Implementation of SquashFS Support in U-Boot

TL;DR

This paper details the development and submission of SquashFS filesystem support to U-Boot, enabling the bootloader to read from SquashFS partitions, which enhances its functionality for embedded systems.

Contribution

The work introduces and integrates SquashFS support into U-Boot, expanding its filesystem compatibility for the first time.

Findings

Support was successfully implemented and submitted for review.

Enabling U-Boot to read SquashFS partitions.

Potential for broader adoption in embedded systems.

Abstract

U-Boot is a notorious bootloader and Open Source project. This work had as objective adding support for the SquashFS filesystem to U-Boot and the support developed was submitted as a contribution to the project. The bootloader is responsible, in this context, for loading the kernel and the device tree blob into RAM. It needs to be capable of reading a storage device's partition formatted with a specific filesystem type. Adding this support allows U-Boot to read from SquashFS partitions. The source code was submitted to U-Boot's mailing list through a series of patches to be reviewed by one of the project's maintainer. Once it gets merged, the support will be used and modified by U-Boot's international community.