1 Linux Boot Flow

Microchip provides Hart Software Services (HSS) software code, which is stored in eNVM of the PolarFire SoC device during device programming. HSS is the ZSBL that runs on the E51 monitor core. When the device is powered up, HSS performs the following:

  • Programs eMMC with Linux Image via USB
  • Loads U-Boot from eMMC to LPDDR4

U-Boot is an open-source bootloader for embedded systems and runs in Supervisor Mode (S mode). 
U-Boot loads the Linux OS from eMMC to LPDDR4 and switches control to Linux.

The following steps are required for bringing up Linux on Icicle kit:

  1. Programming the PolarFire SoC device with the reference design. This step also programs the device eNVM with HSS.
  2. Setting the jumper configuration on the Icicle kit.
  3. Programming the eMMC flash or SD card with the Linux image.

For more information, see PolarFire SoC GitHub.