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mirror of https://review.coreboot.org/flashrom.git synced 2025-04-27 07:02:34 +02:00

Manpage improvements

The sections describing the various options of the internal and dummy
programmers have grown out of proportions. This patch adds some headlines
to devide the unrelated topics a bit (with .TP commands). The previous indented
paragraphs for the various programmers were transformed to subsections (.SS).

Also, rephrase the documention related to laptops completely to make it
less redundant and more informative.
Document the laptop=this_is_not_a_laptop internal programmer parameter

Change the contact info in the bugs section by removing the trac
reference and adding IRC (and the pastebin) instead.

Remove some superfluous white space and a .RE (restore indentation) command.

Corresponding to flashrom svn r1497.

Signed-off-by: Stefan Tauner <stefan.tauner@alumni.tuwien.ac.at>
Acked-by: Carl-Daniel Hailfinger <c-d.hailfinger.devel.2006@gmx.net>
This commit is contained in:
Stefan Tauner 2012-02-16 20:55:27 +00:00
parent b428e97cb1
commit 9e9f684908

View File

@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
.TH FLASHROM 8 "Jul 25, 2011" .TH FLASHROM 8 "Feb 15, 2012"
.SH NAME .SH NAME
flashrom \- detect, read, write, verify and erase flash chips flashrom \- detect, read, write, verify and erase flash chips
.SH SYNOPSIS .SH SYNOPSIS
@ -223,8 +223,11 @@ parameters. These parameters are separated from the programmer name by a
colon. While some programmers take arguments at fixed positions, other colon. While some programmers take arguments at fixed positions, other
programmers use a key/value interface in which the key and value is separated programmers use a key/value interface in which the key and value is separated
by an equal sign and different pairs are separated by a comma or a colon. by an equal sign and different pairs are separated by a comma or a colon.
.TP .SS
.BR "internal " programmer .BR "internal " programmer
.TP
.B Board Enables
.sp
Some mainboards require to run mainboard specific code to enable flash erase Some mainboards require to run mainboard specific code to enable flash erase
and write support (and probe support on old systems with parallel flash). and write support (and probe support on old systems with parallel flash).
The mainboard brand and model (if it requires specific code) is usually The mainboard brand and model (if it requires specific code) is usually
@ -275,17 +278,22 @@ has been written because it is known that writing/erasing without the board
enable is going to fail. In any case (success or failure), please report to enable is going to fail. In any case (success or failure), please report to
the flashrom mailing list, see below. the flashrom mailing list, see below.
.sp .sp
.TP
.B Coreboot
.sp
On systems running coreboot, flashrom checks whether the desired image matches On systems running coreboot, flashrom checks whether the desired image matches
your mainboard. This needs some special board ID to be present in the image. your mainboard. This needs some special board ID to be present in the image.
If flashrom detects that the image you want to write and the current board If flashrom detects that the image you want to write and the current board
do not match, it will refuse to write the image unless you specify do not match, it will refuse to write the image unless you specify
.sp .sp
.B " flashrom \-p internal:boardmismatch=force" .B " flashrom \-p internal:boardmismatch=force"
.TP
.B ITE IT87 Super I/O
.sp .sp
If your mainboard uses an ITE IT87 series Super I/O for LPC<->SPI flash bus If your mainboard uses an ITE IT87 series Super I/O for LPC<->SPI flash bus
translation, flashrom should autodetect that configuration. If you want to translation, flashrom should autodetect that configuration. If you want to
set the I/O base port of the IT87 series SPI controller manually instead of set the I/O base port of the IT87 series SPI controller manually instead of
using the value provided by the BIOS, use the using the value provided by the BIOS, use the
.sp .sp
.B " flashrom \-p internal:it87spiport=portnum" .B " flashrom \-p internal:it87spiport=portnum"
.sp .sp
@ -295,6 +303,9 @@ is the I/O port number (must be a multiple of 8). In the unlikely case
flashrom doesn't detect an active IT87 LPC<->SPI bridge, please send a bug flashrom doesn't detect an active IT87 LPC<->SPI bridge, please send a bug
report so we can diagnose the problem. report so we can diagnose the problem.
.sp .sp
.TP
.B Intel chipsets
.sp
If you have an Intel chipset with an ICH8 or later southbridge with SPI flash If you have an Intel chipset with an ICH8 or later southbridge with SPI flash
attached, and if a valid descriptor was written to it (e.g. by the vendor), the attached, and if a valid descriptor was written to it (e.g. by the vendor), the
chipset provides an alternative way to access the flash chip(s) named chipset provides an alternative way to access the flash chip(s) named
@ -346,6 +357,8 @@ settings. The default value for ICH7 is given in the example below.
.sp .sp
Example: Example:
.B "flashrom \-p internal:fwh_idsel=0x001122334567" .B "flashrom \-p internal:fwh_idsel=0x001122334567"
.TP
.B Laptops
.sp .sp
Using flashrom on laptops is dangerous and may easily make your hardware Using flashrom on laptops is dangerous and may easily make your hardware
unusable (see also the unusable (see also the
@ -353,21 +366,31 @@ unusable (see also the
section). The embedded controller (EC) in these section). The embedded controller (EC) in these
machines often interacts badly with flashing. machines often interacts badly with flashing.
.B http://www.flashrom.org/Laptops .B http://www.flashrom.org/Laptops
has more information. If flash is shared with the EC, erase is guaranteed to has more information. For example the EC firmware sometimes resides on the same
brick your laptop and write is very likely to brick your laptop. flash chip as the host firmware. While flashrom tries to change the contents of
Chip read and probe may irritate your EC and cause fan failure, backlight that memory the EC might need to fetch new instructions or data from it and
failure, sudden poweroff, and other nasty effects. could stop working correctly. Probing for and reading from the chip may also
flashrom will attempt to detect laptops and abort immediately for safety irritate your EC and cause fan failure, backlight failure, sudden poweroff, and
reasons. other nasty effects. flashrom will attempt to detect if it is running on a
If you want to proceed anyway at your own risk, use laptop and abort immediately for safety reasons if it clearly identifies the
host computer as one. If you want to proceed anyway at your own risk, use
.sp .sp
.B " flashrom \-p internal:laptop=force_I_want_a_brick" .B " flashrom \-p internal:laptop=force_I_want_a_brick"
.sp .sp
You have been warned.
.sp
We will not help you if you force flashing on a laptop because this is a really We will not help you if you force flashing on a laptop because this is a really
dumb idea. dumb idea.
.TP .sp
You have been warned.
.sp
Currently we rely on the chassis type encoded in the DMI/SMBIOS data to detect
laptops. Some vendors did not implement those bits correctly or set them to
generic and/or dummy values. flashrom will then issue a warning and bail out
like above. In this case you can use
.sp
.B " flashrom \-p internal:laptop=this_is_not_a_laptop"
.sp
to tell flashrom (at your own risk) that it does not running on a laptop.
.SS
.BR "dummy " programmer .BR "dummy " programmer
The dummy programmer operates on a buffer in memory only. It provides a safe The dummy programmer operates on a buffer in memory only. It provides a safe
and fast way to test various aspects of flashrom and is mainly used in and fast way to test various aspects of flashrom and is mainly used in
@ -409,6 +432,8 @@ vendor):
.sp .sp
Example: Example:
.B "flashrom -p dummy:emulate=SST25VF040.REMS" .B "flashrom -p dummy:emulate=SST25VF040.REMS"
.TP
.B Persistent images
.sp .sp
If you use flash chip emulation, flash image persistence is available as well If you use flash chip emulation, flash image persistence is available as well
by using the by using the
@ -422,6 +447,8 @@ where the chip contents on flashrom shutdown are written to.
.sp .sp
Example: Example:
.B "flashrom -p dummy:emulate=M25P10.RES,image=dummy.bin" .B "flashrom -p dummy:emulate=M25P10.RES,image=dummy.bin"
.TP
.B SPI write chunk size
.sp .sp
If you use SPI flash chip emulation for a chip which supports SPI page write If you use SPI flash chip emulation for a chip which supports SPI page write
with the default opcode, you can set the maximum allowed write chunk size with with the default opcode, you can set the maximum allowed write chunk size with
@ -436,6 +463,8 @@ is the number of bytes (min. 1, max. 256).
Example: Example:
.sp .sp
.B " flashrom -p dummy:emulate=M25P10.RES,spi_write_256_chunksize=5" .B " flashrom -p dummy:emulate=M25P10.RES,spi_write_256_chunksize=5"
.TP
.B SPI blacklist
.sp .sp
To simulate a programmer which refuses to send certain SPI commands to the To simulate a programmer which refuses to send certain SPI commands to the
flash chip, you can specify a blacklist of SPI commands with the flash chip, you can specify a blacklist of SPI commands with the
@ -448,6 +477,9 @@ controller refuses to run command 0x03 (READ) and command 0x02 (WRITE).
commandlist may be up to 512 characters (256 commands) long. commandlist may be up to 512 characters (256 commands) long.
Implementation note: flashrom will detect an error during command execution. Implementation note: flashrom will detect an error during command execution.
.sp .sp
.TP
.B SPI ignorelist
.sp
To simulate a flash chip which ignores (doesn't support) certain SPI commands, To simulate a flash chip which ignores (doesn't support) certain SPI commands,
you can specify an ignorelist of SPI commands with the you can specify an ignorelist of SPI commands with the
.sp .sp
@ -458,7 +490,7 @@ SPI commands. If commandlist is e.g. 0302, the emulated flash chip will ignore
command 0x03 (READ) and command 0x02 (WRITE). commandlist may be up to 512 command 0x03 (READ) and command 0x02 (WRITE). commandlist may be up to 512
characters (256 commands) long. characters (256 commands) long.
Implementation note: flashrom won't detect an error during command execution. Implementation note: flashrom won't detect an error during command execution.
.TP .SS
.BR "nic3com" , " nicrealtek" , " nicsmc1211" , " nicnatsemi" , " nicintel\ .BR "nic3com" , " nicrealtek" , " nicsmc1211" , " nicnatsemi" , " nicintel\
" , " nicintel_spi" , " gfxnvidia" , " ogp_spi" , " drkaiser" , " satasii\ " , " nicintel_spi" , " gfxnvidia" , " ogp_spi" , " drkaiser" , " satasii\
" , " satamv" ", and " atahpt " programmers " , " satamv" ", and " atahpt " programmers
@ -480,7 +512,7 @@ is the PCI function number of the desired device.
.sp .sp
Example: Example:
.B "flashrom \-p nic3com:pci=05:04.0" .B "flashrom \-p nic3com:pci=05:04.0"
.TP .SS
.BR "ft2232_spi " programmer .BR "ft2232_spi " programmer
An optional parameter specifies the controller An optional parameter specifies the controller
type and interface/port it should support. For that you have to use the type and interface/port it should support. For that you have to use the
@ -501,7 +533,7 @@ The default model is
.B 4232H .B 4232H
and the default interface is and the default interface is
.BR B . .BR B .
.TP .SS
.BR "serprog " programmer .BR "serprog " programmer
A mandatory parameter specifies either a serial A mandatory parameter specifies either a serial
device/baud combination or an IP/port combination for communication with the device/baud combination or an IP/port combination for communication with the
@ -517,7 +549,7 @@ syntax and for IP, you have to use
instead. More information about serprog is available in instead. More information about serprog is available in
.B serprog-protocol.txt .B serprog-protocol.txt
in the source distribution. in the source distribution.
.TP .SS
.BR "buspirate_spi " programmer .BR "buspirate_spi " programmer
A required A required
.B dev .B dev
@ -533,7 +565,7 @@ where
can be can be
.BR 30k ", " 125k ", " 250k ", " 1M ", " 2M ", " 2.6M ", " 4M " or " 8M .BR 30k ", " 125k ", " 250k ", " 1M ", " 2M ", " 2.6M ", " 4M " or " 8M
(in Hz). The default is the maximum frequency of 8 MHz. (in Hz). The default is the maximum frequency of 8 MHz.
.TP .SS
.BR "dediprog " programmer .BR "dediprog " programmer
An optional An optional
.B voltage .B voltage
@ -549,7 +581,7 @@ where
can be can be
.BR 0V ", " 1.8V ", " 2.5V ", " 3.5V .BR 0V ", " 1.8V ", " 2.5V ", " 3.5V
or the equivalent in mV. or the equivalent in mV.
.TP .SS
.BR "rayer_spi " programmer .BR "rayer_spi " programmer
The default I/O base address used for the parallel port is 0x378 and you can use The default I/O base address used for the parallel port is 0x378 and you can use
the optional the optional
@ -579,9 +611,9 @@ More information about the RayeR hardware is available at
.BR "http://rayer.ic.cz/elektro/spipgm.htm " . .BR "http://rayer.ic.cz/elektro/spipgm.htm " .
The schematic of the Xilinx DLC 5 was published at The schematic of the Xilinx DLC 5 was published at
.BR "http://www.xilinx.com/itp/xilinx4/data/docs/pac/appendixb.html " . .BR "http://www.xilinx.com/itp/xilinx4/data/docs/pac/appendixb.html " .
.TP .SS
.BR "ogp_spi " programmer .BR "ogp_spi " programmer
The flash ROM chip to access must be specified with the The flash ROM chip to access must be specified with the
.B rom .B rom
parameter. parameter.
.sp .sp
@ -665,25 +697,37 @@ in
.B "/etc/rc.securelevel" .B "/etc/rc.securelevel"
and rebooting, or rebooting into single user mode. and rebooting, or rebooting into single user mode.
.SH BUGS .SH BUGS
Please report any bugs at Please report any bugs to the flashrom mailing list at
.sp
.B " http://www.flashrom.org/trac/flashrom/newticket"
.sp
or on the flashrom mailing list at
.B "<flashrom@flashrom.org>" .B "<flashrom@flashrom.org>"
.sp .sp
We recommend to subscribe first at We recommend to subscribe first at
.sp .sp
.B " http://www.flashrom.org/mailman/listinfo/flashrom" .B " http://www.flashrom.org/mailman/listinfo/flashrom"
.sp .sp
Many of the developers communicate via the
.B "#flashrom"
IRC channel on
.BR chat.freenode.net .
You are welcome to join and ask questions, send us bug and success reports there
too. Please provide a way to contact you later (e.g. a mail address) and be
patient if there is no immediate reaction. Also, we provide a pastebin service
at
.B http://paste.flashrom.org
that is very useful when you want to share logs etc. without spamming the
channel.
.SS
.B Laptops
.sp
Using flashrom on laptops is dangerous and may easily make your hardware Using flashrom on laptops is dangerous and may easily make your hardware
unusable unless you can desolder the flash chip and have a full flash chip unusable. flashrom will attempt to detect if it is running on a laptop and abort
backup. This is caused by the embedded controller (EC) present in many laptops, immediately for safety reasons. Please see the detailed discussion of this topic
which interacts badly with any flash attempts. This is a hardware limitation and associated flashrom options in the
and flashrom will attempt to detect it and abort immediately for safety reasons. .B Laptops
.sp paragraph in the
More information about flashrom on laptops is available from .B internal programmer
.sp subsection of the
.B PROGRAMMER SPECIFIC INFO
section.
.B " http://www.flashrom.org/Laptops" .B " http://www.flashrom.org/Laptops"
.SS .SS
One-time programmable (OTP) memory and unique IDs One-time programmable (OTP) memory and unique IDs
@ -697,7 +741,6 @@ printed when they are detected.
.sp .sp
Similar to OTP memories are unique, factory programmed, unforgeable IDs. Similar to OTP memories are unique, factory programmed, unforgeable IDs.
They are not modifiable by the user at all. They are not modifiable by the user at all.
.RE
.SH LICENSE .SH LICENSE
.B flashrom .B flashrom
is covered by the GNU General Public License (GPL), version 2. Some files are is covered by the GNU General Public License (GPL), version 2. Some files are