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diff --git a/posts/2019-04-03-16:59-flashing-coreboot-on-gigabyte-ga-g41m-es2l-with-a-ch341a-usb-programmer-tutorial.md b/posts/2019-04-03-16:59-flashing-coreboot-on-gigabyte-ga-g41m-es2l-with-a-ch341a-usb-programmer-tutorial.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f95dd95 --- /dev/null +++ b/posts/2019-04-03-16:59-flashing-coreboot-on-gigabyte-ga-g41m-es2l-with-a-ch341a-usb-programmer-tutorial.md @@ -0,0 +1,299 @@ +title: Flashing coreboot on Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L with a ch341a USB programmer Tutorial +author: Andreas +date: 2019-04-03 16:59 +tags: Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L, coreboot, flashrom, ch341a +--- + +In this tutorial, we will go through the steps to get [coreboot](https://www.coreboot.org/) compiled and flashed on a **Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L** motherboard. + +***Updated 2022-01-13: Use latest coreboot-4.15 release*** + +# Prerequisites + + + +Things you need: + +- Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L +- ch341a USB programmer +- Pomona 5250 SOIC-8 clip +- 6 x 10 cm female - female jumper wires + +This tutorial assumes you're using a GNU/Linux distro and are familiar +with how to use a terminal. + +[Debian GNU/Linux](https://www.debian.org/) 11 (bullseye) was used to +compile the coreboot image produced in this tutorial. + +Files needed: + +[`grub.cfg`](/static/blog/media/gigabyte-ga-g41m-es2l/grub.cfg) + +# Packages needed to compile flashrom/coreboot/grub + +```sh +sudo apt-get build-dep flashrom grub +sudo apt-get install git build-essential gnat flex bison libncurses5-dev libfreetype-dev pkg-config unifont wget +``` + +# Compile flashrom + +Clone flashrom git repository: + +```sh +git clone https://review.coreboot.org/flashrom.git +``` + +Compile flashrom: + +```sh +cd flashrom +sudo make install +sudo cp /usr/local/sbin/flashrom /usr/local/bin/ +``` + +# Connect ch341a USB programmer to flash chip + + + +Connect Pomona 5250 to flash chip named '**M_BIOS**' like this: + +```sh +Gigabyte logo text towards you: + __ + CS 5 --| |-- 4 3.3v + MISO 6 --| |-- 3 N/C + N/C 7 --| |-- 2 CLK + GND 8 --|__|-- 1 MOSI + + N/C = Not connected / Not used +``` + + + +# Read Factory BIOS + +Read Factory BIOS 3 times: + +```sh +sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -r factory_bios_01.rom -V +sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -r factory_bios_02.rom -V +sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -r factory_bios_03.rom -V +``` + +Make sure checksums are identical: + +```sh +sha512sum *.rom +``` + +# Download coreboot + +Download coreboot: + +```sh +wget https://coreboot.org/releases/coreboot-4.15.tar.xz +wget https://coreboot.org/releases/coreboot-blobs-4.15.tar.xz +``` + +**coreboot-blobs-4.15.tar.xz** is needed for CPU microcode updates. + +Extract coreboot: + +```sh +tar xvf coreboot-4.15.tar.xz +tar xvf coreboot-blobs-4.15.tar.xz --strip-components=1 -C coreboot-4.15 +``` + +# Setup and compile coreboot + +Enter coreboot folder: + +```sh +cd coreboot-4.15 +``` + +Build toolchain needed first (this will take a long time, be patient): + +```sh +make crossgcc-i386 CPUS=4 +``` + +coreboot settings menu: + +```sh +make menuconfig +``` + +Set the following options: + +```plaintext +NOTE: Leave default values as is and specifically set the following +options: + +mainboard ---------| + |-Mainboard vendor (GIGABYTE) + |-Mainboard model (GA-G41M-ES2L) + |-ROM chip size (1024 KB (1 MB)) + |-0x00100000) Size of CBFS filesystem in ROM +chipset -----------| + |-Include CPU microcode in CBFS (Generate from tree) +Devices -----------| + |-Graphics initialization (Use libgfxinit) + |-Display + |- Legacy VGA text mode +Generic Drivers ---| + |-(XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX) Realtek rt8168 mac address +payload -----------| + |-Add a payload (GRUB2) + |- GRUB2 version (2.04) +``` + +If you don't want to include CPU microcode updates: + +```plaintext +chipset ---| + |-Include CPU microcode in CBFS (Do not include microcode updates) +``` + +Check the mac address for the onboard RT8168 network card and enter that +in '**Generic Drivers -> Realtek rt8168 mac address**'. My board is rev. +1.1 and it **didn't** find the onboard network card at all. If this +happens to you, just leave default mac address as is and install a PCI +or PCI express network card instead. I'm using a PCI network card +'**D-Link DGE-528T**' which uses RTL8169 kernel driver. Do some research +beforehand to make sure your network card will work with default libre +kernel drivers. + +This will create a '**.config**' file containing all settings. + +Compile coreboot: + +```sh +make -j4 +``` + +This will create '**build/coreboot.rom**' image with the size of 1mb. + +# Add custom files to 'coreboot.rom' image + +Add '**grub.cfg**' to coreboot.rom. See '**Prerequisites**' above for +the file needed. + +Make sure '**cbfstool**' is built: + +```sh +cd coreboot-4.15/util/cbfstool +make -j4 +``` + +Add custom GRUB2 configuration file: + +```sh +./cbfstool ../../build/coreboot.rom add -t raw -n etc/grub.cfg -f your/path/to/grub.cfg +``` + +Check so that '**etc/grub.cfg**' exists in coreboot.rom: + +```sh +./cbfstool ../../build/coreboot.rom print +``` + +Done! Now it's time to flash the new '**coreboot.rom**' image! + +# Flash coreboot image + +See '**Connect ch341a USB programmer to flash chip**' for details on how +to connect ch341a USB programmer. + +Flash coreboot using ch341a USB programmer: + +```sh +sudo flashrom -p ch341a_spi -w coreboot.rom -V +``` + +# Additional parts needed + +To build a desktop/server the following additional parts are needed: + +```plaintext +Desktop case +Power supply +CPU +CPU Fan +Memory +Harddrive +``` + +Here's the parts I used to build a server: + +```plaintext +Desktop case: Fractal Design Define R6 Gunmetal +Power supply: Corsair RM750X 750W v2 +CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2,83 GHz 12M +CPU Fan: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro rev.2 +Memory: Corsair 2 x 2 GB DDR2 800 (PC2-6400) Memory +Network card: D-Link DGE-528T PCI (RTL8169 kernel driver) +Harddrive: Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD harddrive +PCI Express to USB 3.0 4-Port PCI Express Expansion Card Adapter Hub VIA 5Gbps +PCI Express SATA 3 Controller Card, 2 Port PCIe SATA III 6GB/s Internal Ada L80 +``` + +The parts were carefully choosen so that the server would be as close to +completely silent as possible and be able to run 100% free/libre +software. + +For a list of compatible CPU's (socket LGA 775), see:\ +[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors) + +The onboard network card might not work by default, and if so, just get +a PCI or PCI Express network card. + +Now you can install a libre distro such as [Debian +GNU/Linux](https://www.debian.org/). + +# Boot Debian GNU/Linux netinst iso from usb in GRUB2 + +Download Debian GNU/Linux netinst from [here](https://www.debian.org/). + +Check name of USB device: + +```sh +sudo fdisk -l +``` + +Create bootable USB drive: + +```sh +sudo dd bs=4M if=/path/to/debian-img.iso of=/dev/YOUR_USB status=progress oflag=sync +``` + +Start the computer up and in the GRUB2 menu press '**c**' to enter +command line and from there type the following: + +```sh +set root='usb0' +linux /install.amd/vmlinuz +initrd /install.amd/initrd.gz +boot +``` + +Install Debian GNU/Linux normally and put GRUB2 on master boot record at +the end of installation process. After reboot default option in GRUB2 +menu on the flashchip will load GRUB2 on the AHCI HDD you installed on. + +# Download compiled coreboot image + +The resulting coreboot image from this tutorial can be downloaded here: + +[`gigabyte-ga-g41m-es2l_coreboot-4-15-grub-2-04-with-cpu-microcode.rom`](/static/blog/files/gigabyte-ga-g41m-es2l/gigabyte-ga-g41m-es2l_coreboot-4-15-grub-2-04-with-cpu-microcode.rom) + +Congratulations! We’re done. + +# Recommended reading + +[https://www.coreboot.org/](https://www.coreboot.org/)\ +[https://www.flashrom.org/](https://www.flashrom.org/)\ +[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors)\ +[https://dejavu-fonts.github.io/](https://dejavu-fonts.github.io/)\ +[https://dejavu-fonts.github.io/License.html](https://dejavu-fonts.github.io/License.html) |