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  1. # coreboot-x230
  2. pre-built coreboot images and documentation on how to flash them for the Thinkpad X230
  3. These images
  4. * include [SeaBIOS](https://seabios.org/SeaBIOS) as coreboot payload, for maximum compatibility.
  5. * are meant to be [flashed externally](#how-to-flash)
  6. * are compatible with Windows and Linux
  7. ## Latest build (config overview and version info)
  8. See our [releases](https://github.com/merge/coreboot-x230/releases)
  9. * Lenovo's proprietary VGA BIOS ROM is executed in "secure" mode
  10. ### coreboot
  11. * We simply take coreboot's current state in it's master branch at the time we build a release image.
  12. That's the preferred way to use coreboot. The git revision we use is always included in the release.
  13. ### Intel microcode
  14. * version [20180108](https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27431/Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-File)
  15. * in 20180108, for the X230's CPU ID (306ax) the latest update is 2015-02-26
  16. * (not yet in coreboot upstream)
  17. ### SeaBIOS
  18. * version [1.11.0](https://seabios.org/Releases#SeaBIOS_1.11.0) from 2017-11-10
  19. * (in coreboot upstream)
  20. ## When do we do a release?
  21. Either when
  22. * There is a new SeaBIOS release,
  23. * There is a new Intel microcode release (included in coreboot AND affecting our CPU ID),
  24. * There is a coreboot issue that affects us (unlikely), or
  25. * We need to change the config
  26. ## TL;DR
  27. Download a released image, connect your hardware SPI flasher to the "upper"
  28. 4MB chip in your X230, and do
  29. flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=128 -w x230_coreboot_seabios_example_top.rom
  30. ## Flashing for the first time
  31. ### EC firmware
  32. Enter Lenovo's BIOS with __F1__ and check the embedded controller (EC) version to be
  33. __1.14__ and upgrade using [the latest bootable CD](https://support.lenovo.com/at/en/downloads/ds029188)
  34. if it isn't. The EC cannot be upgraded when coreboot is installed. (In case a newer
  35. version should ever be available (I doubt it), you could temporarily flash back your
  36. original Lenovo BIOS image)
  37. ### me_cleaner
  38. The Intel Management Engine resides on the 8MB chip. We don't need to touch it
  39. for coreboot-upgrades in the future, but while opening up the Thinkpad anyways,
  40. we can save it and run [ifdtool](https://github.com/coreboot/coreboot/tree/master/util/ifdtool)
  41. and [me_cleaner](https://github.com/corna/me_cleaner) on it:
  42. flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=128 -c "MX25L3206E/MX25L3208E" -r ifdmegbe.rom
  43. flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=128 -c "MX25L3206E/MX25L3208E" -r ifdmegbe2.rom
  44. diff ifdmegbe.rom ifdmegbe2.rom
  45. git clone https://github.com/corna/me_cleaner.git && cd me_cleaner
  46. ./me_cleaner.py -S -O ifdmegbe_meclean.rom ifdmegbe.rom
  47. ifdtool -u ifdmegbe_meclean.rom
  48. flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=128 -c "MX25L3206E/MX25L3208E" -w ifdmegbe_meclean.rom.new
  49. ### save the 4MB chip
  50. (internally, memory of the two chips is mapped together, the 8MB being the lower
  51. part, but we can essientially ignore that)
  52. For the first time, we have to save the original image, just like we did with
  53. the 8MB chip above:
  54. flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=128 -r top1.rom
  55. flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=128 -r top2.rom
  56. diff top1.rom top2.rom
  57. ## Flashing the coreboot / SeaBIOS image
  58. When __upgrading__ to a new version, for example when a new [SeaBIOS](https://seabios.org/Releases)
  59. version is available, only the "upper" 4MB chip has to be written.
  60. Download the latest release image we provide here and flash it:
  61. flashrom -p linux_spi:dev=/dev/spidev0.0,spispeed=128 -w x230_coreboot_seabios_example_top.rom
  62. ## How to flash
  63. We flash externally, using a "Pomona 5250 8-pin SOIC test clip". You'll find
  64. one easily. This is how the X230's SPI connection looks on both chips:
  65. Screen (furthest from you)
  66. __
  67. MOSI 5 --| |-- 4 GND
  68. CLK 6 --| |-- 3 N/C
  69. N/C 7 --| |-- 2 MISO
  70. VCC 8 --|__|-- 1 CS
  71. Edge (closest to you)
  72. ### Example: Raspberry Pi 3
  73. We run [Raspbian](https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/)
  74. and have the following setup
  75. * [Serial connection](https://elinux.org/RPi_Serial_Connection) using a "USB to Serial" Adapter and picocom or minicom
  76. * in the SD Cards's `/boot/config.txt` file `enable_uart=1` and `dtparam=spi=on`
  77. * [For flashrom](https://www.flashrom.org/RaspberryPi) we put `spi_bcm2835` and `spidev` in /etc/modules
  78. * [Connect to a wifi](https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/wireless/wireless-cli.md) or to network over ethernet.
  79. * install `flashrom`
  80. * connect the Clip to the Raspberry Pi 3:
  81. Edge of pi (furthest from you)
  82. L CS
  83. E |
  84. F +---------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
  85. T | x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x |
  86. | x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x |
  87. E +----------------------------------^---^---^---^-------------------------------^--+
  88. D | | | | |
  89. G 3.3V MOSIMISO| GND
  90. E (VCC) CLK
  91. Body of Pi (closest to you)
  92. Now you should be able to copy the image over to your Rasperry Pi and run the
  93. mentioned `flashrom` commands.
  94. ### Example: DLN2
  95. If using a [Diolan DLN2](https://diolan.com/dln-2) as USB-SPI Adapter, we can
  96. stay on the host system to run flashrom. Make sure you have the Linux driver
  97. configured in, i.e. `CONFIG_SPI_DLN2=m`. Connect the Pomona Clip according to the
  98. [DLN2 Connectors](http://dlnware.com/sites/dlnware.com/files/downloads/dln-2-connectors-jumpers.pdf).
  99. MOSI, MISO, CS, CLK and VCC are Pin 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 on the J4 SPI Connector. Set JP3
  100. to 3,3V.
  101. TODO
  102. ## How we build
  103. Everything necessary to build coreboot is included in this project and building
  104. coreboot is not hard at all. Please refer to [coreboot's own documentation](https://www.coreboot.org/Build_HOWTO).
  105. When building, testing and doing a release here, we always try to upload our
  106. result to coreboot's [board status project](https://www.coreboot.org/Supported_Motherboards).