Intel Core 2 Duo L7400 with MB chipset Intel 7100

[Remi Lefevre]

Hi everyone,

At first, this project is great, thanks to everyone that contributed
to make it alive.

I build a new embedded system (Linux based) and seriously consider for
various reasons to replace the proprietary BIOS by coreboot.
Before promising heaven to business guys, I would like to see if
nothing will prevent me to realize it.

My system will probably have the following components:
* CPU: Core 2 Duo L7400
        - Overview: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/core2duo/316663.pdf
        - Core 2 Duo datasheet:
http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316745.htm
* MB chipset: Intel 3100
        - Overview: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/prodbref/315817.htm
        - Datasheet: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/datashts/313458.htm
* The motherboard will probably be custom (at least adapted) and I
don't have enough information yet to provide.

Without wasting time from you, do you see anything that could prevent
me to port coreboot to this system (given your Intel NDA experience or
whatever...)

This port would surely contribute to the coreboot repository.

Kind regards,

Rémi

PS: sorry if the information is available somewhere, I did not find it.

Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> Hi everyone,
>
> At first, this project is great, thanks to everyone that contributed
> to make it alive.
>
> I build a new embedded system (Linux based) and seriously consider for
> various reasons to replace the proprietary BIOS by coreboot.
> Before promising heaven to business guys, I would like to see if
> nothing will prevent me to realize it.
>
> My system will probably have the following components:
> CPU: Core 2 Duo L7400
>       - Overview: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/core2duo/316663.pdf
>       - Core 2 Duo datasheet:
>
> http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316745.htm
> MB chipset: Intel 3100
>       - Overview: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/prodbref/315817.htm
>       - Datasheet: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/datashts/313458.htm
> The motherboard will probably be custom (at least adapted) and I
>
> don't have enough information yet to provide.
>
> Without wasting time from you, do you see anything that could prevent
> me to port coreboot to this system (given your Intel NDA experience or
> whatever...)
>
> This port would surely contribute to the coreboot repository.

I don't see anything that would prevent you from porting coreboot to  
this board, except that the chips are not supported yet, so you would  
have alot of work ahead of you....

Thanks - Joe

[Remi Lefevre]

Thank you for your very fast answer.

I wonder if you may have a linuxbios porting experience to help me
evaluate the work needed to make this configuration supported by
coreboot.
(I mean a very gross evaluation considering that it would be someone
valuable in low level work who would work on it).

Regards,
rémi

On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 9:45 PM,   wrote:
> Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > At first, this project is great, thanks to everyone that contributed
> > to make it alive.
> >
> > I build a new embedded system (Linux based) and seriously consider for
> > various reasons to replace the proprietary BIOS by coreboot.
> > Before promising heaven to business guys, I would like to see if
> > nothing will prevent me to realize it.
> >
> > My system will probably have the following components:
> > CPU: Core 2 Duo L7400
> >       - Overview: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/core2duo/316663.pdf
> >       - Core 2 Duo datasheet:
> >
> > http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316745.htm
> > MB chipset: Intel 3100
> >       - Overview: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/prodbref/315817.htm
> >       - Datasheet: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/datashts/313458.htm
> > The motherboard will probably be custom (at least adapted) and I
> >
> > don't have enough information yet to provide.
> >
> > Without wasting time from you, do you see anything that could prevent
> > me to port coreboot to this system (given your Intel NDA experience or
> > whatever...)
> >
> > This port would surely contribute to the coreboot repository.
>
> I don't see anything that would prevent you from porting coreboot to
>  this board, except that the chips are not supported yet, so you would
>  have alot of work ahead of you....
>
> Thanks - Joe

Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> Thank you for your very fast answer.
>
> I wonder if you may have a linuxbios porting experience to help me
> evaluate the work needed to make this configuration supported by
> coreboot.
> (I mean a very gross evaluation considering that it would be someone
> valuable in low level work who would work on it).
>
> Regards,
> rémi
>
> On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 9:45 PM,   wrote:
> > Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> > > Hi everyone,
> > >
> > > At first, this project is great, thanks to everyone that contributed
> > > to make it alive.
> > >
> > > I build a new embedded system (Linux based) and seriously consider for
> > > various reasons to replace the proprietary BIOS by coreboot.
> > > Before promising heaven to business guys, I would like to see if
> > > nothing will prevent me to realize it.
> > >
> > > My system will probably have the following components:
> > > CPU: Core 2 Duo L7400
> > >       - Overview:
> >
> > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/core2duo/316663.pdf
> > >     - Core 2 Duo datasheet:
> > >
> > > http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316745.htm
> > > MB chipset: Intel 3100
> > >       - Overview:
> >
> > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/prodbref/315817.htm
> > >     - Datasheet:   
> >
> > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/datashts/313458.htm
> > > The motherboard will probably be custom (at least adapted) and I
> > >
> > > don't have enough information yet to provide.
> > >
> > > Without wasting time from you, do you see anything that could prevent
> > > me to port coreboot to this system (given your Intel NDA experience or
> > > whatever...)
> > >
> > > This port would surely contribute to the coreboot repository.
> >
> > I don't see anything that would prevent you from porting coreboot to
> >  this board, except that the chips are not supported yet, so you would
> >  have alot of work ahead of you....

I just finished porting the Intel i82830 Northbridge. I would  
certianly try to answer any questions you have, but I am far too busy  
right now to dedicate myself to your project.......Good Luck:-)

Thanks - Joe

[Remi Lefevre]

Thank you very much Joe, your input is very valuable.

If you could just tell me since how long you are working on this
project, I think, with the knowledge of your work (porting i82830), I
may be able to better estimate the moutain ( ;) of work that awaits
me.

Congratulations if your porting reaches its end.
rémi

On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 11:39 PM,   wrote:
> Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> > Thank you for your very fast answer.
> >
> > I wonder if you may have a linuxbios porting experience to help me
> > evaluate the work needed to make this configuration supported by
> > coreboot.
> > (I mean a very gross evaluation considering that it would be someone
> > valuable in low level work who would work on it).
> >
> > Regards,
> > rémi
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 9:45 PM,   wrote:
> > > Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> > > > Hi everyone,
> > > >
> > > > At first, this project is great, thanks to everyone that contributed
> > > > to make it alive.
> > > >
> > > > I build a new embedded system (Linux based) and seriously consider for
> > > > various reasons to replace the proprietary BIOS by coreboot.
> > > > Before promising heaven to business guys, I would like to see if
> > > > nothing will prevent me to realize it.
> > > >
> > > > My system will probably have the following components:
> > > > CPU: Core 2 Duo L7400
> > > >       - Overview:
> > >
> > > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/core2duo/316663.pdf
> > > >     - Core 2 Duo datasheet:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316745.htm
> > > > MB chipset: Intel 3100
> > > >       - Overview:
> > >
> > > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/prodbref/315817.htm
> > > >     - Datasheet:
> > >
> > > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/datashts/313458.htm
> > > > The motherboard will probably be custom (at least adapted) and I
> > > >
> > > > don't have enough information yet to provide.
> > > >
> > > > Without wasting time from you, do you see anything that could prevent
> > > > me to port coreboot to this system (given your Intel NDA experience or
> > > > whatever...)
> > > >
> > > > This port would surely contribute to the coreboot repository.
> > >
> > > I don't see anything that would prevent you from porting coreboot to
> > >  this board, except that the chips are not supported yet, so you would
> > >  have alot of work ahead of you....
>
> I just finished porting the Intel i82830 Northbridge. I would
>  certianly try to answer any questions you have, but I am far too busy
>  right now to dedicate myself to your project.......Good Luck:-)
>
> Thanks - Joe

Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> Thank you very much Joe, your input is very valuable.
>
> If you could just tell me since how long you are working on this
> project, I think, with the knowledge of your work (porting i82830), I
> may be able to better estimate the moutain ( ;) of work that awaits
> me.

Um, off and on for a little over a year. Many hours of studying datasheets.
> Congratulations if your porting reaches its end.

It's never ending, there is always room for improvement....
> rémi
>
> On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 11:39 PM,   wrote:
> > Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> > > Thank you for your very fast answer.
> > >
> > > I wonder if you may have a linuxbios porting experience to help me
> > > evaluate the work needed to make this configuration supported by
> > > coreboot.
> > > (I mean a very gross evaluation considering that it would be someone
> > > valuable in low level work who would work on it).
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > rémi
> > >
> > > On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 9:45 PM,   wrote:
> > > > Quoting Remi Lefevre :
> > > > > Hi everyone,
> > > > >
> > > > > At first, this project is great, thanks to everyone that contributed
> > > > > to make it alive.
> > > > >
> > > > > I build a new embedded system (Linux based) and seriously
> >
> > consider for
> > > > > various reasons to replace the proprietary BIOS by coreboot.
> > > > > Before promising heaven to business guys, I would like to see if
> > > > > nothing will prevent me to realize it.
> > > > >
> > > > > My system will probably have the following components:
> > > > > CPU: Core 2 Duo L7400
> > > > >       - Overview:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/core2duo/316663.pdf
> > > > >     - Core 2 Duo datasheet:
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316745.htm
> > > > > MB chipset: Intel 3100
> > > > >       - Overview:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/prodbref/315817.htm
> > > > >     - Datasheet:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/datashts/313458.htm
> > > > > The motherboard will probably be custom (at least adapted) and I
> > > > >
> > > > > don't have enough information yet to provide.
> > > > >
> > > > > Without wasting time from you, do you see anything that could prevent
> > > > > me to port coreboot to this system (given your Intel NDA
> >
> > experience or
> > > > > whatever...)
> > > > >
> > > > > This port would surely contribute to the coreboot repository.
> > > >
> > > > I don't see anything that would prevent you from porting coreboot to
> > > >  this board, except that the chips are not supported yet, so you would
> > > >  have alot of work ahead of you....
> >
> > I just finished porting the Intel i82830 Northbridge. I would
> >  certianly try to answer any questions you have, but I am far too busy
> >  right now to dedicate myself to your project.......Good Luck:-)

Thanks - Joe

[ron minnich]

It's a lot harder with Intel CPUs as they will not help you.

AMD on the other hand will help you-- they support coreboot.

Do you have to use Intel CPUs?

thanks

ron

[Uwe Hermann]

Hi,

On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 09:30:00PM +0100, Remi Lefevre wrote:
> I build a new embedded system (Linux based) and seriously consider for
> various reasons to replace the proprietary BIOS by coreboot.
> Before promising heaven to business guys, I would like to see if
> nothing will prevent me to realize it.
>
> My system will probably have the following components:
> CPU: Core 2 Duo L7400
>       - Overview: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/core2duo/316663.pdf
>       - Core 2 Duo datasheet:
>
> http://www.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/316745.htm

I don't think we have tested Core 2 Duo CPUs so far (?) so I cannot say
much about whether or not this is doable.
> MB chipset: Intel 3100
>       - Overview: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/prodbref/315817.htm
>       - Datasheet: http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/datashts/313458.htm

Ed Swierk (CC'd) has done a 3100 port a while ago I think, see
http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/coreboot/2007-December/028581.html
but it's not committed so far (but will be soon I hope). I don't know
about the status of that code (i.e. which hardware works or does not
work), maybe Ed can say more about that.

Doing a completely _new_ port (new northbridge, new southbridge) is usually
lots of work and takes several months to do.
> The motherboard will probably be custom (at least adapted) and I
>
> don't have enough information yet to provide.

If you have the schematics etc. you're in a better position than
most other coreboot developers here. What you'll need at the minimum
is 'lspci -tvnn' output, 'superiotool -dV', and information about
PIRQ routing (maybe ACPI if you're inclined, but that's not trivial).
> Without wasting time from you, do you see anything that could prevent
> me to port coreboot to this system (given your Intel NDA experience or
> whatever...)

Can't say much about that, but I think there is some more info in NDA
datasheets (though the public ones are useful, too). No idea how easy it
is to get the NDA datasheets or how long it takes. If you have a
business case (lots of $$$) your chances are likely better.
> This port would surely contribute to the coreboot repository.

That would be great!

Cheers, Uwe.

[Ed Swierk]

On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 4:26 PM, Uwe Hermann  wrote:
> Ed Swierk (CC'd) has done a 3100 port a while ago I think, see
>  http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/coreboot/2007-December/028581.html
>  but it's not committed so far (but will be soon I hope). I don't know
>  about the status of that code (i.e. which hardware works or does not
>  work), maybe Ed can say more about that.

The patch I posted works well enough to boot Linux on an Intel 3100
development board
(http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/devkits/pm3100.htm). It should
not be too hard to port the code to other boards.

I have not yet gone through the patch to incorporate the feedback I
received from several folks, but I am happy to assist anyone who wants
to hack on the code before I get around to it.

--Ed

[Remi Lefevre]

Thank you very much for your input.

We expect to work at first on the following devkit:
http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/devkits/coreduo3100.htm

But if this project come to life, you previous work would likely help
us very much.

best regards,
rémi

On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 1:00 AM, Ed Swierk  wrote:
> On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 4:26 PM, Uwe Hermann  wrote:
> > Ed Swierk (CC'd) has done a 3100 port a while ago I think, see
> >  http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/coreboot/2007-December/028581.html
> >  but it's not committed so far (but will be soon I hope). I don't know
> >  about the status of that code (i.e. which hardware works or does not
> >  work), maybe Ed can say more about that.
>
> The patch I posted works well enough to boot Linux on an Intel 3100
>  development board
>  (http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/devkits/pm3100.htm). It should
>  not be too hard to port the code to other boards.
>
> I have not yet gone through the patch to incorporate the feedback I
>  received from several folks, but I am happy to assist anyone who wants
>  to hack on the code before I get around to it.
>
> --Ed

[Ed Swierk]

On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 5:09 PM, Remi Lefevre  wrote:
> We expect to work at first on the following devkit:
>  http://www.intel.com/design/intarch/devkits/coreduo3100.htm

This appears to be the exact same board as the Pentium M development
kit--only the CPU is different. I would expect the code I posted to
work with minimal modification--the CPU might not be recognized, for
example.

--Ed

[Stefan Reinauer]

* Uwe Hermann  [080312 00:26]:
> > Without wasting time from you, do you see anything that could prevent
> > me to port coreboot to this system (given your Intel NDA experience or
> > whatever...)
>
> Can't say much about that, but I think there is some more info in NDA
> datasheets (though the public ones are useful, too). No idea how easy it
> is to get the NDA datasheets or how long it takes. If you have a
> business case (lots of $$$) your chances are likely better.

Getting the right NDAs in place takes you about 9 months.. If there's no
concerns about the business case, that is.

Stefan