1 .. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
3 =======================
4 STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining
5 =======================
11 This document describes the STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining feature. But before going
12 further, let's introduce the peripherals involved.
14 To offload data transfers from the CPU, STM32 microprocessors (MPUs) embed
15 direct memory access controllers (DMA).
17 STM32MP1 SoCs embed both STM32 DMA and STM32 MDMA controllers. STM32 DMA
18 request routing capabilities are enhanced by a DMA request multiplexer
23 STM32 DMAMUX routes any DMA request from a given peripheral to any STM32 DMA
24 controller (STM32MP1 counts two STM32 DMA controllers) channels.
28 STM32 DMA is mainly used to implement central data buffer storage (usually in
29 the system SRAM) for different peripheral. It can access external RAMs but
30 without the ability to generate convenient burst transfer ensuring the best
35 STM32 MDMA (Master DMA) is mainly used to manage direct data transfers between
36 RAM data buffers without CPU intervention. It can also be used in a
37 hierarchical structure that uses STM32 DMA as first level data buffer
38 interfaces for AHB peripherals, while the STM32 MDMA acts as a second level
39 DMA with better performance. As a AXI/AHB master, STM32 MDMA can take control
46 STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining feature relies on the strengths of STM32 DMA and
47 STM32 MDMA controllers.
49 STM32 DMA has a circular Double Buffer Mode (DBM). At each end of transaction
50 (when DMA data counter - DMA_SxNDTR - reaches 0), the memory pointers
51 (configured with DMA_SxSM0AR and DMA_SxM1AR) are swapped and the DMA data
52 counter is automatically reloaded. This allows the SW or the STM32 MDMA to
53 process one memory area while the second memory area is being filled/used by
54 the STM32 DMA transfer.
56 With STM32 MDMA linked-list mode, a single request initiates the data array
57 (collection of nodes) to be transferred until the linked-list pointer for the
58 channel is null. The channel transfer complete of the last node is the end of
59 transfer, unless first and last nodes are linked to each other, in such a
60 case, the linked-list loops on to create a circular MDMA transfer.
62 STM32 MDMA has direct connections with STM32 DMA. This enables autonomous
63 communication and synchronization between peripherals, thus saving CPU
64 resources and bus congestion. Transfer Complete signal of STM32 DMA channel
65 can triggers STM32 MDMA transfer. STM32 MDMA can clear the request generated
66 by the STM32 DMA by writing to its Interrupt Clear register (whose address is
67 stored in MDMA_CxMAR, and bit mask in MDMA_CxMDR).
69 .. table:: STM32 MDMA interconnect table with STM32 DMA
71 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
72 | STM32 DMAMUX | STM32 DMA | STM32 DMA | STM32 MDMA |
73 | channels | channels | Transfer | request |
76 +==============+================+===========+============+
77 | Channel *0* | DMA1 channel 0 | dma1_tcf0 | *0x00* |
78 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
79 | Channel *1* | DMA1 channel 1 | dma1_tcf1 | *0x01* |
80 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
81 | Channel *2* | DMA1 channel 2 | dma1_tcf2 | *0x02* |
82 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
83 | Channel *3* | DMA1 channel 3 | dma1_tcf3 | *0x03* |
84 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
85 | Channel *4* | DMA1 channel 4 | dma1_tcf4 | *0x04* |
86 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
87 | Channel *5* | DMA1 channel 5 | dma1_tcf5 | *0x05* |
88 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
89 | Channel *6* | DMA1 channel 6 | dma1_tcf6 | *0x06* |
90 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
91 | Channel *7* | DMA1 channel 7 | dma1_tcf7 | *0x07* |
92 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
93 | Channel *8* | DMA2 channel 0 | dma2_tcf0 | *0x08* |
94 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
95 | Channel *9* | DMA2 channel 1 | dma2_tcf1 | *0x09* |
96 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
97 | Channel *10* | DMA2 channel 2 | dma2_tcf2 | *0x0A* |
98 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
99 | Channel *11* | DMA2 channel 3 | dma2_tcf3 | *0x0B* |
100 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
101 | Channel *12* | DMA2 channel 4 | dma2_tcf4 | *0x0C* |
102 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
103 | Channel *13* | DMA2 channel 5 | dma2_tcf5 | *0x0D* |
104 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
105 | Channel *14* | DMA2 channel 6 | dma2_tcf6 | *0x0E* |
106 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
107 | Channel *15* | DMA2 channel 7 | dma2_tcf7 | *0x0F* |
108 +--------------+----------------+-----------+------------+
110 STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining feature then uses a SRAM buffer. STM32MP1 SoCs embed
111 three fast access static internal RAMs of various size, used for data storage.
112 Due to STM32 DMA legacy (within microcontrollers), STM32 DMA performances are
113 bad with DDR, while they are optimal with SRAM. Hence the SRAM buffer used
114 between STM32 DMA and STM32 MDMA. This buffer is split in two equal periods
115 and STM32 DMA uses one period while STM32 MDMA uses the other period
121 ____________ ' _________ V____________
122 | STM32 DMA | / __|>_ \ | STM32 MDMA |
123 |------------| | / \ | |------------|
124 | DMA_SxM0AR |<=>| | SRAM | |<=>| []-[]...[] |
125 | DMA_SxM1AR | | \_____/ | | |
126 |____________| \___<|____/ |____________|
128 STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining uses (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_config to
129 exchange the parameters needed to configure MDMA. These parameters are
130 gathered into a u32 array with three values:
132 * the STM32 MDMA request (which is actually the DMAMUX channel ID),
133 * the address of the STM32 DMA register to clear the Transfer Complete
135 * the mask of the Transfer Complete interrupt flag of the STM32 DMA channel.
137 Device Tree updates for STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining support
138 -------------------------------------------------------
140 **1. Allocate a SRAM buffer**
142 SRAM device tree node is defined in SoC device tree. You can refer to it in
143 your board device tree to define your SRAM pool.
147 my_foo_device_dma_pool: dma-sram@0 {
152 Be careful of the start index, in case there are other SRAM consumers.
153 Define your pool size strategically: to optimise chaining, the idea is that
154 STM32 DMA and STM32 MDMA can work simultaneously, on each buffer of the
156 If the SRAM period is greater than the expected DMA transfer, then STM32 DMA
157 and STM32 MDMA will work sequentially instead of simultaneously. It is not a
158 functional issue but it is not optimal.
160 Don't forget to refer to your SRAM pool in your device node. You need to
161 define a new property.
166 my_dma_pool = &my_foo_device_dma_pool;
169 Then get this SRAM pool in your foo driver and allocate your SRAM buffer.
171 **2. Allocate a STM32 DMA channel and a STM32 MDMA channel**
173 You need to define an extra channel in your device tree node, in addition to
174 the one you should already have for "classic" DMA operation.
176 This new channel must be taken from STM32 MDMA channels, so, the phandle of
177 the DMA controller to use is the MDMA controller's one.
182 my_dma_pool = &my_foo_device_dma_pool;
183 dmas = <&dmamux1 ...>, // STM32 DMA channel
184 <&mdma1 0 0x3 0x1200000a 0 0>; // + STM32 MDMA channel
187 Concerning STM32 MDMA bindings:
189 1. The request line number : whatever the value here, it will be overwritten
190 by MDMA driver with the STM32 DMAMUX channel ID passed through
191 (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_config
193 2. The priority level : choose Very High (0x3) so that your channel will
194 take priority other the other during request arbitration
196 3. A 32bit mask specifying the DMA channel configuration : source and
197 destination address increment, block transfer with 128 bytes per single
200 4. The 32bit value specifying the register to be used to acknowledge the
201 request: it will be overwritten by MDMA driver, with the DMA channel
202 interrupt flag clear register address passed through
203 (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_config
205 5. The 32bit mask specifying the value to be written to acknowledge the
206 request: it will be overwritten by MDMA driver, with the DMA channel
207 Transfer Complete flag passed through
208 (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_config
210 Driver updates for STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining support in foo driver
211 ----------------------------------------------------------------
213 **0. (optional) Refactor the original sg_table if dmaengine_prep_slave_sg()**
215 In case of dmaengine_prep_slave_sg(), the original sg_table can't be used as
216 is. Two new sg_tables must be created from the original one. One for
217 STM32 DMA transfer (where memory address targets now the SRAM buffer instead
218 of DDR buffer) and one for STM32 MDMA transfer (where memory address targets
221 The new sg_list items must fit SRAM period length. Here is an example for
226 * Assuming sgl and nents, respectively the initial scatterlist and its
228 * Assuming sram_dma_buf and sram_period, respectively the memory
229 * allocated from the pool for DMA usage, and the length of the period,
230 * which is half of the sram_buf size.
232 struct sg_table new_dma_sgt, new_mdma_sgt;
233 struct scatterlist *s, *_sgl;
234 dma_addr_t ddr_dma_buf;
235 u32 new_nents = 0, len;
238 /* Count the number of entries needed */
239 for_each_sg(sgl, s, nents, i)
240 if (sg_dma_len(s) > sram_period)
241 new_nents += DIV_ROUND_UP(sg_dma_len(s), sram_period);
245 /* Create sg table for STM32 DMA channel */
246 ret = sg_alloc_table(&new_dma_sgt, new_nents, GFP_ATOMIC);
248 dev_err(dev, "DMA sg table alloc failed\n");
250 for_each_sg(new_dma_sgt.sgl, s, new_dma_sgt.nents, i) {
252 sg_dma_len(s) = min(sg_dma_len(_sgl), sram_period);
253 /* Targets the beginning = first half of the sram_buf */
254 s->dma_address = sram_buf;
256 * Targets the second half of the sram_buf
257 * for odd indexes of the item of the sg_list
260 s->dma_address += sram_period;
263 /* Create sg table for STM32 MDMA channel */
264 ret = sg_alloc_table(&new_mdma_sgt, new_nents, GFP_ATOMIC);
266 dev_err(dev, "MDMA sg_table alloc failed\n");
269 len = sg_dma_len(sgl);
270 ddr_dma_buf = sg_dma_address(sgl);
271 for_each_sg(mdma_sgt.sgl, s, mdma_sgt.nents, i) {
272 size_t bytes = min_t(size_t, len, sram_period);
274 sg_dma_len(s) = bytes;
275 sg_dma_address(s) = ddr_dma_buf;
278 if (!len && sg_next(_sgl)) {
279 _sgl = sg_next(_sgl);
280 len = sg_dma_len(_sgl);
281 ddr_dma_buf = sg_dma_address(_sgl);
283 ddr_dma_buf += bytes;
287 Don't forget to release these new sg_tables after getting the descriptors
288 with dmaengine_prep_slave_sg().
290 **1. Set controller specific parameters**
292 First, use dmaengine_slave_config() with a struct dma_slave_config to
293 configure STM32 DMA channel. You just have to take care of DMA addresses,
294 the memory address (depending on the transfer direction) must point on your
295 SRAM buffer, and set (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_size != 0.
297 STM32 DMA driver will check (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_size to
298 determine if chaining is being used or not. If it is used, then STM32 DMA
299 driver fills (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_config with an array of
300 three u32 : the first one containing STM32 DMAMUX channel ID, the second one
301 the channel interrupt flag clear register address, and the third one the
302 channel Transfer Complete flag mask.
304 Then, use dmaengine_slave_config with another struct dma_slave_config to
305 configure STM32 MDMA channel. Take care of DMA addresses, the device address
306 (depending on the transfer direction) must point on your SRAM buffer, and
307 the memory address must point to the buffer originally used for "classic"
308 DMA operation. Use the previous (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_size
309 and .peripheral_config that have been updated by STM32 DMA driver, to set
310 (struct dma_slave_config).peripheral_size and .peripheral_config of the
311 struct dma_slave_config to configure STM32 MDMA channel.
314 struct dma_slave_config dma_conf;
315 struct dma_slave_config mdma_conf;
317 memset(&dma_conf, 0, sizeof(dma_conf));
319 config.direction = DMA_DEV_TO_MEM;
320 config.dst_addr = sram_dma_buf; // SRAM buffer
321 config.peripheral_size = 1; // peripheral_size != 0 => chaining
323 dmaengine_slave_config(dma_chan, &dma_config);
325 memset(&mdma_conf, 0, sizeof(mdma_conf));
326 config.direction = DMA_DEV_TO_MEM;
327 mdma_conf.src_addr = sram_dma_buf; // SRAM buffer
328 mdma_conf.dst_addr = rx_dma_buf; // original memory buffer
329 mdma_conf.peripheral_size = dma_conf.peripheral_size; // <- dma_conf
330 mdma_conf.peripheral_config = dma_config.peripheral_config; // <- dma_conf
332 dmaengine_slave_config(mdma_chan, &mdma_conf);
334 **2. Get a descriptor for STM32 DMA channel transaction**
336 In the same way you get your descriptor for your "classic" DMA operation,
337 you just have to replace the original sg_list (in case of
338 dmaengine_prep_slave_sg()) with the new sg_list using SRAM buffer, or to
339 replace the original buffer address, length and period (in case of
340 dmaengine_prep_dma_cyclic()) with the new SRAM buffer.
342 **3. Get a descriptor for STM32 MDMA channel transaction**
344 If you previously get descriptor (for STM32 DMA) with
346 * dmaengine_prep_slave_sg(), then use dmaengine_prep_slave_sg() for
348 * dmaengine_prep_dma_cyclic(), then use dmaengine_prep_dma_cyclic() for
351 Use the new sg_list using SRAM buffer (in case of dmaengine_prep_slave_sg())
352 or, depending on the transfer direction, either the original DDR buffer (in
353 case of DMA_DEV_TO_MEM) or the SRAM buffer (in case of DMA_MEM_TO_DEV), the
354 source address being previously set with dmaengine_slave_config().
356 **4. Submit both transactions**
358 Before submitting your transactions, you may need to define on which
359 descriptor you want a callback to be called at the end of the transfer
360 (dmaengine_prep_slave_sg()) or the period (dmaengine_prep_dma_cyclic()).
361 Depending on the direction, set the callback on the descriptor that finishes
362 the overall transfer:
364 * DMA_DEV_TO_MEM: set the callback on the "MDMA" descriptor
365 * DMA_MEM_TO_DEV: set the callback on the "DMA" descriptor
367 Then, submit the descriptors whatever the order, with dmaengine_tx_submit().
369 **5. Issue pending requests (and wait for callback notification)**
371 As STM32 MDMA channel transfer is triggered by STM32 DMA, you must issue
372 STM32 MDMA channel before STM32 DMA channel.
374 If any, your callback will be called to warn you about the end of the overall
375 transfer or the period completion.
377 Don't forget to terminate both channels. STM32 DMA channel is configured in
378 cyclic Double-Buffer mode so it won't be disabled by HW, you need to terminate
379 it. STM32 MDMA channel will be stopped by HW in case of sg transfer, but not
380 in case of cyclic transfer. You can terminate it whatever the kind of transfer.
382 **STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining DMA_MEM_TO_DEV special case**
384 STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining in DMA_MEM_TO_DEV is a special case. Indeed, the
385 STM32 MDMA feeds the SRAM buffer with the DDR data, and the STM32 DMA reads
386 data from SRAM buffer. So some data (the first period) have to be copied in
387 SRAM buffer when the STM32 DMA starts to read.
389 A trick could be pausing the STM32 DMA channel (that will raise a Transfer
390 Complete signal, triggering the STM32 MDMA channel), but the first data read
391 by the STM32 DMA could be "wrong". The proper way is to prepare the first SRAM
392 period with dmaengine_prep_dma_memcpy(). Then this first period should be
393 "removed" from the sg or the cyclic transfer.
395 Due to this complexity, rather use the STM32 DMA-MDMA chaining for
396 DMA_DEV_TO_MEM and keep the "classic" DMA usage for DMA_MEM_TO_DEV, unless
402 Application note, datasheet and reference manual are available on ST website
405 Dedicated focus on three application notes (AN5224_, AN4031_ & AN5001_)
406 dealing with STM32 DMAMUX, STM32 DMA and STM32 MDMA.
408 .. _STM32MP1: https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32mp1-series.html
409 .. _AN5224: https://www.st.com/resource/en/application_note/an5224-stm32-dmamux-the-dma-request-router-stmicroelectronics.pdf
410 .. _AN4031: https://www.st.com/resource/en/application_note/dm00046011-using-the-stm32f2-stm32f4-and-stm32f7-series-dma-controller-stmicroelectronics.pdf
411 .. _AN5001: https://www.st.com/resource/en/application_note/an5001-stm32cube-expansion-package-for-stm32h7-series-mdma-stmicroelectronics.pdf
415 - Amelie Delaunay <amelie.delaunay@foss.st.com>