLEFS_EXTERNAL=y
CONFIG_PM_OVERRIDE_EXTERNAL_DRIVER_CHECK=y

-Amanda H.