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biosext [2008/02/27 21:34]
jac1d
biosext [2008/11/19 01:20] (current)
markwarren Link to Coreboot dev't section. Reword to avoid implying that it works with all MBs.
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 ** Note:  This is completely without warranty. ​ It worked for me.  It may not work for you.  It may wreck your system. ​ If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it.  You have no recourse but to blame yourself and sit in the dark rocking in the fetal position if this fails.** ** Note:  This is completely without warranty. ​ It worked for me.  It may not work for you.  It may wreck your system. ​ If you don't know what you're doing, don't do it.  You have no recourse but to blame yourself and sit in the dark rocking in the fetal position if this fails.**
 +
 +The "​[[http://​www.ioss.com.tw/​web/​English/​RD1BIOSSavior.html|RD1 BIOS Savior]]"​ from [[http://​www.ioss.com.tw/​|IOSS]] is a US$30 device that can plug into a motherboard BIOS ROM socket to allow manual switching between two BIOS chips. ​ This allows you to boot from one BIOS ROM and then switch to a second BIOS ROM chip for trial flashing. If the new BIOS fails, you can switch back to the first, unmodified BIOS ROM, and try again (info from [[http://​en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​LinuxBIOS#​Developing_and_debugging_coreboot|Coreboot]]).
  
 I am currently using a large number of J7F2WE based motherboards for a computing cluster. ​ The machines have no local storage at all, just a 1 GHz Via C7 processor and 1 GB of RAM.  The on-board NIC on the motherboard is based on the VIa Rhine II chipset. ​ My machines also have three more NICs per box, but they don't factor in to getting gPXE loaded. ​ gPXE replaces the Intel PXE code included for the on-board NIC. I am currently using a large number of J7F2WE based motherboards for a computing cluster. ​ The machines have no local storage at all, just a 1 GHz Via C7 processor and 1 GB of RAM.  The on-board NIC on the motherboard is based on the VIa Rhine II chipset. ​ My machines also have three more NICs per box, but they don't factor in to getting gPXE loaded. ​ gPXE replaces the Intel PXE code included for the on-board NIC.
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 === Make a DOS bootable USB drive === === Make a DOS bootable USB drive ===
  
-We're going to be working with BIOS flashing utilities that run under DOS.  Before you continue you should make a DOS bootable USB key (and ensure you can get it to boot on your system). ​ We'll put various utilities and ROM files on it during this how-to. ​ You can follow my instructions ​here (assuming you have access to a MS Windows machine) to make one:  http://www.etherboot.org/​wiki/​make_usb_drive+We're going to be working with BIOS flashing utilities that run under DOS.  Before you continue you should make a DOS bootable USB key (and ensure you can get it to boot on your system). ​ We'll put various utilities and ROM files on it during this how-to. ​ You can follow my [[make_usb_drive|instructions]] (assuming you have access to a MS Windows machine) to make one.
  
 === Grab the latest BIOS for your board === === Grab the latest BIOS for your board ===
  
-You should be able to find the latest BIOS on the manufacturers website. ​ In my case I'm using A14 of the Jetway BIOS, which I found here: http://​www.jetwaycomputer.com/​VIA2.html+You should be able to find the latest BIOS on the manufacturers website. ​ In my case I'm using A14 of the Jetway BIOS, which I found on the [[http://​www.jetwaycomputer.com/​VIA2.html|Jetway home page]].
  
 I also grabbed the AWFLASH 8.80 utility, which we'll need to backup the existing BIOS and reflash the new gPXE enhanced BIOS. I also grabbed the AWFLASH 8.80 utility, which we'll need to backup the existing BIOS and reflash the new gPXE enhanced BIOS.
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 === Grab the CBROM utility === === Grab the CBROM utility ===
  
-This is the magic tool that makes it possible. ​ CBROM comes in various flavours, you can read more about it here: http://​www.etherboot.org/​wiki/​biosmodule?s=cbrom+This is the magic tool that makes it possible. ​ CBROM comes in various flavours, you can read more about it [[biosmodule|here]]
  
   * CBROM 1.xx is for Award BIOS 4.5 series only   * CBROM 1.xx is for Award BIOS 4.5 series only
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 === Identify your NIC chipset === === Identify your NIC chipset ===
  
-I learned how to do this here:  http://www.etherboot.org/​wiki/​romburning+(I learned how to do this [[romburning|here]].)
  
 Boot your system in to linux and then run: Boot your system in to linux and then run:
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 Scan the output for your onbaord NIC, mine showed up as: Scan the output for your onbaord NIC, mine showed up as:
  
-  ​root@bops1-cf:​~# lspci +  # lspci 
- +    ...
-  --snip --+
   00:12.0 Ethernet controller: VIA Technologies,​ Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II] (rev 78)   00:12.0 Ethernet controller: VIA Technologies,​ Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II] (rev 78)
-  -- snip -- 
  
 To build a gPXE ROM via Rom-o-matic,​ we need to know the vendor and chipset id's. To build a gPXE ROM via Rom-o-matic,​ we need to know the vendor and chipset id's.
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 Using the infromation from above, lets interogate the PCI device: Using the infromation from above, lets interogate the PCI device:
  
-root@bops1-cf:​~# lspci -n -s 00:12.0 +  ​# lspci -n -s 00:12.0 
-00:12.0 0200: 1106:3065 (rev 78)+    ... 
 +  ​00:12.0 0200: 1106:3065 (rev 78)
  
 Make a note of the vendor and device IDs (1106 and 3065 respectively in the above example). Make a note of the vendor and device IDs (1106 and 3065 respectively in the above example).
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 === It's ROM-o-matic time, baby! === === It's ROM-o-matic time, baby! ===
  
-Now that you know your vendor and device ID, cruise on over to http://​rom-o-matic.net/​+Now that you know your vendor and device ID, cruise on over to [[http://​rom-o-matic.net/​|ROM-o-matic]]
  
 This is a wonderful tool that will build the ROM you are going to add to the BIOS. This is a wonderful tool that will build the ROM you are going to add to the BIOS.
  
-We want to use the gPXE generator found here: http://​rom.etherboot.org/​rom/​+We want to use the [[http://​rom.etherboot.org/​rom/​|gPXE generator]].
  
 At the time of writing it was at version 0.9.3. At the time of writing it was at version 0.9.3.
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 G:​\>​CBROM606.EXE J7F2WA14.BIN /D G:​\>​CBROM606.EXE J7F2WA14.BIN /D
 +
 CBROM V6.06 (C)Award Software 1999 All Rights Reserved. CBROM V6.06 (C)Award Software 1999 All Rights Reserved.
  

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