Azure RTOS Execution Profile Kit with STM32U5/B-U585I-IOT02A

Question

Azure RTOS Execution Profile Kit with STM32U5/B-U585I-IOT02A

Domenico Condemi 1

Hi,
Does ThreadX Execution Profile Kit support STM32U5? I am using IAR Embedded Workbench with B-U585I-IOT02A board and my project has TrustZone enabled but when I call the Execution Profile Kit functions I always get zero as a value, the parameters monitored by Execution Profile Kit are not updated.
To compile the code, in the IAR project I added the file tx_execution_profile.c, inserted the path to the folder "Middlewares\ST\threadx\utility\execution_profile_kit" (where the files tx_execution_profile.c and tx_execution_profile.h are contained) and compiled ThreadX with TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE.
I'm also trying with STM32CubeIDE and without enabling TrustZone but I keep reading zero all the time when I call for example the _tx_execution_thread_total_time_get, _tx_execution_isr_time_get and _tx_execution_idle_time_get functions.
Thank you

2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Scott Azure RTOS 4,051

Are you following all the instructions in the EPK? https://github.com/azure-rtos/threadx/blob/master/utility/execution_profile_kit/tx_execution_profile.h#L28-L47

It sounds like you don't have a hardware timer set up (or it is not enabled/running). Here's an example for the Cortex-M that uses the DWT_CYCCNT register: https://github.com/azure-rtos/threadx/blob/master/utility/execution_profile_kit/tx_execution_profile.h#L59-L65

Answer 2

Domenico Condemi 1

Hi @Scott Azure RTOS ,
Thank you for your reply.
I follow the instructions in the EPK (https://github.com/azure-rtos/threadx/blob/master/utility/execution_profile_kit/tx_execution_profile.h#L28-L47):

For TX_EXECUTION_TIME_SOURCE and TX_EXECUTION_MAX_TIME_SOURCE, I use the values defined in the file tx_execution_profile.h
"The following routines are called from assembly code [...]" -> I do nothing as they should already be defined in the assembly files
I rebuilt ThreadX library with TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE
I add tx_execution_profile.c to the application build

I initially notice that the call to TX_EXECUTION_TIME_SOURCE always returns zero. I check the tx_initialize_low_level.s file and with respect to the tx_initialize_low_level.s file in "\Middlewares\ST\threadx\ports\cortex_m33\iar\src" the following lines of code are missing.

In __tx_IntHandler:  
#if (defined(TX_ENABLE_EXECUTION_CHANGE_NOTIFY) || defined(TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE))  
    BL      _tx_execution_isr_enter             // Call the ISR enter function  
#endif  
  
#if (defined(TX_ENABLE_EXECUTION_CHANGE_NOTIFY) || defined(TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE))  
    BL      _tx_execution_isr_exit              // Call the ISR exit function  
#endif  
  
In SysTick_Handler:  
#if (defined(TX_ENABLE_EXECUTION_CHANGE_NOTIFY) || defined(TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE))  
    BL      _tx_execution_isr_enter             // Call the ISR enter function  
#endif  
  
#if (defined(TX_ENABLE_EXECUTION_CHANGE_NOTIFY) || defined(TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE))  
    BL      _tx_execution_isr_exit              // Call the ISR exit function  
#endif

I integrate the lines of code into the tx_initialize_low_level.s file in my project and remove the comment from the following lines of code in the tx_initialize_low_level.s file.

/* Enable the cycle count register.  */  
LDR     r0, =0xE0001000              ; Build address of DWT register  
LDR     r1, [r0]                               ; Pickup the current value  
ORR     r1, r1, #1                           ; Set the CYCCNTENA bit  
STR     r1, [r0]                                ; Enable the cycle count register

After these changes the call to TX_EXECUTION_TIME_SOURCE returns a value that increases with each call but the fuctions _tx_execution_thread_total_time_get, _tx_execution_isr_time_get and _tx_execution_idle_time_get always give zero.

I create a simpler project and include EPK following the instructions. I debug instruction by instruction and it is as if the EPK fuctions of the assembly file are not called. I enter define TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE in the tx_initialize_low_level.s file and I get a compile-time error for the _tx_execution_isr_enter and _tx_execution_isr_exit fuctions that are undefined. I define the fuctions _tx_execution_isr_enter and _tx_execution_isr_exit in tx_initialize_low_level.s with EXTERN, I can compile the code successfully. However, calls to _tx_execution_thread_total_time_get, _tx_execution_isr_time_get and _tx_execution_idle_time_get always return zero. It is as if the EPK function calls do not occur.

Thanks

Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-06T20:46:17.82+00:00

Hi @Domenico Condemi

It sounds like you are on the right track!

Do you have TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE defined for assembly files, or only c files? Make sure it's defined for assembly files.
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-06T21:33:37.357+00:00

Hi @Scott Azure RTOS

How should I define TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE for assembly file?

For one text I enter TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE ne file tx_user.h while for the other test IAR passes TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE to the console for code compilation.

Thank you very much
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-06T21:44:37.433+00:00

Defines in .h files will only affect .c files, not assembly files. Try the project settings, paste the define into the preprocessor symbols of the Assembler tab:
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-06T22:15:02.18+00:00

Thank you. In the project without TrustZone it seems to work, I get values different from zero when I call _tx_execution_thread_total_time_get, _tx_execution_isr_time_get and _tx_execution_idle_time_get. In the project with TrustZone enabled (along with TF-M) the call to TX_EXECUTION_TIME_SOURCE always returns zero.
Thanks again
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-06T22:43:25.393+00:00

There may be security issues with access to the DWT registers when trustzone is enabled. You may need to allow access to the registers from non-secure code.
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-07T15:29:37.377+00:00

I'm using TrustedFirmware-M and I can't figure out if the DWT registors are configured as secure, could you point me to where to check?
Thanks very much
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-07T15:44:24.37+00:00

See the DWT section of the Armv8-M Architecture Reference Manual.
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-07T16:19:38.697+00:00

Maybe it is better to use a hardware timer on the microcontroller, shouldn't the operating system calls already be privileged?
Thanks
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-09T15:40:43.397+00:00
Hi @Domenico Condemi - I just tested the EPK on a STM32L562 DK board using the Secure LED Toggle example from ST https://github.com/STMicroelectronics/x-cube-azrtos-l5. This has ThreadX running in non-secure mode. The EPK works fine - in tx_initialize_low_level, I had to uncomment the following lines- the DWT CYCCNTENA bit is enabled and the cycle counter starts running:

LDR r0, =0xE0001000 ; Build address of DWT register LDR r1, [r0] ; Pickup the current value ORR r1, r1, #1 ; Set the CYCCNTENA bit STR r1, [r0] ; Enable the cycle count register
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-10T05:37:05.337+00:00
Hi @Scott Azure RTOS ,
I am using the code of X-CUBE-AZURE with TrustedFirmware-M (TF-M) with ThreadX running in non-secure mode. In tx_initialize_low_level I too have decommented the following lines of code but am not connected with debugging (maybe that's the problem).

LDR r0, =0xE0001000 ; Build address of DWT register LDR r1, [r0] ; Pickup the current value ORR r1, r1, #1 ; Set the CYCCNTENA bit STR r1, [r0] ; Enable the cycle count register

With a simpler test code, I defined TX_EXECUTION_TIME_SOURCE to use a 32-bit microcontroller hardware timer and get comparable results with using the DWT register.
Thanks
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-18T10:02:41.257+00:00

Hi @Scott Azure RTOS ,
I noticed that the call to function _tx_execution_isr_time_get always returns zero, does the same thing happen to you?
Thanks
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-19T16:26:20.397+00:00

If the *_timer_total values are 0, it is likely that you don't have a hardware timer running or the hardware timer isn't being read correctly. Are all the values 0, or are some of them non-zero?
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-19T17:00:04.707+00:00

Hi @Scott Azure RTOS ,
Only the call to _tx_execution_isr_time_get returns zero, calls to _tx_execution_thread_total_time_get and _tx_execution_idle_time_get return non-zero values that increase with each call (when _tx_execution_thread_total_time_get > TX_EXECUTION_MAX_TIME_SOURCE I reset all values with _tx_execution_thread_total_time_reset, _tx_execution_isr_time_reset and _tx_execution_idle_time_reset).
Thanks
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-19T17:45:24.523+00:00

Ah! The problem is that in the Cortex-M devices, the hardware saves all the registers automatically, so _tx_thread_context_save and _tx_thread_context_restore do not need to be called. It is in these functions that we call _tx_execution_isr_enter and _tx_execution_isr_exit, respectively. Take a look at the example interrupt handler function we provide here to make those EPK calls: https://github.com/azure-rtos/threadx/blob/master/ports/cortex_m33/iar/src/tx_initialize_low_level.s#L141-L156

Domenico Condemi 1

In my tx_initialize_low_level.s there is the same code you indicated. I report below what is in my file

    PUBLIC  __tx_IntHandler  
__tx_IntHandler:  
; VOID InterruptHandler (VOID)  
; {  
    PUSH    {r0,lr}     ; Save LR (and dummy r0 to maintain stack alignment)  
#if (defined(TX_ENABLE_EXECUTION_CHANGE_NOTIFY) || defined(TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE))  
    BL      _tx_execution_isr_enter             // Call the ISR enter function  
#endif  
;    /* Do interrupt handler work here */  
;    /* .... */  
#if (defined(TX_ENABLE_EXECUTION_CHANGE_NOTIFY) || defined(TX_EXECUTION_PROFILE_ENABLE))  
    BL      _tx_execution_isr_exit              // Call the ISR exit function  
#endif  
    POP     {r0,lr}  
    BX      LR  
; }

Thanks

Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-19T18:19:23.407+00:00

Yes, that's an example of how to structure your ISRs. Are your actual ISRs calling _tx_execution_isr_enter and _exit?

Domenico Condemi 1

Doesn't the part of code in the tx_initialize_low_level.s file get called automatically when there is an interrupt? Or do I have to insert the lines of code in each of my ISRs?
For example, in the following code that handles the SPI2 peripheral interrupt, should I enter the _tx_execution_isr_enter and _tx_execution_isr_exit functions?

void SPI2_IRQHandler(void)  
{  
  /* USER CODE BEGIN SPI2_IRQn 0 */  
  
  /* USER CODE END SPI2_IRQn 0 */  
  HAL_SPI_IRQHandler(&hspi2);  
  /* USER CODE BEGIN SPI2_IRQn 1 */  
  
  /* USER CODE END SPI2_IRQn 1 */  
}

It would become

void SPI2_IRQHandler(void)  
{  
  /* USER CODE BEGIN SPI2_IRQn 0 */  
  _tx_execution_isr_enter();  
  /* USER CODE END SPI2_IRQn 0 */  
  HAL_SPI_IRQHandler(&hspi2);  
  /* USER CODE BEGIN SPI2_IRQn 1 */  
  _tx_execution_isr_exit();  
  /* USER CODE END SPI2_IRQn 1 */  
}

Thanks

Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-19T20:12:33.14+00:00

You need to do exactly what you are suggesting - insert those lines of code into the SPI2 ISR.

The code in tx_initialize_low_level does not automatically get called. The __tx_IntHandler is just an example of how to structure your ISRs.
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-19T20:21:34.387+00:00

I entered those lines of code in all ISRs but I always get zero from the call to _tx_execution_isr_time_get.
Thanks
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-19T21:24:57.853+00:00

It is possible that your ISRs are executing faster than the amount of time it takes your timer to make one tick. Do you think that may be happening? How fast is your timer running? and how many instructions are your ISRs?
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-19T21:34:03.033+00:00

My ISR calls the function HAL_SPI_IRQHandler(), the SPI peripheral is used to manage a WiFi module and I don't know how many lines of code are in the functions that are called. The timer clock is at the same frequency as the core clock.
Thanks
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-19T22:49:21.67+00:00

Oh! Do you have TX_CORTEX_M_EPK #defined? Define that and rebuild the EPK. Does it work now?

If it doesn't work... can you step into _tx_execution_isr_enter and see what the read of TX_EXECUTION_TIME_SOURCE returns?
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-20T20:37:18.23+00:00

By defining TX_CORTEX_M_EPK, calls to _tx_execution_isr_time_get return values other than zero. I noticed that the returned values are different from zero even without entering _tx_execution_isr_enter() and _tx_execution_isr_exit() inside my own ISR. Should I still call the _tx_execution_isr_enter() and _tx_execution_isr_exit() functions inside my own ISR?
Thanks
Scott Azure RTOS 4,051 Reputation points

2022-09-21T16:24:08.857+00:00

It's returning non-zero because it is already set up for the SysTick interrupt (where ThreadX calls _tx_timer_interrupt).
Domenico Condemi 1 Reputation point

2022-09-21T17:00:55.207+00:00

So inside my own ISRs I have to leave the calls to _tx_execution_isr_enter() and _tx_execution_isr_exit().
Thanks

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Azure RTOS Execution Profile Kit with STM32U5/B-U585I-IOT02A

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