Bootloader

[中文]

Bootloader performs the following functions:

  1. Minimal initial configuration of internal modules;
  2. Select the application partition to boot, based on the partition table and ota_data (if any);
  3. Load this image to RAM (IRAM & DRAM) and transfer management to it.

Bootloader is located at the address 0x1000 in the flash.

FACTORY reset

The user can write a basic working firmware and load it into the factory partition. Next, update the firmware via OTA (over the air). The updated firmware will be loaded into an OTA app partition slot and the OTA data partition is updated to boot from this partition. If you want to be able to roll back to the factory firmware and clear the settings, then you need to set CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_FACTORY_RESET. The factory reset mechanism allows to reset the device to factory settings:

  • Clear one or more data partitions.
  • Boot from “factory” partition.

CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_DATA_FACTORY_RESET allows customers to select which data partitions will be erased when the factory reset is executed. Can specify the names of partitions through comma-delimited with optional spaces for readability. (Like this: “nvs, phy_init, nvs_custom, …”). Make sure that the name specified in the partition table and here are the same. Partitions of type “app” cannot be specified here.

CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_OTA_DATA_ERASE - the device will boot from “factory” partition after a factory reset. The OTA data partition will be cleared.

CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_NUM_PIN_FACTORY_RESET- number of the GPIO input for factory reset uses to trigger a factory reset, this GPIO must be pulled low on reset to trigger this.

CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_HOLD_TIME_GPIO- this is hold time of GPIO for reset/test mode (by default 5 seconds). The GPIO must be held low continuously for this period of time after reset before a factory reset or test partition boot (as applicable) is performed.

Partition table.:

# Name,   Type, SubType, Offset,   Size, Flags
# Note: if you have increased the bootloader size, make sure to update the offsets to avoid overlap
nvs,      data, nvs,     0x9000,   0x4000
otadata,  data, ota,     0xd000,   0x2000
phy_init, data, phy,     0xf000,   0x1000
factory,  0,    0,       0x10000,  1M
test,     0,    test,    ,         512K
ota_0,    0,    ota_0,   ,         512K
ota_1,    0,    ota_1,   ,         512K

Boot from TEST firmware

The user can write a special firmware for testing in production, and run it as needed. The partition table also needs a dedicated partition for this testing firmware (See partition table). To trigger a test app you need to set CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_APP_TEST.

CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_NUM_PIN_APP_TEST - GPIO number to boot TEST partition. The selected GPIO will be configured as an input with internal pull-up enabled. To trigger a test app, this GPIO must be pulled low on reset. After the GPIO input is deactivated and the device reboots, the normally configured application will boot (factory or any OTA slot).

CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_HOLD_TIME_GPIO - this is hold time of GPIO for reset/test mode (by default 5 seconds). The GPIO must be held low continuously for this period of time after reset before a factory reset or test partition boot (as applicable) is performed.

Fast boot from Deep Sleep

The bootloader has the CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_SKIP_VALIDATE_IN_DEEP_SLEEP option which allows to reduce the wake-up time (useful to reduce consumption). This option is available when the CONFIG_SECURE_BOOT_ENABLED option is disabled. Reduction of time is achieved due to the lack of image verification. During the first boot, the bootloader stores the address of the application being launched in the RTC FAST memory. And during the awakening, this address is used for booting without any checks, thus fast loading is achieved.

Customer bootloader

The current bootloader implementation allows the customer to override it. To do this, you must copy the folder /esp-idf/components/bootloader and then edit /your_project/components/bootloader/subproject/main/bootloader_main.c. In the bootloader space, you can not use the drivers and functions from other components. If necessary, then the required functionality should be placed in the folder bootloader (note that this will increase its size). It is necessary to monitor its size because there can be overlays in memory with a partition table leading to damage. At the moment the bootloader is limited to the partition table from the address 0x8000.