---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Phani Babu Giddi phanig@gmail.com Date: Jan 1, 2008 8:29 AM Subject: Re: [LinuxBIOS] flashrom on the host or target ? To: Corey Osgood corey.osgood@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@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!