
20
S29NS-N MirrorBit Flash Family
S29NS-N_00_A12 June 13, 2006
D a t a
S h e e t
( A d v a n c e
I n f o r m a t i o n )
To access the autoselect codes, the host system must issue the autoselect command via the command
register, as shown in
Table 11.4,
Command Definitions on page 52
.
8.12
Advanced Sector Protection and Unprotection
This advanced security feature provides an additional level of protection to all sectors against inadvertent
program or erase operations.
The advanced sector protection feature disables both programming and erase operations in any sector while
the advanced sector unprotection feature re-enables both program and erase operations in previously
protected sectors. Sector protection/unprotection can be implemented using either of the two methods
Hardware method
Software method
Persistent/Password Sector Protection is achieved by using the software method while the sector protection
with WP# pin is achieved by using the hardware method.
All parts default to operate in the Persistent Sector Protection mode. The customer must then choose if the
Persistent or Password Protection method is most desirable. There are two one-time programmable non-
volatile bits that define which sector protection method will be used.
Persistent Mode Lock Bit
Password Mode Lock Bit
If the customer decides to continue using the Persistent Sector Protection method, they must set the
Persistent Mode Lock Bit
. This will permanently set the part to operate only using Persistent Sector
Protection. However, if the customer decides to use the Password Sector Protection method, they must set
the
Password Mode Lock Bit
. This will permanently set the part to operate only using Password Sector
Protection.
It is important to remember that setting either the
Persistent Mode Lock Bit
or the
Password Mode Lock
Bit
permanently selects the protection mode. It is not possible to switch between the two methods once a
locking bit has been set.
It is important that one mode is explicitly selected when the device is first
programmed, rather than relying on the default mode alone. If both are selected to be set at the same
time, the operation will abort.
This is done so that it is not possible for a system program or virus to later set
the Password Mode Locking Bit, which would cause an unexpected shift from the default Persistent Sector
Protection Mode into the Password Sector Protection Mode.
The device is shipped with all sectors unprotected. Spansion offers the option of programming and protecting
sectors at the factory prior to shipping the device through Spansion programming services. Contact an
Spansion representative for details.
8.13
Sector Protection
The device features several levels of sector protection, which can disable both the program and erase
operations in certain sectors.
Persistent Sector Protection
A software enabled command sector protection method that replaces the old 12 V controlled protection
method.
Password Sector Protection
A highly sophisticated software enabled protection method that requires a password before changes to
certain sectors or sector groups are permitted
WP# Hardware Protection
A write protect pin (WP#) can prevent program or erase operations in the outermost sectors.The WP#
Hardware Protection feature is always available, independent of the software managed protection method
chosen.