elf2flash and bootloader questions

Hi grante,

> I can find no detailed documentation on either elf2flash or the mysterious external bootloader

> which appears to be available only as an srec file.

You need to read the "Nios II Software Developer’s Handbook."

> * What exactly does "elf2flash" do?

See the handbook for details ... but basically what it says: it converts the elf to a flash file.

Very simply: it creates a record for each loadable section, throws in the bootloader if necessary,

and outputs the srec for the flash programmer.

> * Why can't "objcopy" be used like all other normal eCos targets?

It can -- just run it from the command line.

> * What is the external bootloader .srec file for?

Read chapter 4 in the handbook ... the section "Memory Usage."

> * Why would a ROM-resident bootloader like RedBoot require a second bootloader?

It doesn't -- you can use objcopy and bin2flash (if you want to use the flash programmer).

Regards,

--Scott