xref: /freebsd/share/man/man4/man4.arm/imx6_snvs.4 (revision c697fb7f)
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26.\" $FreeBSD$
27.\"
28.Dd July 8, 2018
29.Dt IMX6_SNVS 4
30.Os
31.Sh NAME
32.Nm imx6_snvs
33.Nd device driver for the NXP i.MX6 on-chip Realtime Clock
34.Sh SYNOPSIS
35To compile this driver into the kernel,
36place the following line in your
37kernel configuration file:
38.Bd -ragged -offset indent
39.Cd "device imx6_snvs"
40.Ed
41.Pp
42Alternatively, to load the driver as a
43module at boot time, place the following line in
44.Xr loader.conf 5 :
45.Bd -literal -offset indent
46imx6_snvs_load="YES"
47.Ed
48.Sh DESCRIPTION
49The
50.Nm
51driver provides
52support for the i.MX6 on-chip realtime clock.
53It provides the time of day with a resolution of approximately
5430 microseconds.
55.Pp
56.Sq SNVS
57stands for Secure Non-Volatile Storage, and refers to the subsystem
58within the chip that (optionally) remains powered by a battery when
59the rest of the system is powered down.
60The on-chip realtime clock is part of that subsystem.
61Other features of the SNVS subsystem are related to security, tamper
62monitoring, and power control; the
63.Nm
64driver does not currently support those features.
65.Pp
66Many i.MX6 systems do not use a battery to provide power to the SNVS
67due to its relatively high power draw.  In such systems, this driver
68is able to provide a very accurate time following a reboot, but cannot
69provide time at all if the power is cycled.  If the system provides an
70i2c or other type of alternate realtime clock with lower resolution,
71there is value in configuring both clock drivers.
72Doing so allows SNVS to provide accurate time after a reboot, while the
73external clock provides approximate time after power cycling.
74.Sh HISTORY
75The
76.Nm
77driver first appeared in
78.Fx 12.0 .
79