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diff --git a/Documentation/mtd/intel-spi.rst b/Documentation/mtd/intel-spi.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..0e6d9cd5388d --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/mtd/intel-spi.rst @@ -0,0 +1,90 @@ +============================== +Upgrading BIOS using intel-spi +============================== + +Many Intel CPUs like Baytrail and Braswell include SPI serial flash host +controller which is used to hold BIOS and other platform specific data. +Since contents of the SPI serial flash is crucial for machine to function, +it is typically protected by different hardware protection mechanisms to +avoid accidental (or on purpose) overwrite of the content. + +Not all manufacturers protect the SPI serial flash, mainly because it +allows upgrading the BIOS image directly from an OS. + +The intel-spi driver makes it possible to read and write the SPI serial +flash, if certain protection bits are not set and locked. If it finds +any of them set, the whole MTD device is made read-only to prevent +partial overwrites. By default the driver exposes SPI serial flash +contents as read-only but it can be changed from kernel command line, +passing "intel-spi.writeable=1". + +Please keep in mind that overwriting the BIOS image on SPI serial flash +might render the machine unbootable and requires special equipment like +Dediprog to revive. You have been warned! + +Below are the steps how to upgrade MinnowBoard MAX BIOS directly from +Linux. + + 1) Download and extract the latest Minnowboard MAX BIOS SPI image + [1]. At the time writing this the latest image is v92. + + 2) Install mtd-utils package [2]. We need this in order to erase the SPI + serial flash. Distros like Debian and Fedora have this prepackaged with + name "mtd-utils". + + 3) Add "intel-spi.writeable=1" to the kernel command line and reboot + the board (you can also reload the driver passing "writeable=1" as + module parameter to modprobe). + + 4) Once the board is up and running again, find the right MTD partition + (it is named as "BIOS"):: + + # cat /proc/mtd + dev: size erasesize name + mtd0: 00800000 00001000 "BIOS" + + So here it will be /dev/mtd0 but it may vary. + + 5) Make backup of the existing image first:: + + # dd if=/dev/mtd0ro of=bios.bak + 16384+0 records in + 16384+0 records out + 8388608 bytes (8.4 MB) copied, 10.0269 s, 837 kB/s + + 6) Verify the backup: + + # sha1sum /dev/mtd0ro bios.bak + fdbb011920572ca6c991377c4b418a0502668b73 /dev/mtd0ro + fdbb011920572ca6c991377c4b418a0502668b73 bios.bak + + The SHA1 sums must match. Otherwise do not continue any further! + + 7) Erase the SPI serial flash. After this step, do not reboot the + board! Otherwise it will not start anymore:: + + # flash_erase /dev/mtd0 0 0 + Erasing 4 Kibyte @ 7ff000 -- 100 % complete + + 8) Once completed without errors you can write the new BIOS image: + + # dd if=MNW2MAX1.X64.0092.R01.1605221712.bin of=/dev/mtd0 + + 9) Verify that the new content of the SPI serial flash matches the new + BIOS image:: + + # sha1sum /dev/mtd0ro MNW2MAX1.X64.0092.R01.1605221712.bin + 9b4df9e4be2057fceec3a5529ec3d950836c87a2 /dev/mtd0ro + 9b4df9e4be2057fceec3a5529ec3d950836c87a2 MNW2MAX1.X64.0092.R01.1605221712.bin + + The SHA1 sums should match. + + 10) Now you can reboot your board and observe the new BIOS starting up + properly. + +References +---------- + +[1] https://firmware.intel.com/sites/default/files/MinnowBoard%2EMAX_%2EX64%2E92%2ER01%2Ezip + +[2] http://www.linux-mtd.infradead.org/ |