Re: [LinuxBIOS] flashrom on the host or target ?

[Corey Osgood]

Phani Babu Giddi wrote:
> 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.
> I have a host target environment
> I build Linux Kernel image with initrd on the host
> I also build the root file system on the host
> Now I build Linux BIOS and specify the Linux Kernel as payload.
> 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.

Yep, you can use an external programmer, or you can use some other board
that's compatible with flashrom and your flash chip, by hot swapping the
flash chips.

-Corey

[LinuxBIOS] flashrom on the host or target ?

[Phani Babu Giddi]

Hi Corey,

Is there a way by which I can use the external programmer to flash the
complete chip at once. I mean There is the Linux BIOS image which includes
the kernel and then there is the root file system and a fall back image. So
that I can have a single file which I can generate and distribute.

Have this been done before ?

Regards,
Phani

On Jan 1, 2008 9:32 AM, Corey Osgood  wrote:
> Phani Babu Giddi wrote:
> > 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.
> > I have a host target environment
> > I build Linux Kernel image with initrd on the host
> > I also build the root file system on the host
> > Now I build Linux BIOS and specify the Linux Kernel as payload.
> > 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.
>
> Yep, you can use an external programmer, or you can use some other board
> that's compatible with flashrom and your flash chip, by hot swapping the
> flash chips.
>
> -Corey

[LinuxBIOS] flashrom on the host or target ?

[Corey Osgood]

Phani Babu Giddi wrote:
> Hi Corey,
>
> Is there a way by which I can use the external programmer to flash the
> complete chip at once. I mean There is the Linux BIOS image which
> includes the kernel and then there is the root file system and a fall
> back image. So that I can have a single file which I can generate and
> distribute.
>
> Have this been done before ?

Yes, you can use an external programmer. Just use the software that's
included with the programmer.

I have a Willem programmer, highly recommend avoiding it, it's junk for
any sort of real work, although it does work in a pinch. I've heard
others speak highly of the Galep 5, but I don't have one.

-Corey

[LinuxBIOS] flashrom on the host or target ?

[Myles Watson]

On Jan 1, 2008 1:24 PM, Phani Babu Giddi  wrote:
> Hi Corey,
>
> Is there a way by which I can use the external programmer to flash the
> complete chip at once. I mean There is the Linux BIOS image which includes
> the kernel and then there is the root file system and a fall back image. So
> that I can have a single file which I can generate and distribute.
>
> Have this been done before ?

It sounds like your problem is not how to flash the BIOS, but how to
generate a single image including LinuxBIOS, the filesystem, and the
kernel.

If this is your question, then you should look at a LAB (Linux As
Bootloader) implementation.  It puts everything in a single ROM image.
 The easiest way to do this is to get buildrom and follow one of the
configurations for LAB.  You need to have at least a 1MB chip to fit
LinuxBIOS and a kernel.  With a 2MB chip you wouldn't have to strip it
down so much.

Good luck,
Myles
> Regards,
> Phani
>
> On Jan 1, 2008 9:32 AM, Corey Osgood  wrote:
> > Phani Babu Giddi wrote:
> > > 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.
> > > I have a host target environment
> > > I build Linux Kernel image with initrd on the host
> > > I also build the root file system on the host
> > > Now I build Linux BIOS and specify the Linux Kernel as payload.
> > > 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.
> >
> > Yep, you can use an external programmer, or you can use some other board
> > that's compatible with flashrom and your flash chip, by hot swapping the
> > flash chips.
> >
> > -Corey