title: Setup Raspberry Pi for flashing with flashrom Tutorial
author: Andreas
date: 2022-01-13 16:24
tags: Raspberry Pi, flashrom
---

In this tutorial, we will go through the steps to setup a Raspberry Pi for flashing with [flashrom](https://www.flashrom.org/).

# Prerequisites

![Prerequisites](/static/blog/media/raspberry-pi/01-prerequisites.jpg)

Things you need:

- Raspberry Pi
- Official 5.1V 2.5A Power Supply for Raspberry Pi.
- 16 GB (or more) class 10 MicroSD card for Raspberry Pi OS.
- HDMI cable
- Keyboard and Mouse

This tutorial assumes you're using a GNU/Linux distro for the commands
outside of the Raspberry Pi and are familiar with how to use a terminal.

I'm using a **Raspberry Pi 3 Model B** for this tutorial but any model
supported by Raspberry Pi OS will work fine.

# Install and setup Raspberry Pi OS

Download Raspberry Pi OS (with Desktop is recommended) from
[here](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/)

Unzip Raspberry Pi OS image:

```sh
unzip IMAGE_NAME.zip
```

Insert the MicroSD card in a reader and check name of MicroSD card:

```sh
sudo fdisk -l
```

Flash the unpacked Raspberry Pi OS image to the MicroSD card:

```sh
sudo dd if=IMAGE_NAME.img of=/dev/YOURSDCARD bs=2M status=progress oflag=sync
```

Connect the peripherals (keyboard, mouse, HDMI, power cable), insert the
MicroSD card and boot the Raspberry Pi and make sure it works.

Make sure all software is updated:

```sh
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo reboot
```

Check the IP address of your Raspberry Pi:

```sh
ip addr
```

Write down the IP address (if using WiFi see '**inet**' under
'**wlan0**'). It should look something like **192.168.1.11**. You'll
need this IP address later to be able to connect using SSH from another
computer.

Next you need to change some things in the config:

```sh
sudo raspi-config
```

In this menu, select '**3. Interface Options**' and enable the
following options:

```plaintext
SSH
SPI
I2C
```

Reboot the Raspberry Pi once this is done.

Try connecting to the Raspberry Pi from another computer using SSH:

```sh
ssh pi@192.168.1.11
```

Change '**192.168.1.11**' to the IP address you wrote down in earlier
step. When it asks for a password, enter the password for the user
'**pi**'.

From here on you can disconnect all peripherals and do the rest using
SSH.

# Compile flashrom

Clone flashrom git repository:

```sh
git clone https://review.coreboot.org/flashrom.git
```

Compile flashrom:

```sh
cd flashrom
sudo make install CONFIG_ENABLE_LIBUSB0_PROGRAMMERS=no CONFIG_ENABLE_LIBUSB1_PROGRAMMERS=no CONFIG_ENABLE_LIBPCI_PROGRAMMERS=no
sudo cp /usr/local/sbin/flashrom /usr/local/bin/
```

# Raspberry Pi GPIO pinout

**Raspberry Pi 3 Model B** GPIO pinout below. **Raspberry Pi 4** seems
to have the same layout and other models too probably. See GPIO pinout
diagram for your specific Raspberry Pi to be sure.

Note: In flashing tutorials **CS = GPIO08(CE0)** (/dev/spidev0.0)

![Raspberry Pi 3 Model B pinout](/static/blog//media/raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-3-model-b-gpio-pinout.jpg)

# Example usage

Read from connected chip:

```sh
sudo flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=32768 -r factory_bios_01.rom -V
```

Read from specified chip:

```sh
sudo flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=32768 -r factory-bios-top-1.bin -c "MX25L3206E/MX25L3208E" -V
```

Write to connected chip:

```sh
sudo flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=32768 -w coreboot.rom -V
```

Write to specified chip:

```sh
sudo flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=32768 -w coreboot.rom -c "MX25L3206E/MX25L3208E" -V
```

Congratulations! We're done. Now you can start flashing [coreboot](https://www.coreboot.org/) rom's.

# Recommended reading

[https://www.raspberrypi.com/](https://www.raspberrypi.com/)\
[https://www.coreboot.org/](https://www.coreboot.org/)\
[https://www.flashrom.org/](https://www.flashrom.org/)