tos-bsl.txt

tinyos-2.x.rar

tos-bsl
-------

BootStrapLoader software for the flash devices MSP430F1xx 
(maybe F4xx too, but its not tested).
Based on the example provided by TI but with more features.

This version is a modification of Chris Liechti's original
pybsl, with support for the telos, telosb and tmote devices
from Moteiv (www.moteiv.com).

It is released under a free software license,
see tos-bsl-license.txt for more details.

(C) 2001-2003 Chris Liechti <[e-mail]>

Features
--------

- understands TI-Text and Intel-hex
- download to Flash and/or RAM, erase, verify
- reset and wait for keypress (to run a device directly from the port
  power)
- load addres into R0/PC and run
- password file can be any data file, e.g. the one used to program the
  device in an earlier session
- upload a memory block MSP->PC (output as binary data or hex dump)
- written in Python, runs on Win32, Linux, BSD (other unices have other
  device names but should be faisible), Jython (Python in Java)
- use per command line, or in a Python script
- download a program, execute it, resynchronize and upload results.
  (for testing and callibration)
- downladable BSL for larger devices
- baudrate change for newer MSP430-BSLs
- test and reset lines can be inverted for non standard BSL hardware

Requirements
------------
- Linux, BSD, Un*x or Windows PC
- Python 2.0 or newer (1.5.2 untested), 2.2 recomeded
- win32all extensions to Python on Windows
- BSL hardware with an MSP430 device connected to a serial port 

Installation
------------
Python installations are available from www.python.org. On Windows simply
use the installer. The win32all package has an installer too. These
installations should run fine with the deafults.

On Linux just Python is needed. On many distributions is Python 1.5.2
incuded. I suggest that an upgrade to 2.2 or newer. There are rpm and deb
binary packages and a source tarball availabe through the Python homepage.

The pybsl archive can simply be unpacked to a directory, Windows users
can use WinZip or WinRar among others to extract the gzipped tar file.
If you want to run it from everywhere the directory where the file bsl.py
is, should be added to the PATH.
Look at "/etc/profile" on Linux, "autoexec.bat" on Win9x/ME,
System Properties/Environment in Win2000/NT/XP.

For Jython you need to have installed the "Java Communications API"
(JavaComm).

Short introduction
------------------
First the MSP430 BSL hardware is needed. An example schematics can be found
in the application note "slaa96b" from TI (see references). Then this
programm can be used to communicate between the PC and the MSP430 device.

The program can be started by typing "python bsl.py" in a console. Often
it works also with just "bsl.py" or "./bsl.py".

USAGE: bsl.py [options] [file]

If "-" is specified as file the data is read from the stdinput.
A file ending with ".txt" is considered to be in TIText format,
'.a43' and '.hex' as IntelHex and all other filenames are
considered as ELF files.

General options:
  -h, --help            Show this help screen.
  -c, --comport=port    Specify the communication port to be used.
                        (Default is 0)
                                0->COM1 / ttyS0
                                1->COM2 / ttyS1
                                etc.
  -P, --password=file   Specify a file with the interrupt vectors that
                        are used as password. This can be any file that
                        has previously been used to program the device.
                        (e.g. -P INT_VECT.TXT).
  -f, --framesize=num   Max. number of data bytes within one transmitted
                        frame (16 to 240 in steps of 16) (e.g. -f 240).
  -m, --erasecycles=num Number of mass erase cycles (default is 1). Some
                        old F149 devices need additional erase cycles.
                        On newer devices it is no longer needed. (e.g. for
                        an old F149: -m20)
  -U, --unpatched       Do not download the BSL patch, even when it is
                        needed. This is used when a program is downloaded
                        into RAM and executed from there (and where flash
                        programming is not needed.)
  -D, --debug           Increase level of debug messages. This won't be
                        very useful for the average user...
  -I, --intelhex        Force fileformat to IntelHex
  -T, --titext          Force fileformat to be TIText
  -N, --notimeout       Don't use timeout on serial port (use with care)
  -B, --bsl=bsl.txt     Load and use new BSL from the TI Text file
  -S, --speed=baud      Reconfigure speed, only possible with newer
                        MSP403-BSL versions (>1.5, read slaa089a.pdf for
                        details). If the --bsl option is not used, an
                        internal BSL replacement will be loaded.
                        Needs a target with at least 2kB RAM!
                        Possible values are 9600, 19200, 38400
                        (default 9600)
  -1, --f1x             Specify CPU family, in case autodetect fails
  -4, --f4x             Specify CPU family, in case autodetect fails
                        --F1x and --f2x are only needed when the "change
                        baudrate" feature is used and the autodetect feature
                        fails. If the device ID that is uploaded is known, it
                        has precedence to the command line option.
  --invert-reset        Invert signal on RST pin (used for some BSL hardware)
  --invert-test         Invert signal on TEST/TCK pin (used for some BSL
                        hardware)
  --slow                Add delays when operating the conrol pins. Useful if
                        the pins/circuit has high capacitance.

Program Flow Specifiers:
  -e, --masserase       Mass Erase (clear all flash memory)
  -E, --erasecheck      Erase Check by file
  -p, --program         Program file
  -v, --verify          Verify by file

The order of the above options matters! The table is ordered by normal
execution order. For the options "Epv" a file must be specified.
Program flow specifiers default to "pvr" if a file is given.
Don't forget to specify "e" or "eE" when programming flash!

Data retreiving:
  -u, --upload=addr     Upload a datablock (see also: -s).
  -s, --size=num        Size of the data block do upload. (Default is 2)
  -x, --hex             Show a hexadecimal display of the uploaded data.
                        (Default)
  -b, --bin             Get binary uploaded data. This can be used
                        to redirect the output into a file.

Do before exit:
  -g, --go=address      Start programm execution at specified address.
                        This implies option --wait.
  -r, --reset           Reset connected MSP430. Starts application.
                        This is a normal device reset and will start
                        the programm that is specified in the reset
                        vector. (see also -g)
  -w, --wait            Wait for <ENTER> before closing serial port.

If it says "NAK received" it's probably because you specified no or a
wrong password.


Examples
--------
These exaples assume that you have added the installation directory to
the PATH. type the full path to bsl.py otherwise and maybe use
"python bsl.py".

bsl.py -e
        Only erase flash.

bsl.py -eErw 6port.a43
        Erase flash, erase check, download an executable, run it (reset)
        and wait.
        
        Old F149 devices need addidional erase cycles! Use the -m
        option in this case (-m20 will be OK is most cases):
        "python bsl.py -eErwm20 6port.a43"

bsl.py 6port.a43
        Download of an executable to en empty (new or erased) device.
        (Note that in new devices some of the first bytes in the
        information memory are random data. If data should be
        downloaded there, specify -eE.)

bsl.py -erwB BL_150S_14x.txt -S 38400 6port.a43
        Erase device, change baudrate and download a new BSL, then
        download the specified file. After that, reset the device and
        wait for user input.

bsl.py --go=0x220 ramtest.a43
        Download a program into RAM and run it (on an erased device)

bsl.py --go=0x200 -P 6port.a43 ramtest.a43
        Download a program into RAM and run it (on a device that was
        previously programmed with 6port.a43 and therefore needs a
        specific password).

        For old devices that use the patch the above command gives a
        conflict with the patch. But as the patch is only needed to
        programm flash, it can be left out when running a program solely
        from RAM:
        "python bsl.py --go=0x200 -u -P 6port.a43 ramtest.a43"

bsl.py -u 0x0c00 -s 1024 -P 6port.a43
        Get a memory dump in HEX, from the bootstrap loader (on a device
        that was previously programmed with 6port.a43 and therefore needs
        a specific password):

        or on unix with the use of "hexdump":
        "python bsl.py -u 0x0c00 -s 1024 -P 6port.a43 -b | hexdump"

        or save the binary in a file:
        "python bsl.py -u 0x0c00 -s 1024 -P 6port.a43 -b >dump.bin"

bsl.py --go=0x220 --upload=0x200 --size=256 ramtest.a43
        Download the file ramtest.a43 to an empty device, execute its
        main function at 0x0220. The BSL then tries to reconnect to the
        device. This does only work when the program on the MSP430
        does enter the BSL by jumping at address 0x0c00. It is not
        forced to enter the BSL by a reset as this would stop the
        program excution.
        When the reconnection was successful, the data, specified with
        the --upload and --size parameters, is loaded and printed.
        
        This configuration can be useful for software tests, getting
        callibration data, etc.
        
        PS: dont specify -r when using -g. A reset starts the user
        program which possibly destroys a program that was downloaded
        to RAM.

bsl.py -rw
        Just start the user program (with a reset) and wait.

bsl.py -rwc1
        Reset the device on the second serial/COM port and wait.

cat 6port.a43|bsl.py -eE -
        Pipe the data from "cat" to the BSL to erase and program the
        flash. (un*x example, don't forget the dash at the end of the
        line)

bsl.py -e -S 38400 6port.a43
        First download the internal replacement BSL and then use it
        to program at 38400 baud. Only works with targets with more
        than 1kB of RAM.

bsl.py -e -B BL_150S_14x.txt -S 38400 6port.a43
        First download the given replacement BSL and then use it to
        program at 38400 baud. Only works with targets with more
        than 1kB of RAM.

History
-------
  V1.4
        uses improved serial library
        support for BSL download to MSP
        support for higher baudrates (up to 38400)

  V1.5
        ELF file support
        replacement BSLs are now internal

References
----------
- Python: http://www.python.org

- Jython: http://www.jython.org

- Serial Extension for Python: http://pyserial.sourceforge.net

- win32all: http://starship.python.net/crew/mhammond/
  and http://www.activestate.com/Products/ActivePython/win32all.html

- slaa89.pdf: "Features of the MSP430 Bootstrap Loader in the
  MSP430F1121", TI

- slaa96b.pdf: "Application of Bootstrap Loader in MSP430 With Flash
  Hardware and Software Proposal", TI

- Texas Instruments MSP430 Homepage, links to Datasheets and Application
  Notes: http://www.ti.com/sc/docs/products/micro/msp430/msp430.htm