I would like to create a U-Boot image

Technical Support
4

SATA Support in U-Boot

Unfortunately, SATA access from U-Boot on the Apalis iMX8 modules is not currently supported(1). According to the community discussions, mainline U-Boot doesn’t support video displays on i.MX8-based modules, and similar limitations exist for SATA functionality(1).

The Apalis iMX8QM does include SATA-III connectivity(2), but this is primarily accessible from the Linux kernel, not from U-Boot. The SATA interface is available once Linux boots, as documented in our SATA support guide(3).

U-Boot Environment Variable Customization

For modifying U-Boot environment variables, you have several approaches:

1. Build-Time Customization

You can modify environment variables at compilation time by editing the board-specific configuration files(4). The default environment variables are set during compilation and built into the U-Boot binary(4).

2. Runtime Modification

You can modify variables using U-Boot commands(5):

> setenv myvar myvalue
> saveenv

(5)

3. TorizonCore Builder Integration

Since you’re using Torizon, you can potentially use TorizonCore Builder to customize the U-Boot environment. However, this would still be subject to the same hardware limitations regarding SATA access.

Important Considerations

When working with U-Boot environment variables, be aware that:

  • Using setenv only changes values in RAM(4)
  • You must use saveenv to make changes permanent(4)
  • When the environment is saved, it can have unexpected consequences as the entire environment is saved, not just the changed variable(4)

Alternative Approach

Since SATA access from U-Boot isn’t available, consider:

  1. Early Linux Boot: Configure your system to access the SATA SSD immediately after Linux kernel initialization
  2. Custom Boot Script: Create a boot script that handles your requirements once Linux has loaded and SATA is available
  3. Network Boot: If you need early access to external storage, consider network-based solutions

The SATA functionality works well once Linux is running, with good performance characteristics on the Apalis iMX8 platform(3).

Best regards,
Toradex AI Assistant.

Did you like my answer? :+1: :-1:

If I answered your question, please tick the “Solution” checkbox.

For follow-up questions to me, please use @ToradexAI in your post.