You can upgrade firmware of Mixtile Core 3588E (hereinafter referred to as Core 3588E) using either an RK image or a raw image in Loader or MaskROM mode. This document describes how to upgrade the firmware of Core 3588E using a Rockchip format image on macOS, and Ubuntu in Loader and MaskROM modes.
Important:
Back up data before a firmware upgrade, because all user data is deleted after the firmware upgrade.
Note:
Core 3588E has three boot modes: Normal, Loader, and MaskROM. Loader and MaskROM modes are for firmware upgrade.
Preparations
Files
Upgrade tools
- macOS: upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac.zip
- Ubuntu: Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65.zip
Devices and accessories
- A Core 3588E board
- A carrier board that is compatible with Jetson TX2 NX (carrier board Leetop A206 is used in this document)
- A computer: macOS, or Ubuntu
- A micro USB cable
- A 2.54-mm jumper cap
Connect hardware
1. Fix Core 3588E onto the carrier board with the notch aligned. Then fasten the two screws.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dh19rycdk230a.cloudfront.net/app/uploads/2023/11/install-core-3588e-to-carrier-board-857x800.jpg?resize=426%2C398&ssl=1)
2. Connect one end of the power adapter to the power jack of the carrier board and the other end to a live outlet.
3. Connect one end of the micro USB cable to the micro USB port of the carrier board and the other end to your computer.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dh19rycdk230a.cloudfront.net/app/uploads/2023/11/image-1-777x800.jpg?resize=447%2C460&ssl=1)
Upgrade firmware in Loader mode (recommended)
On macOS
Step 1. Enable Core 3588E to enter Loader mode
Choose one of the following two options:
Option 1: Unplug the power adapter, use the jumper cap to connect the FCREC and GND pins, and plug the power adapter again.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dh19rycdk230a.cloudfront.net/app/uploads/2023/11/short-connecting-fcrec-and-gnd-1400x715.png?resize=489%2C248&ssl=1)
Option 2: If your computer has ADB tool, start a terminal and input adb reboot loader.
Step 2. Download the upgrade tool and grant permission to it
2.1 Click upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac.zip to download the upgrade tool.
2.2 Go to the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac after unzipping the package. Grant permission to the tool by running the sudo chmod u+x upgrade_tool
command.
2.3 Navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and allow this file to run on your computer.
Under the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac, you can run the sudo ./upgrade_tool
command to check whether Core 3588E has entered Loader mode. The following is an example of the command output:
Program Log will save in the /Users/mia/upgrade_tool/log/
List of rockusb connected
DevNo=1 Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=442 Mode=Loader SerialNo=4998310c6679ec2
Found 1 rockusb,Select input DevNo,Rescan press <R>,Quit press <Q>:
Step 3. Upgrade Rockchip image
3.1 Under the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac, run the sudo ./upgrade_tool uf [image path].img
command. The following is an example:
sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /Downloads/image-release-rockchip-format-mixtile-core3588e-ubuntu-desktop-rc-0.0.3-231227.img
On Ubuntu
Step 1. Enable Core 3588E to enter Loader mode
Choose one of the following two options:
Option 1: Unplug the power adapter, connect the FCREC and GND pins using the jumper cap, and plug the power adapter again.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dh19rycdk230a.cloudfront.net/app/uploads/2023/11/short-connecting-fcrec-and-gnd-1400x715.png?resize=489%2C248&ssl=1)
Option 2: If your computer has ADB tool, start a terminal and input adb reboot loader.
Step 2. Download the upgrade tool and grant permission to it
2.1 Click Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65.zip to download the upgrade tool.
2.2 Go to the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65 after unzipping the package. Grant permission to the tool by running the chmod u+x upgrade_tool
command.
Under the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65, you can run the sudo ./upgrade_tool
command to check whether Core 3588E has entered Loader mode. The following is an example of the command output:
Program Data in /usr/local/bin
List of rockusb connected
DevNo=1 Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=27 Mode=Loader SerialNo=4998310c6679ec2
Found 1 rockusb,Select input DevNo,Rescan press <R>,Quit press <Q>:
Step 3. Upgrade firmware
3.1 Under the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65, run the sudo ./upgrade_tool uf [image path].img
command. The following is an example:
sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /Downloads/image-release-rockchip-format-mixtile-core3588e-ubuntu-desktop-rc-0.0.3-231227.img
Upgrade firmware in MaskROM mode
On macOS
Step 1. Enable Core 3588E to enter MaskROM mode
1.1 Unplug the power adapter from the carrier board.
1.2 Keep short-circuiting the two solder joints on Core 3588E, and plug the power adapter again.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dh19rycdk230a.cloudfront.net/app/uploads/2023/11/solder-joints-919x800.png?resize=428%2C372&ssl=1)
Step 2. Download the upgrade tool and grant permission to it
2.1 Click upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac.zip to download the upgrade tool.
2.2 Go to the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac after unzipping the package. Grant permission to upgrade_tool by running the command sudo chmod u+x upgrade_tool
.
2.3 Navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and allow this file to run on your computer.
Under the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac, you can run sudo ./upgrade_tool
to check whether Core 3588E has entered MaskROM mode. The following is an example of the command output:
Program Log will save in the /Users/mia/upgrade_tool/log/
List of rockusb connected
DevNo=1 Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=442 Mode=Maskrom SerialNo=4998310c6679ec2
Found 1 rockusb,Select input DevNo,Rescan press <R>,Quit press <Q>:
Step 3. Upgrade firmware
3.1 Under the folder upgrade_tool_v2.3_mac, run the following commands:
sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /Downloads/image-release-rockchip-format-mixtile-core3588e-ubuntu-desktop-rc-0.0.3-231227.img
On Ubuntu
Step 1. Enable Core 3588E to enter MaskROM mode
1.1 Unplug the power adapter from the carrier board.
1.2 Keep short-circuiting the two solder joints on Core 3588E, and plug the power adapter again.
![](https://i0.wp.com/dh19rycdk230a.cloudfront.net/app/uploads/2023/11/solder-joints-919x800.png?resize=431%2C375&ssl=1)
Step 2. Download the upgrade tool and grant permission to it
2.1 Click Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65.zip to download the upgrade tool.
2.2 Go to the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65 after unzipping the package. Grant permission to the tool by running the sudo chmod u+x upgrade_tool
command.
Under the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65, you can run the sudo ./upgrade_tool
command to check whether Core 3588E has entered MaskROM mode. The following is an example of the command output:
Program Data in /usr/local/bin
List of rockusb connected
DevNo=1 Vid=0x2207,Pid=0x350b,LocationID=27 Mode=Maskrom SerialNo=4998310c6679ec2
Found 1 rockusb,Select input DevNo,Rescan press <R>,Quit press <Q>:
Step 3. Upgrade Rockchip image
3.1 Go to the folder Linux_Upgrade_Tool_v1.65 after unzipping the package, and run the following commands to start upgrading firmware:
sudo ./upgrade_tool uf /Downloads/image-release-rockchip-format-mixtile-core3588e-ubuntu-desktop-rc-0.0.3-231227.img