linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH 4/8] mtd: spi-nor: disallow further writes to SR if WP# is low

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Date:	Fri, 29 Jan 2016 10:22:34 -0300
From:	Ezequiel Garcia <ezequiel@...guardiasur.com.ar>
To:	Brian Norris <computersforpeace@...il.com>
Cc:	"linux-mtd@...ts.infradead.org" <linux-mtd@...ts.infradead.org>,
	Rafał Miłecki <zajec5@...il.com>,
	Boris Brezillon <boris.brezillon@...e-electrons.com>,
	"linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	Bayi Cheng <bayi.cheng@...iatek.com>,
	Marek Vasut <marex@...x.de>,
	Daniel Kurtz <djkurtz@...omium.org>
Subject: Re: [PATCH 4/8] mtd: spi-nor: disallow further writes to SR if WP# is low

On 28 January 2016 at 16:48, Brian Norris <computersforpeace@...il.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 28, 2016 at 04:24:50PM -0300, Ezequiel Garcia wrote:
>> On 28 January 2016 at 14:59, Brian Norris <computersforpeace@...il.com> wrote:
>> > So, maybe we want to clear SR_SRWD only when we unlock the *entire*
>> > flash? What do you think?
>
> I'll paste in the relevant datasheet details from w25q32fw, to make sure
> we're on the same page here, noting that 'SRP0' is our 'SR_SRWD', and
> we're not touching SRP1 (i.e., SRP1=0):
>
>  "SRP1=0, SRP0=0, /WP=X: Software Protection
>     /WP pin has no control. The Status register can be written to after
>     a Write Enable instruction, WEL=1. [Factory Default]
>   SRP1=0, SRP0=1, /WP=0: Hardware Protected
>     When /WP pin is low the Status Register locked [sic] and cannot be
>     written to.
>   SRP1=0, SRP0=1, /WP=1: Hardware Unprotected
>     When /WP pin is high the Status register is unlocked and can be
>     written to after a Write Enable instruction, WEL=1."
>

Yes, we are on the same page.

>> How about this:
>>
>> 1) ioctl(MEMLOCK) the entire flash (SR_SRWD is set)
>> 2) ioctl(MEMUNLOCK) partially (SW_SRWD keeps set)
>> 3) ioctl(MEMLOCK) the entire flash again
>
> I might be confused; are you making a suggestion of a new behavior, or
> are you just trying to clarify my proposal? Because this sounds like it
> matches my proposal.
>

I was trying to clarify how the SRWD would work in that case, but I
forgot about /WP when I asked that!

>> Not sure this use case make sense,
>
> I suppose it could make sense, if you (e.g.) have some intermediate
> steps toward determining the locked regions during factory programming.
> Maybe a process would start by doing #1 and #2, then decide
> conditionally whether to do #3. And only after the whole process is done
> does something assert /WP=0 (in my case, a factory process would tie /WP
> low).
>
>> but would (3)  be allowed given
>> SW_SRWD is set?
>
> Yes, if /WP=1 (high).
>

Right. So, after giving some more thought do this, I'd say it might
make sense to clear SRWD only when unlocking the entire flash. If
anything else, it would allow a path to disable hardware protection on
the lock range?

-- 
Ezequiel García, VanguardiaSur
www.vanguardiasur.com.ar