---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Phani Babu Giddi <phanig(a)gmail.com>
Date: Jan 1, 2008 8:29 AM
Subject: Re: [LinuxBIOS] flashrom on the host or target ?
To: Corey Osgood <corey.osgood(a)gmail.com>
Hi Corey,
Thanks for your reply but I am not clear. Let me list the steps, may be that
will explain the problem I see.
1. I have a host target environment
2. I build Linux Kernel image with initrd on the host
3. I also build the root file system on the host
4. Now I build Linux BIOS and specify the Linux Kernel as payload.
5. So at this point I have the .bin/.rom for Linux BIOS and an image file
for the root file system.
6. So my question was how do I get this on the flash device. Do I have to
use an external programmer for this ? Because there is nothing on the target
for me to run flashrom.
Regards,
Phani
On Dec 31, 2007 11:07 PM, Corey Osgood <corey.osgood(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Phani Babu Giddi wrote:
> > Hello All,
> >
> > I am trying to understand how to access the flash chip on
> > the mainboard for the very first time. Most of the documentation on
> > Linux BIOS talks about using "flashrom" but I am confused, are we
> > suppose to use this on the target ( mainboard) or host. If its host
> > are is there a way one can access the flash disk from the host, I have
> > looked into the Hardware Tools that have been suggested for Linux BIOS
> > but I could not find anything related to this. If flashrom utility is
> > supposed to be used on the target, then how is that possible because
> > there is no image on the flash device.
> >
> > BIOS Saviour and other tools come into picuture if there is some thing
> > already on the flash chip.
> >
> > So am I suppose to select the payload as etherboot and then try
> > flashing the device for the first time. Or else I am suppose to use an
> > external programmer for this.
> >
> > If we succeed in getting the BIOS with the payload into the flash
> > device what about the root file system and partitions and any other
> > info. The question might sound elementary to most of you but I would
> > appreciate your help.
> >
> > To summarize the question is about getting bare bones board up and
> > running for the very first time.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Phani
>
> It doesn't matter. As long as you have the chip that you intend to flash
> in the system you run flashrom on, and use compatible hardware (both
> with the chip and flashrom), then you can flash literally any image onto
> any flash chip. It doesn't matter if the system you use to flash has
> completely different hardware then the image's intended target.
>
> -Corey
>
> PS Happy new year, everyone!
>