<f_>
Nice obfuscation attempt. Too bad I figured out how it worked :P
<tetrakist>
Congrats. :)
<f_>
Thanks!
<f_>
Now let's go further and see what changes they made after making it (bl2) proprietary.
<f_>
We can already see that they did lots of changes to DDR init.
<f_>
e.g. ddr_init() used to just run lots of DDR-related functions. Now it does other stuff as well.
<f_>
narmstrong: And since you thought that was all interesting I'll push Ghidra project files somewhere.
<f_>
So that people interested can see what I did.
<tetrakist>
f_: Thanks!
<f_>
tetrakist: So you're interested?
<f_>
great :P
<tetrakist>
I'm interested in everything, but personally don't have the knowledge or time at the moment to do anything with them. But I strongly believe in encouraging work such as your own. :)
<tetrakist>
I may have to dive into learning how to use Ghidra later this year.
<f_>
Keep in mind I'm a total n00b at reverse-engineering and Ghidra :P
<f_>
But so far so good!
<tetrakist>
Well, that's encouraging, I suppose, seeing as I am too. Though I think you have a bit more experience close to the hardware than I do. I hope to work fixing that as well.
<f_>
Yeah I think I have more experience close to the hardware ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I guess
<tetrakist>
Heh, your libreboot work is certainly appreciated. :)
* f_
checks if tetrakist is in #libreboot.
<f_>
tetrakist: Unfourtunately I only have an Amlogic S905 set-top box from 2016 and that's what I'm using to test. Newer SoCs such as the S905X will still have to use blobs...
<f_>
(although I suspect they kept using the same codebase since 2015)
<tetrakist>
f_: I'm willing to donate some hardware if you will find it useful.
<f_>
No need to, but thanks!, I'll probably get some hardware myself.
<f_>
(set-top boxes)
<tetrakist>
To be honest, my interest in some of the "set-top" TV sticks is what led me in a convoluted path to this channel.
<f_>
There's a LOT of Amlogic set-top boxes on the market, so it's not that hard to find one.
<f_>
tetrakist: Me too! I originally wanted to get mainline linux running on my set-top box, then wanted mainline U-Boot, and now I want a fully libre boot, and here we are :P
<tetrakist>
Yes. I was looking at the S905Y4 "X98 500" and the S905Y2 "X96S" TV sticks...
<f_>
I have an S905 Videostrong KII Pro
<f_>
Quite a nice set-top box to be honest (apart from the stock Android OS, of course :P)
<tetrakist>
I'm quite curious about the possibility of getting linux running on some of these android projectors. But I haven't seen much work towards that end.
<tetrakist>
I'm fascinated by "high-mobility" systems that are small and contained.
<f_>
I do hope my work is going to be useful for other stuff like.....an Amlogic MNT Reform laptop or a russian manufacturer which just so happens to chime in here from time to time :)
* f_
looks at SberDevices.
<tetrakist>
Do you have a particular interest in Amlogic devices, or is that just because it was what was in your set-top box?
<f_>
Before, no. But now I do think Amlogic devices are quite nice and I love working with those.
<tetrakist>
Well-architected systems are a joy to work with, in any area.
<f_>
I learned a lot of stuff while hacking my set-top box! Before I didn't even know how to sign U-Boot for running it as a primary bootloader, now I'm literally porting TF-A BL2!
<tetrakist>
Now if you started streaming you could be the next Asahi Lina. :P
<f_>
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I would need to become a VTuber in that case
<tetrakist>
I was also interested in Amlogic because of some descriptions of them targeting low-power implementations.
<tetrakist>
The form-factor is very interesting to me, but I suspect that the Raspberry Pi Zero will be a bit power-hungry.
<f_>
"or any other compatible SBCs (e.g. Radxa Zero, MQ-Pro)"
<f_>
I see at least one Amlogic-powered SBC here
<tetrakist>
Ah yes. The Radxa.
<f_>
Looks nice though.
<tetrakist>
I guess I was too focused on the Pi to spot that.
<f_>
Oh it also uses a Blackberry keyboard =)
<tetrakist>
yes!
<tetrakist>
Do you know what the status is regarding minimizing power usage on the S905Y2 running linux?
<f_>
I don't. Sorry.
<tetrakist>
Bleh, it's sold out. heh.
<tetrakist>
Well, I guess that gives me time to get a radxa zero.
<tetrakist>
Anyways... Nice talking with you. Keep up the good work. I'll probably grab one of those TV sticks in a few weeks and see what I can get done on it... At least I know one more person who I can ask questions. ;)
<f_>
=)
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<f_>
narmstrong: What's even funnier, is the fact that despite the fact that DDR init changed more than anything else, it didn't change too much either!
<f_>
I guess they just added LPDDR init
<f_>
these are all register write operations!
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<f_>
So we now know where the DRAM gets initialised.