U-Boot Splash Screen Issue on Verdin iMX8MP (Custom Ivy Carrier Board, HDMI, Yocto BSP 7.5 Scarthgap)

Technical Support
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U-Boot Splash Screen Support Across Toradex Modules

Supported Modules and Display Interfaces

Based on the official documentation, U-Boot splash screen support is available for specific Toradex modules with framebuffer support(1). The documentation states that “If U-Boot supports the framebuffer, U-Boot can be used to display a splash screen or a custom company logo”(1).

Configuration Requirements

For supported modules, U-Boot can read a specific image format(1). The process involves:

  1. Image Format: Converting images to BMP format using specific parameters(1):
convert testlogo.png -type Palette -colors 224 -depth 8 -compress none -verbose BMP3:testlogo.bmp

(1)

  1. Build Configuration: In BSP 5.0, video stack is disabled by default in U-Boot, so you have to enable it manually by adding CONFIG_DM_VIDEO=y to defconfig of the module you’re using(1).

iMX8 Family Limitations

The documentation and community discussions confirm that U-Boot splash screen is not supported on iMX8-based modules(2)(3)(4):

  • Mainline U-Boot limitation: “Mainline U-boot doesn’t support video displays on i.MX8-based modules”(2)
  • NXP support status: “The support for U-boot splash screen on i.MX8 was dropped by NXP”(3)
  • Verdin iMX8MP specific: “U boot splash screen is not supported out of the box on i.MX8-based modules, the reason being the mainline U-boot not supporting video displays for these SOCs”(4)

Alternative Solutions

For iMX8-based modules, including Verdin iMX8MP, the recommended approach is:

  1. Plymouth Splash Screen: “We recommend using the Plymouth splash screen instead”(3)
  2. Linux Kernel Level: Focus on Linux-level splash screens rather than U-Boot splash(5)

Yocto Configuration Method

For modules that do support U-Boot splash, the documentation shows that Yocto-based configuration using custom meta-layers is the recommended method(1). The process involves:

  1. Custom U-Boot Build: Following the U-Boot source building instructions(1)
  2. Image Replacement: Replacing the default logo file in the U-Boot source(1)
  3. Configuration Fragments: Using Yocto to apply U-Boot configuration changes(6)

Summary

  • iMX8 Family: U-Boot splash is not supported (including Verdin iMX8MP)
  • Pre-iMX8 Modules: U-Boot splash is supported with framebuffer-capable modules
  • Recommended Alternative: Use Plymouth or early Linux splash screens for iMX8-based modules
  • Configuration Method: Yocto-based meta-layer approach for supported modules

The documentation does not provide a comprehensive matrix of all supported modules, but clearly indicates that iMX8-based modules require alternative splash screen approaches at the Linux kernel level rather than U-Boot level.

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