freecalypso-tools: doc/TIFFS-Overview annotate

annotate doc/TIFFS-Overview @ 619:f82551c77e58

libserial-newlnx: ASYNC_LOW_LATENCY patch reverted Reports from Das Signal indicate that loadtools performance on Debian is about the same as on Slackware, and that including or omitting the ASYNC_LOW_LATENCY patch from Serg makes no difference. Because the patch in question does not appear to be necessary, it is being reverted until and unless someone other than Serg reports an actual real-world system on which loadtools operation times are slowed compared to the Mother's Slackware reference and on which Slackware-like performance can be restored by setting the ASYNC_LOW_LATENCY flag.

author	Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
date	Thu, 27 Feb 2020 01:09:48 +0000
parents	3100f534340b
children	23f41a61ff7a

rev	line source
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	1 [Historical note: this document was originally written in 2014 when the vision
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	2 of FreeCalypso was very different from what it is today. Since then we have
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	3 transitioned from making aftermarket hacks on pre-existing Calypso phones and
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	4 modems to producing and supporting our own FreeCalypso hardware products, and
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	5 our firmware work has changed from a nebulous dream to stable production code.
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	6 The ways in which we approach various technical aspects have changed
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	7 accordingly, but much of our documentation has been slow to catch up. The
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	8 documentation is now being updated, but there may still be some passages where
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	9 the old world view shines through.]
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	10
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	11 All TI GSM firmwares known to this author (Mother Mychaela of FreeCalypso)
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	12 implement some kind of flash file system, or FFS. Several different FFS code
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	13 implementations, and correspondingly several different on-flash data formats,
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	14 have been used throughout the history of TI's involvement in the wireless
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	15 terminal business. The FFS incarnation of primary interest to the FreeCalypso
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	16 project is the one invented by Mads Meisner-Jensen at TI in the early 2000s
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	17 (at least according to the comments in the sources available to us), and it is
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	18 relevant to us in the following ways:
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	19
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	20 * When targeting the GSM modem in Openmoko's GTA01/02 smartphones, we need to
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	21 work with the original FFS from the factory (call it MokoFFS), the same FFS
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	22 as used by the mokoN firmwares: this FFS contains the IMEI and the RF
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	23 calibration values from the factory, which we most certainly don't want to go
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	24 without.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	25
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	26 * The Leonardo firmware semi-src which we are using as the reference for
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	27 building our own full source, multi-target GSM fw contains a turnkey-working
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	28 implementation of this very FFS, using the on-flash format in question and
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	29 providing run-time APIs expected by the rest of the GSM fw suite. Following
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	30 the principle of ``if it ain't broke, don't fix it'', we use this FFS not
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	31 only on the gtamodem target, but also on other targets, including those where
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	32 we are starting from a blank state and thus have the freedom to use whatever
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	33 FFS we like.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	34
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	35 * The original proprietary fw on the Pirelli DP-L10 phone also happens to use
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	36 an FFS in the same format, although Pirelli's FFS does not contain the IMEI
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	37 or any of the RF calibration values. This Pirelli phone was originally a
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	38 target of high interest for FreeCalypso, as we had high hopes of turning it
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	39 into a libre phone by way of our aftermarket firmware - but this plan has
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	40 since been abandoned when it became clear that Pirelli's hw is unsuitable for
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	41 aftermarket fw development because of the multitude of extra peripheral chips
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	42 for non-GSM functions which get in the way. In the earlier years of
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	43 FreeCalypso a lot of effort had been invested into studying all aspects of
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	44 the Pirelli DP-L10 phone and its original firmware, including the FFS.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	45
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	46 Naming
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	47 ======
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	48
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	49 I have previously referred to the FFS format in question as Mokopir-FFS or
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	50 MPFFS, from "Moko" and "Pirelli". I was originally hesitant to call it TIFFS,
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	51 as lacking the source code, I had no way of knowing whether the FFS format and
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	52 implementation were of TI's own invention, or something that TI licensed as a
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	53 black box from one of their many proprietary software partners. (I was unable
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	54 to identify it as any well-known, industry-standard FFS format, but absence of
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	55 evidence is not evidence of absence.) But now that we have TI's original source
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	56 code which implements this FFS (first the MV100-0.1.rar source, then the full
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	57 Leonardo one), complete with comments and a HISTORY file, we know that our FFS
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	58 was invented and implemented by someone named Mads Meisner-Jensen at TI - I'm
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	59 guessing in the SSA group in Nice, France.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	60
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	61 I am now making a naming transition from MPFFS to TIFFS: there is really no
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	62 link between this FFS format and the Openmoko+Pirelli duo, other than the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	63 happenstance of me having first encountered this FFS on these two GSM device
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	64 brands, and the name TIFFS is more neutrally-descriptive.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	65
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	66 What it is
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	67 ==========
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	68
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	69 In a rare departure from TI's norm (most of TI's GSM firmware and associated
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	70 development tools suffer from heavy Windows poisoning), what I call TIFFS is
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	71 very Unixy. It is a file system with a hierarchical directory tree structure
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	72 and with Unixy forward-slash-separated, case-sensitive pathnames; the semantics
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	73 of "what is a file" and "what is a directory" are exactly the same as in UNIX;
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	74 and TIFFS even supports symlinks, although that support is a little under-
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	75 developed, and apparently no FFS symlinks were ever used in any production GSM
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	76 device. Thus the FFS implemented in TI-based GSM devices (modems and
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	77 "dumbphone" handsets) is really no different from, for example, JFFS2 in
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	78 embedded Linux systems.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	79
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	80 (The only traditional UNIX file system features which are missing in TIFFS are
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	81 the creation/modification/access timestamps and the ownership/permission
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	82 fields.)
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	83
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	84 The FFS in a GSM device typically stores two kinds of content:
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	85
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	86 * Factory data: IMEI, RF calibration values, device make/model/revision
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	87 ID strings etc. These files are expected to be programmed on the factory
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	88 production line and not changed afterward.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	89
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	90 * Dynamic data written into the FFS in normal device operation: when you use a
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	91 "dumbphone" running TI-based firmware, every time you store something "on the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	92 phone" or in "non-volatile memory", that item is actually stored in the FFS.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	93 (Where else, if you think of it?) That includes contacts and received SMS
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	94 stored "on the phone" instead of the SIM, any selections you make in the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	95 settings/preferences menus which persist across reboots (power cycles), call
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	96 history etc.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	97
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	98 It needs to be noted that the "dynamic data" aspect of FFS usage applies not
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	99 only to complete phones, but also to modems like the one used in the GTA01/02.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	100 One would naively think that non-volatile storage of data in flash outside of
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	101 factory programming would be needed only in a device with its own UI, and that
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	102 a modem subservient to external AT commands would be completely stateless
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	103 across reboot/power cycles; but that is not the case in actuality. TI-baseed
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	104 GSM firmwares, including Openmoko's mokoN and our own FreeCalypso, are designed
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	105 to always "mount" their FFS with read/write access; TI's FFS implementation in
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	106 the firmware has no concept of a "read-only mount".
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	107
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	108 I am still investigating just what kinds of data are routinely written into the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	109 non-volatile FFS by the firmware in normal operation on devices like the GTA0x
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	110 modem, but there most definitely are some.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	111
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	112 There is no hard separation between "static" and "dynamic" data in the file
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	113 system structure; TIFFS is thus akin to an embedded Linux system with just a
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	114 single root file system containing both "static" files like userland binaries
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	115 and "dynamic" ones like configuration files under /etc which the user is
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	116 expected to edit with vi after logging into the box, or log and similar files
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	117 created by the system itself under /var, for example.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	118
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	119 Where it lives
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	120 ==============
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	121
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	122 The type of flash memory used in Calypso GSM modems and "dumbphones" is called
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	123 NOR flash. This NOR flash memory is physically divided (by the design of the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	124 flash chip itself) into units called "sectors" or more descriptively, erase
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	125 blocks. The typical NOR flash sector size (in Calypso GSM devices) ranges from
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	126 64 KiB in the GTA02 modem's NOR flash (4 MiB total) to 256 KiB in the
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	127 S71PL129NC0 flash+RAM chip used in the Pirelli DP-L10 and in our own FreeCalypso
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	128 hardware designs (16 MiB of flash total). The key physical property is that
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	129 any bit may be changed from a '1' to a '0' at any time, in any combination, but
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	130 resetting of '0' bits back to ones can be done only on the granularity of these
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	131 largish sectors, in an operation called "sector erase".
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	132
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	133 The location of TIFFS within the flash memory of a given GSM device is defined
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	134 by the firmware design of that device, but is always some integral number of
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	135 contiguous flash sectors. Some examples:
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	136
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	137 * On the GTA01/02 GSM modem, FFS occupies 7 sectors of 64 KiB each, starting at
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	138 flash offset 0x380000.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	139
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	140 * On the Pirelli DP-L10, the FFS used by the original proprietary fw occupies
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	141 18 sectors of 256 KiB each (for 4.5 MiB in total), starting at the beginning
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	142 of the 2nd flash chip select (0x02000000 in the ARM7 address space).
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	143
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	144 * On Motorola/Compal C139/140 phones, the FFS used by the original proprietary
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	145 fw occupies 5 sectors of 64 KiB each (320 KiB in total), starting at 0x370000.
482 3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	146 C11x/12x use smaller FFS configurations, whereas C155/156 use a different FFS
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	147 implementation with a completely different on-flash format - see the new
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	148 Compal-FFS article for more details.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	149
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	150 * On our own FreeCalypso hardware family we have put our FFS in the first 8
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	151 sectors (of 256 KiB each) in the 2nd flash chip select bank, which appears at
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	152 0x01800000 in the ARM7 address space instead of Pirelli's 0x02000000 because
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	153 we have wired the 2nd flash chip select to nCS2 on the Calypso instead of
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	154 Pirelli's nCS3.
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	155
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	156 * The smallest real FFS configuration called for by the table in dev.c in TI's
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	157 original Leonardo fw source is 3 sectors of 64 KiB each; the same table also
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	158 sports a 4 KiB x 4 configuration for RAM-based testing (emulation of FFS in
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	159 RAM without real flash).
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	160
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	161 * The largest FFS configuration that has been envisioned by the original
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	162 designers seems to be somewhere around 128 sectors.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	163
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	164 Each flash sector used for TIFFS begins with this 6-byte signature:
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	165
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	166 46 66 73 23 10 02
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	167
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	168 The first 4 bytes are 'Ffs#' in ASCII, and the following two bytes are the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	169 format version number of 0x0210 in little-endian byte order. The following two
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	170 bytes give a count of how many times that sector has been erased and rewritten
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	171 (FF FF in "fresh" or "virgin" FFS images), and the following byte indicates
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	172 that block's role and status in the FFS life cycle.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	173
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	174 How it works
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	175 ============
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	176
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	177 Just like JFFS2 and other high-quality flash file systems, TIFFS is designed to
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	178 recover gracefully from any possible power failure or crash: one can yank the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	179 battery from the GSM device (or induce a firmware crash) at the most mis-
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	180 opportune moment in the middle of an FFS write operation, and the FFS is
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	181 expected to recover on the next boot cycle. I won't be able to document here
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	182 all gory details of exactly how this goal is achieved, partly because I haven't
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	183 studied the code to the requisite level of depth myself yet, but all of the
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	184 responsible code lives under src/cs/drivers/drv_app/ffs in our fc-magnetite and
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	185 fc-selenite source trees; feel free to study it.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	186
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	187 In its "normal" or "clean" state (i.e., when not in the middle of a write
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	188 operation or recovery from an ungracefully interrupted one), a TIFFS instance
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	189 consists of the following 3 types of blocks:
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	190
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	191 * One block containing inode records, indicated by AB in its type/flags/status
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	192 byte in the block header;
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	193 * N-2 blocks (where N is the total number of flash sectors allocated for the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	194 FFS) containing (or waiting to be filled with) data chunks - indicated by BD
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	195 in the type/flags/status byte;
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	196 * One "free" block, indicated by BF - destined to become a new AB or a new BD
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	197 at some point.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	198
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	199 Each object written into the FFS (file, directory or symlink) consists of a
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	200 16-byte inode record written into the AB block and a data chunk written into
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	201 one of the BD blocks. The data chunk includes the name of the object, hence
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	202 one is required even for directories. Data chunks are contiguous, uncompressed,
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	203 and subject to an upper size limit of 2048 or 8192 bytes, depending on the FFS
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	204 configuration. Files larger than this limit are stored in a "segmented" form,
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	205 giving rise to a 4th inode or object type (after file, directory and symlink):
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	206 segment. Each segment of a segmented file consists of not only a data chunk,
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	207 but also an inode record for the segment, which gives the location of the data
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	208 chunk and ties the segment object into the overall FFS structure, making it
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	209 accessible.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	210
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	211 Because aside from complete sector erasure, flash memory bits can only
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	212 transition from '1' to '0' but not the other way around, overwriting an existing
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	213 file with some new content (an operation which any reasonable file system must
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	214 implement in some way) cannot be done in place. Instead like most flash file
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	215 systems, TIFFS implements this common operation by writing the new version of
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	216 the file to a new location (previously blank flash) and then invalidating the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	217 old version - and doing all that while keeping in mind the possibility of an
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	218 ungraceful crash or powerdown at any moment, and the requirement of recovering
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	219 gracefully from any such event.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	220
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	221 Of course as an FFS receives more write activity, even if one keeps overwriting
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	222 some existing files with new content of the same size, without adding to the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	223 visible total content size (think du(1) command), eventually all remaining blank
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	224 flash space will fill up. At that point (or at some earlier point, depending
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	225 on the FFS design and/or configuration) the FFS has to invoke a compaction or
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	226 reclamation or garbage collection procedure: any "mixed" blocks containing both
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	227 valid and stale data are transitioned into a "stale-only" state by having the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	228 active data moved to a new block, and then the "all stale" blocks are subjected
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	229 to sector erasure, becoming new blank sectors. The logic responsible for these
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	230 operations once again needs to be resilient to the possibility of a crash or
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	231 powerdown occurring at the most mis-opportune moment, and it also needs to
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	232 implement flash wear leveling: there is a physical limit to how many times a
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	233 given flash sector can be erased and rewritten before it goes bad.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	234
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	235 All of the above are common and well-known principles, successfully implemented
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	236 in well-known flash file systems such as JFFS2 in Linux. TIFFS is absolutely
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	237 no different in this regard; for the implementation details, read the source
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	238 code.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	239
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	240 How this FFS comes into being
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	241 =============================
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	242
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	243 (This section is only relevant to you if you plan on physically producing your
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	244 own GSM phones or modems on your own factory production line, like we currently
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	245 do at our family company, or if you simply enjoy knowing how it is done.)
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	246
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	247 To my knowledge, TI never used or produced a tool akin to mkfs.jffs2 in the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	248 embedded Linux world, which would produce a TIFFS image complete with some
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	249 initial directory and file content "in vitro". Instead it appears that the FFS
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	250 instances found in shipped products such as Openmoko phones have been created
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	251 "in vivo" by TI's firmware running on the device itself during the "production
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	252 test" phase.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	253
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	254 We never got a copy of the original factory production line software that was
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	255 used by Openmoko, but we have successfully replicated the process using our own
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	256 Unix/Linux-based FreeCalypso host tools, the very same tools that are contained
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	257 in the present source package you are looking at. The process goes like this:
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	258
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	259 * When the printed circuit board is physically populated with components such
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	260 as the Calypso chip and the flash chip, the latter can be blank - if the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	261 board design has the nIBOOT pin pulled low, enabling the Calypso boot ROM
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	262 (Openmoko and Pirelli both good on this one, but shame on Compal!), there is
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	263 no need to preprogram the flash chip with anything prior to populating it on
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	264 the board, and the device remains fully unbrickable at all times afterward.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	265
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	266 * When the assembled board is powered up for the first time, with completely
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	267 blank flash, the Calypso boot ROM will sit there and patiently wait for a
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	268 code download on either of its two UARTs.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	269
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	270 * Using TI's FLUID (Flash Loader Utility Independent of Device) or FreeCalypso's
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	271 fc-loadtool free replacement, the factory production station loads the main
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	272 firmware image into the flash. Note, it is just the firmware image at this
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	273 step, and the FFS sectors remain blank.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	274
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	275 * The board is commanded to reboot (or power-cycled), and the firmware image
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	276 boots for the first time.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	277
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	278 * TI's FFS implementation code in their standard firmware reacts to all blank
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	279 flash in the FFS sectors as follows: it performs what they call the preformat
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	280 operation, writing the TIFFS signature and a BF state byte into every FFS
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	281 sector, but the main "format" operation, which sets up the AB/BD block roles,
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	282 creates the root inode and makes the FFS ready to accept the creation of its
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	283 first directories and files, is not done automatically.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	284
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	285 In order to perform the FFS format operation and then fill the new FFS with
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	286 whatever directories and files are deemed needed to be present in "fresh"
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	287 shipping products, the factory production station connects to the just-booted
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	288 firmware running on the target via the RVT/ETM protocol (see the RVTMUX
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	289 write-up), and sends "test mode" commands to this running firmware. These
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	290 "FFS test mode" (or TMFFS) commands include the format operation, an mkdir
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	291 operation to create directories, and a "file write" operation akin to doing
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	292 'cat > /dir/whatever/file', creating files in FFS and storing any desired data
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	293 in them.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	294
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	295 The IMEI is assigned and written into FFS in this process, but it is not the
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	296 only data item that will be unique for each individual device made. Much more
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	297 important are the RF calibration values; the factory calibration procedure does
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	298 the following for each individual unit:
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	299
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	300 * Measures the frequency offset produced by the VCXO as a function of the AFC
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	301 DAC control value and constructs the afcparams table based on these
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	302 measurements;
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	303
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	304 * Characterizes the dBm output of the Tx chain as a function of the APC DAC
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	305 control value and comes up with a set of these DAC values which produce Tx
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	306 power levels prescribed by the GSM 05.05 spec;
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	307
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	308 * Determines the correction values which need to be applied in order to set the
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	309 correct Rx path gains and to determine the true Rx signal level from the dBfs
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	310 power measurements made in the DSP from Rx I&Q samples.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	311
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	312 These calibration procedures are performed by connecting a suitable RF test
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	313 instrument (R&S CMU200 is the industry gold standard) to the GSM device's
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	314 antenna connector or RF test port and running special calibration programs
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	315 which talk both to the CMU200 or other test instrument and to the L1TM (Layer 1
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	316 test modes) component in the DUT (device under test). In FreeCalypso hardware
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	317 manufacturing we use a CMU200 instrument which is itself maintained in good
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	318 calibration standing, and for the calibration software we use our own
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	319 fc-rfcal-tools which talk to the DUT via rvinterf.
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	320
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	321 All of the resulting calibration values are stored in a bunch of files under the
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	322 /gsm/rf subtree, and these files are "owned" by the L1 code. The latter has
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	323 RAM data structures which correspond to these files; upon normal boot the
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	324 initialization code looks in FFS, and if it finds any of the RF calibration
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	325 files, it reads each present file into the corresponding RAM data structure,
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	326 overwriting the compiled-in defaults. With TI's standard production calibration
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	327 procedure which we have replicated in our FreeCalypso hw manufacturing setup,
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	328 these RF calibration files in FFS come into being as follows:
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	329
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	330 * The Test Mode support code in L1 (i.e., part of the main GSM fw) performs the
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	331 measurements and stores results in its RAM data structures as commanded by
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	332 the production test station through the Test Mode interface;
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	333
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	334 * Certain special test mode commands encoded via the MISC_ENABLE opcode direct
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	335 the above L1TM code to write its RAM data structures into FFS.
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	336
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	337 See the RF_tables article for more information.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	338
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	339 Compal and Pirelli differences
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	340 ==============================
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	341
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	342 The above description refers to TI's vanilla reference version, and it seems
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	343 like Openmoko (FIC) was the only phone/modem manufacturer (prior to us!) who
482 3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	344 followed it without major deviations. In contrast, both Compal (Motorola C1xx
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	345 and Sony Ericsson J100) and Foxconn (Pirelli DP-L10) moved their vital per-unit
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	346 factory data (IMEI and RF calibration) out of the FFS into their own ad hoc
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	347 flash data structures (which are very difficult to reverse-engineer and make
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	348 use of, unfortunately), leaving their FFS only for less critical data.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	349
482 3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	350 In Compal's case (all C1xx models and SE J100) the FFS stores only users'
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	351 personal information and nothing more. One can turn the phone off, use
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	352 fc-loadtool to erase the FFS sectors, and boot the regular fw back up; the fw
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	353 will automatically do a new FFS format (it even displays a message on the LCD
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	354 as it does so) and carry on happily as a "fresh" or "blank", perfectly
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	355 functional and usable phone. Please see the new Compal-FFS article for further
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	356 details.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	357
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	358 In Pirelli's case, booting their official fw with blank FFS sectors will also
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	359 result in the FFS being automatically formatted, but their fw expects some
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	360 static "asset" files to be present in this FFS: UI graphics and language
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	361 strings, ringtones, firmware images for the WiFi and VoIP processors and some
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	362 static configuration files, about 3 MiB in total. Thus although the firmware
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	363 will auto-format the blank FFS sectors, it won't function normally with all of
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	364 these "asset" files missing. Foxconn's original factory production line station
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	365 must have uploaded these files to each phone via the TMFFS2 protocol, and our
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	366 FreeCalypso suite now features a tool that can replicate this feat: fc-fsio.
e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	367
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	368 Aftermarket FFS for FreeCalypso on Compal & Pirelli targets
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	369 ===========================================================
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	370
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	371 When we run our own FreeCalypso fw on "alien" (not native to us) Mot C1xx and
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	372 Pirelli DP-L10 hardware, we don't use the FFS from their respectively original
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	373 firmwares: those original FFS instances don't contain any bits of interest to
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	374 us, trying to make our fw use the same FFS as Mot/Compal's or Pirelli's original
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	375 fw would be more trouble than benefit, and on one of the target devices in this
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	376 family (Mot C155/156) the original FFS is in some different format. Instead we
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	377 create our own aftermarket FFS for our FreeCalypso fw on these alien hw targets,
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	378 using a different flash location from the original so that the original fw's FFS
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	379 cannot be mistaken for our own.
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	380
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	381 On the Pirelli DP-L10 we put our aftermarket FFS in an area of the flash which
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	382 the official fw family uses as a staging area for over-the-air firmware updates,
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	383 thus as long as you are not doing official fw updates over WLAN (i.e., if you
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	384 only run one fixed official fw version or flash different official fw versions
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	385 with fc-loadtool without going through "fw update" protocols), our aftermarket
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	386 FFS used by our run-from-RAM FreeCalypso firmwares should remain undisturbed
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	387 while the phone is in the official fw mode.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	388
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	389 The situation is different on Mot C1xx phones. The lower-end C1xx models
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	390 including the C139 (our primary hw target in this family) have too little RAM
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	391 to run our FreeCalypso fw entirely out of RAM without flashing; the C155/156
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	392 subfamily does have enough RAM to allow a complete FC GSM fw image to be loaded
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	393 and run via fc-xram under some conditions (we previously supported such usage
482 3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	394 in our now-retired Citrine fw and we also support it in the gcc-built config of
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	395 FC Selenite), but there is no place in the flash where we can put our
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	396 aftermarket FFS without overwriting some part of the original fw or its data -
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	397 thus our general procedure for running FreeCalypso on any C1xx model is to
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	398 convert the victim phone to FC on a long-term basis by flashing our modified
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	399 bootloader, flashing one of our fw builds and establishing a FreeCalypso
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	400 aftermarket FFS in a flash area designated by us.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	401
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	402 It was already mentioned earlier that the factory RF calibration values on these
482 3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	403 alien phones are stored in non-TIFFS flash data structures of Compal's or
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	404 Foxconn's invention, and our currently supported FreeCalypso firmwares
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	405 (Magnetite and Selenite) do not contain any code for reading these alien data
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	406 structures. (FC Citrine could read directly from Pirelli's factory data block,
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	407 but none of our fw offerings ever parsed Compal's weird flash records.) Instead
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	408 our current approach is to have an external tool extract the bits of interest
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	409 from the alien factory records, convert them to our TI-standard format if
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	410 necessary, and upload them into our FreeCalypso aftermarket FFS. The specifics
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	411 are as follows:
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	412
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	413 * The Pirelli DP-L10 is a breeze: simply run our special pirelli-magnetite-init
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	414 command in fc-fsio while connected to a Magnetite or Selenite fw instance
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	415 running with our aftermarket FFS, and the tool will copy both the IMEI and
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	416 the RF calibration records from Pirelli's factory data block into our
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	417 aftermarket FFS.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	418
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	419 * Mot C1xx phones present a lot more hassle: our current official procedure is
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	420 to make a dump of the flash prior to the xenotransplantation procedure (also
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	421 serves as a backup), extract the RF calibration values with our c1xx-calextr
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	422 tool, and then later in the procedure when you initialize your aftermarket FFS
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	423 with fc-fsio, upload these extracted and format-converted RF calibration files
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	424 as one of the several steps involved. You will need to enter your IMEI
482 3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	425 manually: we never figured out where Mot/SE/Compal have it stored and how it
3100f534340b doc updates for Compal FFS Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 431 diff changeset	426 is obfuscated.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	427
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	428 FreeCalypso host tools for TIFFS
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	429 ================================
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	430
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	431 Our FC host tools package supports TIFFS in two ways:
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	432
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	433 1) Our primary tool for working with GSM device file systems is fc-fsio. When
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	434 run against a compatible firmware version (primarily our own, but Pirelli's
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	435 proprietary fw is also compatible), fc-fsio allows various read and write
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	436 operations to be performed on the target device FFS.
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	437
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	438 2) We have a TIFFS In Vitro Analyzer (IVA) tool for "in vitro" examination of
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	439 FFS images that have been read out of raw flash with fc-loadtool. See the
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	440 TIFFS-IVA-usage article for more information.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	441
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	442 In addition to the above, back in the days of Openmoko (back when the Openmoko
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	443 community was still active and we considered ourselves a part of it) we had
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	444 produced a kit for editing the modem FFS on Openmoko GTA01/02 devices, giving
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	445 users an easy way to change their /pcm/IMEI file. Changing IMEIs for no good
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	446 reason is completely pointless and is actually detrimental rather than helpful
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	447 for privacy, but whoever came up with the edicts that "the IMEI MUST be
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	448 immutable" had obviously failed Human Psychology 101: declaring something to be
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	449 forbidden causes people to want it simply because it is forbidden and for no
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	450 other reason - hence the popular demand for IMEI changing tools.
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	451
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	452 Our Openmoko FFS editing kit from early 2014 consisted of a very early version
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	453 of what much later became the present FC host tools package (more specifically,
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	454 it was before fc-fsio, and the set-imeisv command had been hacked into fc-tmsh
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	455 instead) plus a pair of "in vivo" FFS editing agent target binaries. Our
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	456 current FC host tools fully supplant the ancient version in that 2014 kit, but
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	457 we do not currently have a non-deprecated replacement for the old "in vivo" FFS
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	458 editing agent: those FFS editing agent binaries were built from our old gsm-fw
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	459 framework which was deemed to be a dead end in 2016 and fully retired in 2018.
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	460
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	461 We have not produced a new and actively maintained replacement for the "in vivo"
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	462 FFS editing function which was previously provided as a side product of the old
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	463 gsm-fw framework because we have no real need for it: the only use case we
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	464 have for it involves Openmoko devices, and even then only two special use cases:
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	465
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	466 1) If someone wishes to change their IMEI from within the FreeRunner (without
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	467 using an external serial cable) or while keeping an old firmware version
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	468 (without updating to moko13 or later), or
0 e7502631a0f9 initial import from freecalypso-sw rev 1033:5ab737ac3ad7 Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: diff changeset	469
431 579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	470 2) If someone has updated the modem fw on their FR to one of our current
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	471 releases, wishes to fix the /gsm/com/rfcap file to reflect the true tri900 or
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	472 tri850 band configuration of their device, but wishes to do it from within the
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	473 FR, without using an external serial cable.
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	474
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	475 If anyone does need to exercise one of the two special use cases listed above,
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	476 they can use the "in vivo" FFS editing agent binaries from the ancient
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	477 ffs-edit-kit-r1.tar.bz2 package - they are ancient, but will do the job just
579441d7dcd8 doc/TIFFS-Overview: long-overdue update for the current state of FC Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org> parents: 0 diff changeset	478 fine for both use cases in question.

FreeCalypso > hg > freecalypso-tools

annotate doc/TIFFS-Overview @ 619:f82551c77e58