Tools

Rockchip Debugging

Serial console, boot logs, JTAG and the usual suspects when a board will not boot.

The debug UART is your most important tool. Rockchip SoCs print DDR init, SPL and U-Boot logs long before Linux starts. Most boot failures can be classified by the last line printed on the serial console.

Key points

  • Debug UART runs at 1500000 baud on most modern Rockchip SoCs (115200 on some older/vendor configs).
  • Nothing at all on UART → power, crystal, or BootROM finding no loader (check for MaskROM on USB).
  • Stuck after DDR init → wrong DDR blob or memory hardware; stuck in kernel → DTB or rootfs.

Debugging guides

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