GENERAL: Generating a ROM Checksum

Information in this article applies to:

• Keil MDK All Versions
• C51 All Versions
• C166 All Versions
• C251 All Versions

QUESTION

I need to validate the ROM in my microcontroller application at boot time. Is there any way to automatically generate a checksum of any kind in the code image that I could compare the actual code to?

ANSWER

Yes, we have application note 277 which explains how to generate and store a CRC checksum over one or several ROM areas using the srec_cat utility. It also provides several CRC32 implementations to calculate the CRC checksum during runtime for a one-time or periodic ROM self test. This application note is mainly written for ARM microcontrollers, but can also be applied for microcontroller architectures like 8051, 251 and 166.

SEE ALSO

• Refer to Application Note 277: "ROM Self-Test in MDK-ARM" which describes an approach to generate ROM checksums in that toolchain.
• GENERAL: Converting HEX, Binary, etc. File Formats

MORE INFORMATION

• µVision: CRC Example

Last Reviewed: Thursday, February 25, 2021