RDKB(V) Firmware Upgrade in RPI - User Manual - 2019 M7

Build procedure to generate R-Pi image with Firmware upgrade

The build procedure for broadband are as follows:

1. repo init -u https://code.rdkcentral.com/r/manifests -b rdk-next -m rdkb-extsrc.xml
2. repo sync -j4 --no-clone-bundle
3. source meta-cmf-raspberrypi/setup-environment (Select option raspberrypi-rdk-broadband.conf)
4. bitbake rdk-generic-broadband-image 
   

Flashing the image

Command to flash the image

Generated image has to be flashed to an SD card using this command in local PC:

Ex:

The SD card is inserted to the Raspberry Pi board and booted to check for containers created.

The Raspberry Pi board is connected to the PC via a USB to serial converter and the logs can be checked in console or can be connected via HDMI cable to a TV and logs will be shown in the terminal

Creating checksum file

It is necessary to flash the stable image during upgrade. So checksum file has to be created for the image to be uploaded using below command

After checksum file is created, place this file in tftp location along with actual image file which is expected by firmware upgrade script. Without which firmware upgrade wont be allowed by scripts

Creating Multi-Boot compatible SD-CARD if RDKB is Flashed for first time

If RDKV is flashed for the first time, please ignore below procedure in current section

If firmware upgrade is intended for multi-boot, it is necessary to have partizion size matching to both RDKV and RDKB image size ( especially rootfs ). 

But size of RDKB image is around 300 MB approx, but RDKV is more than 1 GB. So it is necessary to have RDKB image flashed SD card should have partition compatible to RDKB.

To make compatible, size of RDKB rootfs partition should be increased to 2 GB ( 2098 MB) from 300MB default

This resize can be achieved using gpartedui tool which should be available in host pc

Please resize the rootfs partition to 2098 MB or 2GB (/dev/sdb1) accordingly from below procedure as captured in various stages

1. Select gparted tool from menu

2. Select the rootfs partition of format ext3 for resize/move option

3. Resize the rootfs partition by giving new size image to 2098 MiB

4. After resize , position stands as below

5.After modifying size, "Apply all operations" using tick symbol in UI which displays icon as below

6. After giving "Apply icon" position stands as below

7. After resizing is completed 

8. After applying close size increased to 2 GB can be seen

Test Setup Block Diagram for RPI RDKB/V Firmware upgrade

Setting up XCONF Server  

Please follow the below procedure in xconf server for placing new firmware for upgrade to specific device and model ( RPI in this case )

• XConf - Configuring Firmware
  
  
• XConf - Configuring Firmware Download Location

               → RPI will support only tftp protocol . No http protocol support is provided yet

Conclusion

Please find the summary on firmware upgrade explained above

• Build the image ( RDKB ). For RDKV please follow specific instructions
• Ensure 8GB sd-card is available for flashing
• Flash the build image to sd-card
• If Firmware upgrade is targeted for multi boot and RDKB image is flashed for the first time follow resize procedure
• Setup xconf server ready with rules and download location for RPI device
• Place the new image in xconf server
• Boot the flashed image

Note : 1. RPI will go for reboot while booting for the first time, since two more partition needs to be created which requires reboot. Depends on the image present in xconf and RPI, further reboot will happen for upgrade. Please refer to design (RDKB RPI Firmware Upgrade - Design - 2019 M7) for how firmware upgrade works with bank switching

2. SD card should be zero filled formatted before starting the firmware upgrade procedure. DriveWipe software is used for this. Please refer the you-tube video link for the SD card full format process.

https://youtu.be/CZhsVBEMYuk