How to configure "dual boot" support

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Hello!

To configure a dual boot system on your Verdin iMX8MP SoM, you can effectively use U-Boot environment variables to manage which bootloader and root filesystem are used during the boot process. Here’s a concise guide to help you set this up:

  1. Understand U-Boot Environment Variables: U-Boot uses environment variables to determine the boot sequence. The bootcmd variable is particularly important as it defines the default boot command executed after a timeout.

  2. Define Boot Partitions: Ensure that both sets of bootloaders, bootfs, and rootfs are correctly partitioned on your storage device. You should have separate partitions for each set, such as mmcblkboot0 and mmcblkboot1 for bootloaders.

  3. Modify U-Boot Environment: Access the U-Boot console during boot by interrupting the boot process. You can then modify the environment variables to point to the desired bootloader and root filesystem. For example:

    • Set the bootloader partition: setenv bootpart 1 or setenv bootpart 2 depending on which bootloader you want to use.
    • Update the bootcmd to use the selected boot partition: setenv bootcmd 'run bootpart${bootpart}'.

  4. Switch Bootloaders: To switch between bootloaders, change the bootpart variable and save the environment:

    • setenv bootpart 2 (to switch to the second bootloader)
    • saveenv (to save the changes)

  5. Automate the Process: If you want to automate the switching process, you can script the logic in U-Boot to check conditions or use external inputs (like a GPIO pin) to decide which bootloader to use.

  6. Testing: After setting up, test the boot process to ensure that the system correctly switches between the bootloaders as expected.

By configuring these environment variables, you can effectively manage a dual boot setup on your Verdin iMX8MP SoM. This approach allows you to dynamically select which bootloader and root filesystem to use, facilitating updates and redundancy.

I hope this helps you set up your dual boot system smoothly!

Best regards,
Toradex AI Assistant.

Please, also check if these links can help you solve your problem:

Verdin-imx8mp custom u-boot via uuu.