NVRAM/EEPROM in ESP8266

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Hi,

I have a project where the device needs to reliably store settings using the EEPROM.write APIs to be used across power outages. Its a production device using ESP8266.

I have the following doubts:-

  1. How reliable is the storage, given that the device uses Flash to emulate EEPROM?
  2. Is there any realistic risk of the write corrupting the device image itself and making it necessary to reflash?
  3. Should I use a separate NVRAM storage chip instead of EEPROM library/flash?

Thanks and Regards,
WI

2
  1. How reliable is the storage, given that the device uses Flash to emulate EEPROM?

Have you ever had a problem with a sketch stored in Flash memory rotting? It'e unlikely that you data will rot, either.

  1. Is there any realistic risk of the write corrupting the device image itself and making it necessary to reflash?

A high risk. You really do have to know what you are doing, and not try to write unrealistic amounts of data.

  1. Should I use a separate NVRAM storage chip instead of EEPROM library/flash?

If that is what makes your heart go pitter-patter, do it.

3

PaulS:
A high risk. You really do have to know what you are doing, and not try to write unrealistic amounts of data.

Do you think writing 64K Bytes once every hour a candidate for unrealistic data and thus high risk?

4

wonderfuliot:
Do you think writing 64K Bytes once every hour a candidate for unrealistic data and thus high risk?

Yes, I do. If you are writing that much data, that infrequently, an SD card is a much better choice.