I've got a Snapper 9260 (bag labeled "SN9260 Rev1 Industrial Temp" and a Quickstart Kit (board labeled "SHARK Rev 1 Feb 2008). It's plugged in to my network switch, and the serial port is plugged in to my null modem cable. I have minicom running at 115200 8N1. When I apply 6v, the board doesn't seem to fully boot.

Here's what I get when I apply 6v:

Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0                     
Snapper>

Ok, looks like something is interrupting u-boot. That is one problem...

If I hit the reset button it gets farther:

RomBOOT                                     
>Start Snapper 9260 Bootstrap...                     


U-Boot 1.1.6 (Mar 10 2009 - 11:23:19)

Processor:        AT91SAM9xx Series
Core Speed:       180.07 MHz
Peripheral Speed: 90.03 MHz
External Crystal: 18.432 MHz
USB Speed:        48.08 MHz
Core:             ARM926EJS, version: 2
Internal SRAM:    8KB
RAM Configuration:                                                              
Bank #0: 20000000 64 MB                                                         
NAND:  256 MiB                                                                  
In:    serial                                                                   
Out:   serial                                                                   
Err:   serial                                                                   
Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0                                                
Initing power domains...                                                        
No FPGA on this module, or no FPGA init required                                
Usage:                                                                          
nand    - NAND sub-system                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
Loading from NAND 256MiB 3,3V 8-bit, offset 0x80000                             
   Image Name:   Linux-2.6.20-snapper-gc533fa03-d                               
   Image Type:   ARM Linux Kernel Image (uncompressed)                          
   Data Size:    1682868 Bytes =  1.6 MB                                        
   Load Address: 20008000                                                       
   Entry Point:  20008000                                                       
IP-Config: Complete:                                                            
      device=eth0, addr=192.168.2.200, mask=255.255.255.0, gw=192.168.2.254,    
     host=snapper, domain=, nis-domain=(none),                                  
     bootserver=192.168.2.25, rootserver=192.168.2.25, rootpath=                
yaffs: dev is 32505860 name is "mtdblock4"                                      
yaffs: passed flags ""                                                          
yaffs: Attempting MTD mount on 31.4, "mtdblock4"                                
yaffs: auto selecting yaffs2                                                    
block 1825 is bad                                                               
1 bad blocks total                                                              
VFS: Mounted root (yaffs filesystem).                                           
Freeing init memory: 316K

And it sits there forever. Never finishes booting.

This section raises questions:

Initing power domains...                                                        
No FPGA on this module, or no FPGA init required                                
Usage:                                                                          
nand    - NAND sub-system

Why does nand print usage? Is something configured wrong?

Also, it says NAND 256MiB. I thought the board was supposed to have 1GB, but maybe it's just not mounting the rest of it yet.

BTW, I've tried this with two 9260 boards so far (but just one Quickstart Kit), and get the same results.

I'm not sure what to do next. I figured it would boot to a linux login prompt like the quickstart guide shows. Any help and explanation would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tom

Can you send the output of the 'printenv' command from U-Boot?

Andre

No, actually, I can't. As soon as I hit any key, I get about one letter in before it halts as it does during boot (no response). One thing I just noticed which is probably relevant: when it stops booting or when u-boot stops responding, the 5v and 3v3 LEDs go out. I assume this means the device is shutting itself down.

I'll go dig up a bigger power supply. Maybe that is the problem.

Tom

The Sodimm modules can sometimes come loose during shipping. Can I ask you to remove the module, and re-insert it. When re-inserting it, make sure it is pushed hard against pin 1 of the sodimm connector.

The sodimm modules were not shipped installed. I have installed and tried two so far with these same results. I just reseated it anyway, and still have the same problem.

Tom



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2009 04:22PM by tom.

It almost sounds as if your power supply brick is intermittent - can you confirm that it has sufficient amperage (500mA should be sufficient), and that its connector is well seated into J6?

Ok, connected to a better power supply now (variable, 1A max). It didn't solve the problem, but gives more information anyway.

During boot current varies between about 170mA and 400mA. When the boot stops and the power LEDs turn off, it continues to draw about 200mA @ 6V.

Tom

Here's some more data: at the point when it seems to stall and the 5v and 3v3 LEDs go off, the 5v and 3v3 supplies are still outputting at their respective voltages. Current stays at about 200mA. And it must not be completely dead, because unplugging the ethernet cable produces "eth0: link down" on the dumb terminal display. Maybe I'm only getting the output of stderr on the serial port at this point???

Tom,
We've been able to replicate your issue - we have found some incompatibilities between our modules and some vendors sodimm connectors, including the one used on the QSK. The issue results in the module not properly aligning within the socket, resulting in a poor connection.

To ensure correct alignment, please hold the module hard against the key when inserting, making sure that it connects as close to pin 1 of the sodimm as possible.

Andre

I see the play you refer to. I remounted the module, taking care to push it toward pin 1. I looked at it under a microscope and the pins are aligned properly. The boot process still stops after "Freeing init memory: 316K".

Do you have any further suggestions? Send it back?

Tom,
Can you confirm the state of the power LEDs at that point?

Andre

When u-boot is interrupted and brings up its prompt, and when the normal boot process gets to "Freeing init memeory: 316K", the power LEDs turn off and the device stops responding. At this stage it pulls about 200mA. Despite the LEDs being off, the output of the regulators is still 5v and 3.3v.

As mentioned previously, the LEDs are not lit when it stops outputting messages. The LEDs do light up during the boot process, but go out.

The power supplies (5V and 3.3v) are both fine at all times.

Mark

I'm reasonably confident this is the seating issue. I will try and post some photos showing how to ensure correct seating to prevent this issue. If you are unable to get it seated properly, please return it and we will arrange a replacement.

I tried the Quickstart kit with all four 9260 boards I can find here, being sure to seat it as you described. All four behave the same--won't complete boot. I think there may be something wrong with the kit.

I'm shipping the QSK and a Snapper9260 back for you to look at. I left the Snapper9260 mounted, so as long as it doesn't shift much during shipping you will be able to see how I have it mounted (towards pin 1).

What is your return policy? Will you be able to send a replacement QSK soon?