xref: /freebsd/share/man/man4/man4.arm/imx6_snvs.4 (revision a2f733abcff64628b7771a47089628b7327a88bd)
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26.Dd July 8, 2018
27.Dt IMX6_SNVS 4
28.Os
29.Sh NAME
30.Nm imx6_snvs
31.Nd device driver for the NXP i.MX6 on-chip Realtime Clock
32.Sh SYNOPSIS
33To compile this driver into the kernel,
34place the following line in your
35kernel configuration file:
36.Bd -ragged -offset indent
37.Cd "device imx6_snvs"
38.Ed
39.Pp
40Alternatively, to load the driver as a
41module at boot time, place the following line in
42.Xr loader.conf 5 :
43.Bd -literal -offset indent
44imx6_snvs_load="YES"
45.Ed
46.Sh DESCRIPTION
47The
48.Nm
49driver provides
50support for the i.MX6 on-chip realtime clock.
51It provides the time of day with a resolution of approximately
5230 microseconds.
53.Pp
54.Sq SNVS
55stands for Secure Non-Volatile Storage, and refers to the subsystem
56within the chip that (optionally) remains powered by a battery when
57the rest of the system is powered down.
58The on-chip realtime clock is part of that subsystem.
59Other features of the SNVS subsystem are related to security, tamper
60monitoring, and power control; the
61.Nm
62driver does not currently support those features.
63.Pp
64Many i.MX6 systems do not use a battery to provide power to the SNVS
65due to its relatively high power draw.  In such systems, this driver
66is able to provide a very accurate time following a reboot, but cannot
67provide time at all if the power is cycled.  If the system provides an
68i2c or other type of alternate realtime clock with lower resolution,
69there is value in configuring both clock drivers.
70Doing so allows SNVS to provide accurate time after a reboot, while the
71external clock provides approximate time after power cycling.
72.Sh HISTORY
73The
74.Nm
75driver first appeared in
76.Fx 12.0 .
77