Stage 06

Bootloaders (U-Boot)

Understand how an embedded system comes alive from power-on. Master U-Boot configuration, commands, Device Tree, board porting, and TFTP network booting.

All Topics

Topic 01

Boot Sequence

ROM → SPL → U-Boot → Kernel: every stage explained, BootROM constraints, DRAM init, Falcon Mode, and secure boot chain.

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Topic 02

U-Boot Config & Build

Defconfigs, menuconfig, cross-compiling U-Boot, output artifacts (MLO, u-boot.bin, u-boot.img), and FIT images.

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Topic 03

U-Boot Commands & Scripting

U-Boot shell, environment variables, memory/MMC/TFTP commands, boot scripting, and distro_bootcmd.

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Topic 04

Device Tree (DTS)

DTS syntax, phandles, compatible property, overlays, dtc/fdtdump, and passing DTB from U-Boot to the kernel.

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Topic 05

Board Porting

Add a new board to U-Boot: defconfig, board header, SPL DRAM init, console UART setup, and JTAG bring-up.

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Topic 06

TFTP & Network Boot

Set up tftpd-hpa, configure U-Boot network variables, TFTP + NFS root workflow, dnsmasq, and PXE boot.

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