Unable to simulate loader chain binaries (zsl.rom.elf, fw_payload.bin, linux.vcu128.gpt.bin)

[HepoH3]

Description

I'm exploring the Cheshire simulation environment and successfully ran the helloworld.spm.elf example. However, when I attempt to simulate any of the loader‐chain binaries (e.g. zsl.rom.elf, fw_payload.elf, fw_payload.bin, linux.vcu128.gpt.bin), the simulation fails with different errors.

I suspect I might be misconfiguring environment variables or misunderstanding the expected boot modes.

Environment

• Project version: v0.3.0 tag
• Simulator: QuestaSim (version 2024.1)
• Binaries under test:
  • zsl.rom.elf
  • fw_payload.elf / fw_payload.bin (OpenSBI + U‑Boot)
  • linux.vcu128.gpt.bin (full SD‑card image)

Steps to Reproduce

cd to target/sim/vsim folder
start vsim
# set BOOTMODE, PRELMODE, BINARY/IMAGE variables
source start.cheshire_soc.tcl
run -all

Variables values to simulate zsl.rom.elf via JTAG:

set BOOTMODE 0
set PRELMODE 0
set BINARY path/to/zsl.rom.elf

Variables values to simulate fw_payload.bin from SD‑card image:

set BOOTMODE 1
set IMAGE path/to/fw_payload.bin

Variables values to simulate fw_payload.elf via JTAG:

set BOOTMODE 0
set PRELMODE 0
set BINARY path/to/fw_payload.elf

Variables values to simulate Linux from SD‑card image:

set BOOTMODE 1
set IMAGE path/to/linux.vcu128.gpt.bin

Observed Behavior

• zsl.rom.elf:

  [ELF] INFO: Entrypoint at 0x10000000
  [ELF] WARNING: Section at 0x0 has 16 zero bytes not preloaded.
  # [TRACER] Output filename is: trace_hart_0.log
  # [JTAG] Initialization success
  # [JTAG] Wait for LLC configuration
  # [JTAG] Halted hart 0
  # [JTAG] Preloading ELF binary: ../../../sw/boot/zsl.rom.elf
  # [JTAG] Preloading section at 0x0000000000000000 (7328 bytes)
  # [JTAG] - 512/7328 bytes (6%)
  # ** Fatal: [JTAG] Abstract command error!
  

• fw_payload.bin & linux.vcu128.gpt.bin:

  ** Warning: Illegal character '' in data on line 1 of file .../fw_payload.bin / linux.vcu128.gpt.bin
  ...
  ** Fatal: Unsupported boot mode 1 (SD Card)!
  

• fw_payload.elf via JTAG:

  [ELF] INFO: Entrypoint at 0x80000000
  [ELF] WARNING: Section at 0x80000000 has 135216 zero bytes not preloaded.
  # [TRACER] Output filename is: trace_hart_0.log
  # [JTAG] Initialization success
  # [JTAG] Wait for LLC configuration
  # [JTAG] Halted hart 0
  # [JTAG] Preloading ELF binary: ../../../sw/boot/fw_payload.elf
  # [JTAG] Preloading section at 0x0000000080000000 (213928 bytes)
  # [JTAG] - 512/213928 bytes (0%)
  # ...
  # [JTAG] - 213504/213928 bytes (99%)
  # [JTAG] Preloading section at 0x0000000080200000 (415800 bytes)
  # [JTAG] - 512/415800 bytes (0%)
  # ...
  # [JTAG] - 415744/415800 bytes (99%)
  # [JTAG] Preload complete
  # [JTAG] Resumed hart 0 from 0x0000000080000000
  
  # ** Warning:           1[l1 dcache] reading invalid data on port 1: data=0000000000000000
  #    Time: 151418085 ns Started: 151418085 ns
  # Scope:
  # tb_cheshire_soc.fix.dut.gen_cva6_cores[0].i_core_cva6.gen_cache_wb.i_cache_subsystem.genblk1[1].a_invalid_read_data
  # File: cheshire/.bender/git/checkouts/cva6-20c9d7cbe0dd6995/core/cache_subsystem/std_cache_subsystem.sv Line: 318
  
  # ...
  
  # ** Warning: Got unknown value in one of the operands
  #    Time: 151418460 ns Started: 151418460 ns
  # Scope: tb_cheshire_soc.fix.dut.gen_cva6_cores[0].i_core_cva6.issue_stage_i.i_issue_read_operands
  # File: cheshire/.bender/git/checkouts/cva6-20c9d7cbe0dd6995/core/issue_read_operands.sv Line: 640
  

Expected Behavior

zsl.rom.elf should preload successfully without JTAG errors.

fw_payload.bin / linux.vcu128.gpt.bin should be accepted by the SD‑card loader (boot mode 1).

fw_payload.elf correct payload code should execute.

Questions & Next Steps

• Am I using the correct values for BOOTMODE and PRELMODE for each binary type?
• Are there additional simulator flags or scripts required to support SD‑card boot (mode 1)?
• Did I miss something in Simulation and Software Stack guidelines?

I appreciate any pointers or suggestions!