[coreboot] flashrom and list of computers

[Carl-Daniel Hailfinger]

On 06.06.2008 15:08, Ludwig Jaffe wrote:
> Lets rewrite / improve flashrom!
>   

A rewrite is unneccessary. Improvements are welcome.

> I would like to see an universal function-pointer approach for the 
> flash-dev handling, as I stated before in this mailing list.
>   

We already have that.

> For detection of flash the flash-identification according to the 
> manufacturers can be used, so all functionpointers for the
> detect-routines can be tried.
>   

We already do that.

> To detect the mainboard I would additionally suggest looking for strings 
> in the bios (if original-bios is used).

Sorry, that will not work reliably. We have some known false positives
and some known false negatives.

> For Coreboot, I would suggest to
> have a short text with manufacturer, board model, chipset, cpu so string 
> search can find something.
>   

We already have strings with board manufacturer+model. Chipset and CPU
strings do not make sense.

> Not to fall over all garbage the string search has to be filtered with 
> known names as compaq, hp, ibm, asus, phoenix, award, and the like.
>
> Using DMI is better for newer boards having DMI.
>   

Sorry, that will not work reliably. We have some known false positives
and some known false negatives.

> So one can build different strategies for identifiing the mainboard. And 
> use a functionpointer approach to do special tasks for the boards
> e.g. switching the bios to flash (some boards have a 2 bios-sockets)
>   

We already do that.

> e.g. unprotecting the boot-block.  (e.g. my compaq SFF PC needs P34 
> soldered in and closed.) So an appropriate text has to be printed, if the
> board can not automagically disable write-protection etc.
> e.g. do other fancy stuff like unlocking the case.
>   

We already can do that if anyone commits a text message.

> Who is in charge for flashboot?
>   

Do you mean flashrom? If so, your patches can be reviewed by the list.

> We should organize and manage the change-requests for that little piece 
> of soft.
>   

Please post patches. We can discuss them.


Regards,
Carl-Daniel