Bootstrap Loader

A Bootstrap Loader (BSL) is a small program which can be activated immediately after a microcontroller has been powered up, in order to load and execute another program in a well defined manner. The bootstrap loader is hard coded into the microcontroller and is used by many Meinberg devices to upload a new firmware to the device.

After the microcontroller's bootstrap mode has been activated, a loader program can be used to store some routines on the microcontroller. In the next step those routines are used to upload a new firmware and save it in the program memory. This provides an easy way to upload a new firmware. No need to open the device's housing, or replace the program memory chip.

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