plugout.net

In the last months I worked on getting a upgrade for u-boot for the spd8020 and nwsp1
This new u-boot has support for GPT so disks bigger then 2TB can be used.
For spd8020 the support to be able to access via the fvdw-sl console is a new feature.
In the upgrade the spd8020 will probably be moved to use the same partition structure as all the lacie device, so laoding a kernel from partition 6 and storing data on partition 8 instead of 6. This because with GPT the method of determining the active partition to load the kernel from as done now on sp8020 cannot be used. GPT doesn't uses 'active" partitions.
We are still think what the best thing to do is in this matter.

Further this new u-boot will allow loading of bigger kernels (upto 6 MB instead of 2MB) that make use of linux 3.x and standalone kernels possible (standalone = running from RAM without the need of a disk, which is very handy if the nas refuses to boot due to disk problems or corrupt files. Now you need to remove the disk and connect it to a limux PC to solve. it, with the standalone kernel you could do this by using the fvdw-sl console without opening the nas and leave the disk in the enclosure.)

Anyhow the new u-boot for nwsp1 is available for brave volunteers that are willing to write it to flash and use a gpt table, let me know if you have interest in testing it.
For spd8020 still need to do some testing, seems the one compiled for nwsp1 has problems on the spd8020 but I think that I know where the problem is

I learned several things about u-boot and I guess I can also adapt the u-boot for isp1, and 2big1 and 5big1. For the first only to get support for GPT, the last two to get GPT support and laoding u-boot higher up in RAM, but that will not be on short notice. Need to do some other jobs first.

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    Bootstrap 02.09
             __  __                      _ _
            |  \/  | __ _ _ ____   _____| | |
            | |\/| |/ _` | '__\ \ / / _ \ | |
            | |  | | (_| | |   \ V /  __/ | |
            |_|  |_|\__,_|_|    \_/ \___|_|_|
     _   _     ____              _
    | | | |   | __ )  ___   ___ | |_
    | | | |___|  _ \ / _ \ / _ \| __|
    | |_| |___| |_) | (_) | (_) | |_
     \___/    |____/ \___/ \___/ \__| fvdw vs 3 ** LOADER **
     ** MARVELL BOARD: RD-88F6082-NAS-PH LE

    U-Boot 1.1.4 (Jan 20 2015 - 22:00:10) Marvell version: 2.3.9_2-TINY-fvdw1

    U-Boot code: 00600000 -> 0063EE00  BSS: -> 0064D430

    Soc: MV88F6082 Rev 1 (DDR1)
    CPU running @ 333Mhz
    SysClock = 166Mhz , TClock = 133Mhz

    DRAM CS[0] base 0x00000000   size   8MB
    DRAM CS[1] base 0x00800000   size   8MB
    DRAM Total size  16MB  16bit width
    dram test skipped not suitable for this board
    2 Hit any key to reset board (2 sec)

    configure Flash banks
    3 Hit any key to bypass mvflashinit (2 sec)

    mvFlash called
    try to initialize the marvell Flash
    Number of Marvell flashes on board 1
    [256kB@f8100000]
    init Flash banks completed
    Flash: 256 kB
    Addresses 8M - 0M are saved for the U-Boot usage.
    Mem malloc Initialization (8M - 7M): Done
    7 Hit any key to reset board (2 sec)

    CPU : ARM926 (Rev 0)

    USB 0: host mode
    PCI 0: PCI Express Root Complex Interface
    Net:   egiga0 [PRIME], egiga1
    Waiting for LUMP (3)
    no lump receive; continuing
    Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
    Marvell>>


Do you still need volunteers to test this ?
I resurrected a nwsp1 yesterday by installing the firmware on a 2TB disk, and the thing is now happily chugging along again.
I have another one that I do not use at the moment, so I could test the uboot upgrade, I would love to use a more modern kernel, preferably with IPv6 enabled..

On a nwsp1 you can do it test as follow. Install the latest fvdw-sl console version 5.5
In the tftp folder you find this file: u-boot-rd88f6082nas_nwsp1_flash.bin
This is the upgraded u-boot

Be sure to have your nwsp1 connected to the lan ans switched off.
Choose as action u-boot console, it will open a window saying waiting for u-boot
Also perform the action to start the tftp server

Now start your nwsp1 and in the u-boot window a message will appear that it interupted u-boot and how to activate the console.
When you have the u-boot prompt in the u-boot console (marvell>>) then give as command

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bubt u-boot-rd88f6082nas_nwsp1_flash.bin

This will upload the flash image and write it to flash. If it ask you to overwrite the environment (env) answer N
when you are back on the marvell prompt and everything has gone well give as command: reset
If something went wrong do not give the reset command because if the flashing failed you will end up with a bricked nas. Thean ask advice first on what can be done.

After reset the nwsp1 will now reboot and hopefully it will still work. Now you have an upgraded u-boot enabling you to use disks with gpt partition tables and so disk bigger then 2 TB

Note that upgrading u-boot has nothing to do with newer kernels, the only advantage is enabling booting support for disks > 2 TB. If you don't need that, I advise to leave u-boot as it is.