[PATCH] Change barebox regarding "machine-restart", "reset cause detection" und "watchdog usage"

Juergen Borleis jbe at pengutronix.de
Mon Jun 22 03:33:18 PDT 2015


Currently the architectures in barebox using a fixed approach to restart the
machine: they just provide a cpu_reset() function and are done. Every
architecture then does what the developer has selected in order to reset the
CPU, the SoC or the whole machine.

This approach is nice and simple but can fail. For example on a machine where
some kind of power management changes power supply voltages in order to save
power. Everything works with reduced clock speeds and voltages. It works until
a warm start is triggered and the SoC and it clocks are reset to their POR
defaults - but not the external power supply. In this case a restart feature
is required with a wider scope - which resets the power supplies back to their
POR values.

To honor the scope of a restart feature is the intention of this patch series.
And while a machine restart needs such a scope the use of a watchdog needs
such a scope as well. And at the end of this topic, the detection of the reset
cause also.

BTW: everything works in a reliable manner only, if the kernel honors these
scopes as well.

Patch 3/6 removes the reset_cpu() function barebox wide and replaces it by
registering an architecture dependend restart feature including a scope.
Patch 6/6 adds a new driver to handle the DA9055 PMIC which can act as a reset
cause detection, a watchdog and a restart unit. It is an example for a unit
which has a machine wide scope for all of these three featured.

Comments are welcome
Juergen




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