Issue: soekris is not booting from cf-flash


Marten Vijn, 10-7-2004


My biosversion is (was) 1.15
newer cf-cards did not boot, but
were mountable and writeable.
 (Hitachi, Kingston)
More expensive cards did boot
 (Delkin Devices)

Recent work on the bios firmware
makes it possible to boot from cf
without patching the FreeBSD bootblocks,
witch is another option to solve the issue. 


To do so you will the 1.24 version of
the bios. 

You can get it from the download page on:

http://www.soekris.com/


Things to have:

- freebsdbox (mine is 5.2.1) with ttys<x>  
- serialcross cable (NULL modem cable)
- internet acces
- soekris 45xx



To flash the bios the bios follow the next steps

Some debugging hints are below, pointed with a *.


1. check your bios version,
	logon to your freebsdbox
	become root
	get the serial cable connected
	execute on the command line:
	tip com1    (if your ttys<x> = 0)   *
	power up the soekris
	in the first lines your will find you
	current bios version.

2 Decide if you need new bios firmware, considerations are:	 
	- a risk to ruin your soekris while upgrading
	- do you have a problem booting cf-disks
		the soekris hangs / slows down while
		doing the boot loader.
	- other options:
		- binairy boot block (freebsd 5.0) or patches:
		http://wleiden.webweaving.org:8080/svn/node-config
				/factory/trunk/soekris/bootblock/
		- other flash cards

3 UPGRADING CAN RUIN YOUR SOEKRIS, THIS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK !!!

	- download the new bios version
	- check if the package lrzsz is installed **
	- open serial connection 
		tip com1
	- powercycle the soekris
	- enter the bios setup with control-P
	- press ? for information
	- enter download
	- enter ~C lsx <path><file> 
	- if file transfer is succeded *** 
	- enter flashupdate
	- enter reboot
	- enjoy your new bios ....



debugging:
	*  in /etc/remote you can edit settings like
	- speed: soekirs default is 92000, 
		 a common standard 9600
	- ttys	
	- point to usb2serial devices (put the right
	devices in your kernel, egg: ucom, uplcom. 
	See /sys/i386/conf/LINT (or do make LINT!) for
	more info)

 	** 
	execute on the command line:
	pkg_info | grep lrzsz
	In my case this returs:

	lrzsz-0.12.20_1    
	
	installing can be done with:
		- pkg_add -r lrzsz
		or
		- cd /usr/ports/comms/lrzsz
		 make && make install && make clean 

	*** IF NOT, do not procede, just reboot the soekris 
	and retry