Yocto Flashing using Ethernet for Apalis iMX8

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1

Hello Community,
Is there any procedure to flash yocto using only Ethernet. Without the need of debug console.
If yes, Please share the procedure.
Thank You,
Muthyam D.

2

Hi, I’m the Toradex AI Assistant. I’m in early beta, and I would appreciate your feedback.
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Hello,

Flashing a Yocto image to an Apalis iMX8 module using only Ethernet involves a network-based booting or flashing method, such as using TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) and NFS (Network File System) or leveraging the Toradex Easy Installer’s network capabilities. Here’s a general outline of the process:

  1. Prepare the Yocto Image: Ensure your Yocto image is built and ready. You should have the image files accessible on a server or your development machine.

  2. Set Up a TFTP Server: Configure a TFTP server on your network. This server will host the bootable image and device tree files. Ensure the server is accessible from the Apalis iMX8 module.

  3. Set Up an NFS Server: If your method involves booting the system over the network and then performing the flashing from within the running system, set up an NFS server. This server will host the root filesystem. Ensure it’s properly exported and accessible.

  4. Configure U-Boot for Network Boot: Connect to the Apalis iMX8 through a serial console for initial setup (note: while the question asks for a method without using a debug console, initial setup to configure U-Boot for network booting might require temporary access to one). In U-Boot, set the environment variables to boot from the network, using commands similar to:

    setenv ipaddr [module IP]
setenv serverip [TFTP server IP]
setenv netmask [network mask]
setenv ethaddr [MAC address]
setenv bootcmd 'tftpboot ${loadaddr} [image name]; tftpboot ${fdt_addr} [device tree name]; bootm ${loadaddr} - ${fdt_addr}'
saveenv

  5. Boot and Flash the Image: After configuring U-Boot, reset the module and let it boot from the network. The module should load the kernel and device tree from the TFTP server, then mount the root filesystem from the NFS server. Once the system is up, you can flash the image to the internal storage using appropriate commands, depending on your setup and the image format.

  6. Automating with Toradex Easy Installer: If you’re using the Toradex Easy Installer for flashing, you can leverage its network capabilities to download and install images directly from a network location. Ensure the Easy Installer is in recovery mode, and use its web interface or API to

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

Toradex Easy Installer Configuration Files | Toradex Developer Center.

3

Hi @Muthyam ,

Yes it is possible via Toradex Easy Installer.
Please go thorugh the article Production Programming for Linux