lsblk devices
#1
Question 
I can recognize mmcblk1 / ...p1/p2, but I wonder, what are:
mmcblk1boot0
mmcblk1boot1
mmcblk1rpmb
?

Given the 16M size, I assume the last one is the SPI flash? What about the others? (both showing 4M size)
fdisk -l doesn't give me any interesting information.
Are these supposed to be interact-able in any way? 
Or am I just dumb and these are actually still the eMMC?
#2
(10-25-2019, 07:59 AM)tsago Wrote: I can recognize mmcblk1 / ...p1/p2, but I wonder, what are:
mmcblk1boot0
mmcblk1boot1
mmcblk1rpmb
?

Given the 16M size, I assume the last one is the SPI flash? What about the others? (both showing 4M size)
fdisk -l doesn't give me any interesting information.
Are these supposed to be interact-able in any way? 
Or am I just dumb and these are actually still the eMMC?
Partitions on the eMMC?
I know when I used the "Disks" program in Debian (that I added to OEM OS on the PBP), I saw the partitioning on what "Disks" refered to as an SD, which the eMMC....
That help? :-)
#3
(10-25-2019, 08:16 AM)rick1959 Wrote:
(10-25-2019, 07:59 AM)tsago Wrote: I can recognize mmcblk1 / ...p1/p2, but I wonder, what are:
mmcblk1boot0
mmcblk1boot1
mmcblk1rpmb
?

Given the 16M size, I assume the last one is the SPI flash? What about the others? (both showing 4M size)
fdisk -l doesn't give me any interesting information.
Are these supposed to be interact-able in any way? 
Or am I just dumb and these are actually still the eMMC?
Partitions on the eMMC?
I know when I used the "Disks" program in Debian (that I added to OEM OS on the PBP), I saw the partitioning on what "Disks" refered to as an SD, which the eMMC....
That help? :-)

Well I thought so too, but if those are partitions on the eMMC, shouldn't they visually show as a part of the "mmcblk1" device? (pic attached)
fdisk -l /dev/mmcblk1 also doesn't list them as partitions belonging to it.

Alright, mystery solved!
Basically those are some special-cookie "partitions", intended by the eMMC spec for boot firmwares (boot0, boot1), and secure data (rpmb).
Then there's the normal "USER" partition(~block-device), which is used for normal partitioning (= mmcblk0/1[p1/2/3..]).

References:
https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation...-parts.txt
http://trac.gateworks.com/wiki/MMC
https://www.slideshare.net/linaroorg/intro-to-emmc


Attached Files
.png   lsblk.png (Size: 27.88 KB / Downloads: 453)
#4
(10-25-2019, 01:41 PM)tsago Wrote:
(10-25-2019, 08:16 AM)rick1959 Wrote:
(10-25-2019, 07:59 AM)tsago Wrote: I can recognize mmcblk1 / ...p1/p2, but I wonder, what are:
mmcblk1boot0
mmcblk1boot1
mmcblk1rpmb
?

Given the 16M size, I assume the last one is the SPI flash? What about the others? (both showing 4M size)
fdisk -l doesn't give me any interesting information.
Are these supposed to be interact-able in any way? 
Or am I just dumb and these are actually still the eMMC?
Partitions on the eMMC?
I know when I used the "Disks" program in Debian (that I added to OEM OS on the PBP), I saw the partitioning on what "Disks" refered to as an SD, which the eMMC....
That help? :-)

Well I thought so too, but if those are partitions on the eMMC, shouldn't they visually show as a part of the "mmcblk1" device? (pic attached)
fdisk -l /dev/mmcblk1 also doesn't list them as partitions belonging to it.

Alright, mystery solved!
Basically those are some special-cookie "partitions", intended by the eMMC spec for boot firmwares (boot0, boot1), and secure data (rpmb).
Then there's the normal "USER" partition(~block-device), which is used for normal partitioning (= mmcblk0/1[p1/2/3..]).

References:
https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation...-parts.txt
http://trac.gateworks.com/wiki/MMC
https://www.slideshare.net/linaroorg/intro-to-emmc
Excellent, Thanks!! :-)
#5
(10-25-2019, 01:41 PM)tsago Wrote:
(10-25-2019, 08:16 AM)rick1959 Wrote:
(10-25-2019, 07:59 AM)tsago Wrote: I can recognize mmcblk1 / ...p1/p2, but I wonder, what are:
mmcblk1boot0
mmcblk1boot1
mmcblk1rpmb
?

Given the 16M size, I assume the last one is the SPI flash? What about the others? (both showing 4M size)
fdisk -l doesn't give me any interesting information.
Are these supposed to be interact-able in any way? 
Or am I just dumb and these are actually still the eMMC?
Partitions on the eMMC?
I know when I used the "Disks" program in Debian (that I added to OEM OS on the PBP), I saw the partitioning on what "Disks" refered to as an SD, which the eMMC....
That help? :-)

Well I thought so too, but if those are partitions on the eMMC, shouldn't they visually show as a part of the "mmcblk1" device? (pic attached)
fdisk -l /dev/mmcblk1 also doesn't list them as partitions belonging to it.

Alright, mystery solved!
Basically those are some special-cookie "partitions", intended by the eMMC spec for boot firmwares (boot0, boot1), and secure data (rpmb).
Then there's the normal "USER" partition(~block-device), which is used for normal partitioning (= mmcblk0/1[p1/2/3..]).

References:
https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation...-parts.txt
http://trac.gateworks.com/wiki/MMC
https://www.slideshare.net/linaroorg/intro-to-emmc

Yes, thank you for your research.

I've added a little detail to the Pinebook Pro Wiki on the subject on eMMC partitions. Feel free to either send me corrections / updates, or make them yourself. Here is the link;

Wiki - Pinebook Pro - Bootable Storage
--
Arwen Evenstar
Princess of Rivendale
#6
eMMC boot partitions, it's better to call them "areas" to avoid confusion, are good candidates for uboot or other FW storage. would be if Rockchip ROM code did understand them. but it probably doesn't. at least rk3399 manual doesn't mention them. would be interesting to experiment. with Rockpro. they were intended for such usage, they free general purpose area for user and they provide redundancy (since they always come in two identical instances).
ANT - my hobby OS for x86 and ARM.
#7
These eMMC boot areas are also SLC, (Single Level Cell), flash memory. At least that is what I read off the eMMC standards information.

SLC is more reliable flash memory storage technique than MLC, TLC or QLC., (2, 3 or 4 level cells). Both in read reliability, and cell longevity.
--
Arwen Evenstar
Princess of Rivendale
#8
I changed the last line to "*mmcblk0 - This block contains the user areas".  Is that correct?
#9
in linux yes. but the number isn't necessarily 0.
ANT - my hobby OS for x86 and ARM.
#10
I changed the "0" / zero to "1" / one so it matches the other lines.
Then added a line that the device number may vary depending on the kernel.

My home media server has similar naming for the SD card. Though in my case, leaves out the extra 3 eMMC specific non-user areas.
It also never changes device number, but that's probably due to the lack of other card device interfaces.

Do we know the device naming of the SD card in the Pinebook Pro?

Mine has not come yet.
--
Arwen Evenstar
Princess of Rivendale


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