Updating Bios
From Soekris Info Wiki
comBIOS updates are occasionally made available to fix bugs and add features. Old versions continue to be available but one should not downgrade to a version earlier than that supplied with the board (for example, newer flash chips aren't supported by older versions).
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Basic procedure
The basic procedure for updating is to enter the comBIOS monitor by serial console, transfer the file to RAM using XMODEM, then programme the flash memory:
comBIOS Monitor. Press ? for help. > download - Start sending file using XMODEM protocol. [...] Transfer complete File downloaded succesfully, size 880 Blocks. > flashupdate Updating BIOS Flash ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,....,,,,.. Done. > reboot
Since 1.22 the download command defaults to CRC. By entering download - it's possible to revert to checksums which interoperate better with some software.
cu and tip
Install lrzsz before starting.
Connect to the serial port at the correct port speed (by default Soekris use 19200baud):
$ cu -l /dev/tty00 -s 19200
Power up the board and interrupt the boot sequence to enter the comBIOS monitor with Ctrl-P. If you have configured fastboot (comBIOS 1.28 and on) you will need to be quick.
5 Seconds to automatic boot. Press Ctrl-P for entering Monitor.
Initiate the download.
comBIOS Monitor. Press ? for help. > download - Start sending file using XMODEM protocol.
Now start the transfer using ~C:
~CLocal command? lsz -X b4801_122.bin Sending b4801_122.bin, 880 blocks: Give your local XMODEM receive command now. Xmodem sectors/kbytes sent: 879/109k Bytes Sent: 112640 BPS:1706 Transfer complete File downloaded succesfully, size 880 Blocks.
Continue with updating the flash and rebooting as above.
If you are using Mac OS X 10.5, substitute ~+ for ~C:
~+lsz -X b4801_133.bin
Assuming that you have installed lrzsz in the first place.
If you have trouble with the ~C command in cu, try tip instead, especially in FreeBSD where cu is deprecated.
$ tip -19200 sio0
then as above with cu.
Minicom
Install lrzsz before starting.
I had some trouble using minicom (I didn't understand the instructions properly) so I've made a step-by-step guide - hopefully it saves someone else the troubles I had.
You can update Soekris Bios (any model) with Minicom and few steps. Before starting, download the latest available bios from soekris.com and save it in your home directory (minicom's file manager is a bit painful to browse around too much with - having the bin file in your home directory saves the hassle). Also, check if Minicom settings for serial ports (ctrl a+z and O on Minicom) match this:
Serial Device : /dev/ttyS0 (for first serial port on a PC) Lockfile Location : /var/lock Bps/Par/Bits : 19200 8N1 Hardware Flow Control : No Software Flow Control : No
Here's what I did to update BIOS, step by step (everything after # is a comment, after > is what you type to the comBIOS monitor)
$ sudo minicom # you probably need root privileges to get exclusive access to the serial port
Welcome to minicom 2.2
OPTIONS: I18n
Compiled on Apr 27 2007, 15:50:20.
Port /dev/ttyS0
Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys
# turn on the Soekris board, and it starts the comBIOS (I have snipped some extra lines from the output)
POST: 012345689bcefghips1234ajklnopqr,,,tvwxy
comBIOS ver. 1.32i 20071005 Copyright (C) 2000-2007 Soekris Engineering.
net5501
0512 Mbyte Memory CPU Geode LX 500 Mhz
Pri Mas SanDisk SDCFH-1024 LBA Xlt 993-32-63 1001 Mbyte
4 Seconds to automatic boot. Press Ctrl-P for entering Monitor.
# here I hit Ctrl-P
comBIOS Monitor. Press ? for help.
> download -
Start sending file using XMODEM/CRC protocol.
# Hit Ctrl-a, then z (presents the minicom menu) then s (for "Send file")
# this opens a text-mode dialog-box like this:
+-[Upload]--+
| zmodem |
| ymodem |
| xmodem |
| kermit |
| ascii |
+-----------+
# arrow-down to xmodem and hit Enter
# this will present a text-mode dialog to choose the file:
+------------------------[Select a file for upload]-------------------------+
|Directory: /home/fnerk |
| [.ssh] |
| [Desktop] |
| b5501_132i.bin |
| b5501_133.bin |
| ( Escape to exit, Space to tag ) |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
[Goto] [Prev] [Show] [Tag] [Untag] [Okay]
# arrow-down to the file you want, hit space-bar to select it, then hit Enter
# this will show another dialog to display transfer progress
+-----------[xmodem upload - Press CTRL-C to quit]------------+
|Xmodem sectors/kbytes sent: 0/ 0kRetry 0: NAK on sector |
|Retry 0: NAK on sector |
|Retry 0: NAK on sector |
|Retry 0: NAK on sector |
|Retry 0: NAK on sector |
|Retry 0: NAK on sector |
|Xmodem sectors/kbytes sent: 780/97k |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
# when the transfer is complete, it tells you so:
+-----------[xmodem upload - Press CTRL-C to quit]------------+
|Retry 0: NAK on sector |
|Retry 0: NAK on sector |
|Bytes Sent: 100352 BPS:1864 |
| |
|Transfer complete |
| |
| READY: press any key to continue... |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
# Note: you are unable to transfer the file, change your Soekris serial speed to 9600.
# hit enter, which will return you to the comBIOS prompt, and type flashupdate
> flashupdate
Updating BIOS Flash ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..,,,,.... Done.
# and now reboot
> reboot
# and watch as your Soekris reboots with new BIOS:
comBIOS ver. 1.33 20070103 Copyright (C) 2000-2007 Soekris Engineering.
If minicom report errors during transfer, you can try this:
in minicom:
> download
in another term, run the transfer command:
sx -X /tmp/b5501_133.bin > /dev/ttyS0 < /dev/ttyS0
TeraTerm bulk update script
If you use teraterm, here's a macro script that will mass update soekris your net5501's one at a time. Very nice to have when you're updating 50+ at a time :P
This script restarts when done, if you want it to end after the first run, just replace "goto start" with "closett". Also "showtt -1" hides the console, just remove that line if you want to watch the progress. The filepath for the bios file is relative, please keep this in mind.
show -1 inputbox 'Port number(e.g. 3):' 'Select Serial port' port=inputstr inputbox 'Bios file:' 'Select bios file' bios_file=inputstr setdlgpos 200 200 statusbox 'Please powercycle your soekris box' 'Update status' messagebox 'Please powercycle your soekris box' 'Update status' portnumber='/C=' strconcat portnumber port connect portnumber showtt -1 :start wait #10'POST: 012345689bcefgh' send 16 statusbox 'Preparing,please wait' 'Update status' wait #10'>' sendln "download" wait #10'Start sending' statusbox 'Transfering firmware...' 'Update status' xmodemsend bios_file 2 wait #10'>' statusbox 'Updating firmware, DO NOT TURN OFF THE BOX!' 'Update status' sendln "flashupdate" pause 1 Wait 'Done.' 'Error' if result = 0 statusbox 'Failed!' 'Update status' if result = 1 statusbox 'Success!' 'Update status' if result = 2 statusbox 'Failed!' 'Update status' wait #10'>' sendln "reboot" wait #10'comBIOS ver.' statusbox 'Plug on new box' 'Update status' goto start
The macro was made for tera term 4.53 from The "UTF-8 TeraTerm Pro with TTSSH2" website
If you save it as a ttl file you can start it from the command line or a batch file, your pick with
ttpmacro.exe updatesoekrisbios.ttl
Oh, and all relies on that your tera term is setup correctly with console speed and whatnot :)
Links to other guides
- Ultradesic write a good how-to for FreeBSD and MS Windows
