[Soekris] BIOS 1.33 and boot FreeBSD issues (was net5501-60 CF not detected on cold boot)

[Soren Kristensen]

Hi Mike,

Mike Tancsa wrote:
> At 06:46 PM 3/7/2008, Brian Henderson wrote:
>> I just picked up a net5501-60 and a Compact Flash card to build a
>> router, and I have flashed the card and it works, but only on a warm
>> boot. The card is not detected when the power is plugged in, but it is
>> detected if you press the reset button or type reboot over the serial
>> console. Rebooting from within m0n0wall works.
>>
>> Is there a setting to pause before detection of the flash card, or
>> should I be looking for a new card?

The info missing here is: did the CF card work with an earlier comBIOS 
version ?

Yes: There was a few changes in the IDE code, to fix a div 0 bug caused 
by a mfg issues with soldered on flash on net4x26 series, and some of 
the timeouts was shortened. Those changes shouldn't cause any problems, 
but you never know.... If so, I need access to that specific CF module 
to investigate.

No: Find another CF, preferable a Sandisk.


Best Regards,


Soren Kristensen

CEO & Chief Engineer
Soekris Engineering, Inc.


> 
> I just unpacked a new unit with this BIOS and found a different issue.
> 
> 
> POST: 012345689bcefghips1234ajklnopqr,,,tvwxy
> 
> comBIOS ver. 1.33  20070103  Copyright (C) 2000-2007 Soekris Engineering.
> 
> net5501
> 
> 0256 Mbyte Memory                        CPU Geode LX 434 Mhz
> 
> Pri Sla  CF CARD 1GB                     LBA Xlt 983-32-63  990 Mbyte
> 
> Slot   Vend Dev  ClassRev Cmd  Stat CL LT HT  Base1    Base2   Int
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> 0:01:2 1022 2082 10100000 0006 0220 08 00 00 A0000000 00000000 10
> 0:06:0 1106 3053 02000096 0117 0210 08 40 00 0000E101 A0004000 11
> 0:07:0 1106 3053 02000096 0117 0210 08 40 00 0000E201 A0004100 05
> 0:08:0 1106 3053 02000096 0117 0210 08 40 00 0000E301 A0004200 09
> 0:09:0 1106 3053 02000096 0117 0210 08 40 00 0000E401 A0004300 12
> 0:14:0 12B9 1008 07000201 0101 0210 00 00 00 0000E501 00000000 10
> 0:20:0 1022 2090 06010003 0009 02A0 08 40 80 00006001 00006101
> 0:20:2 1022 209A 01018001 0005 02A0 08 00 00 00000000 00000000
> 0:21:0 1022 2094 0C031002 0006 0230 08 00 80 A0005000 00000000 15
> 0:21:1 1022 2095 0C032002 0006 0230 08 00 00 A0006000 00000000 15
> 
>   1 Seconds to automatic boot.   Press Ctrl-P for entering Monitor.
> 
> It just freezes here for 60 seconds before going on to boot. This is 
> after a power cycle, or resetting via the watchdog or just a plain 
> shutdown -r now. The same flash on another board boots as expected.
> 
> and then 60 seconds later (it seems to be exactly 60 seconds)
> 
> /boot.config: -hConsoles: serial port
> BIOS drive C: is disk0
> BIOS 639kB/261120kB available memory
> 
> FreeBSD/i386 bootstrap loader, Revision 1.1
> (mdtancsa at nanobsd.sentex.ca, Tue Jan 15 02:49:13 EST 2008)
> Loading /boot/defaults/loader.conf
> /boot/kernel/kernel text=0x29bc7c data=0x2def4+0x1c498 
> syms=[0x4+0x39d20+0x4+0x49bd4]
> |
> Hit [Enter] to boot immediately, or any other key for command prompt.
> Booting [/boot/kernel/kernel]...
> 
>    The webpage says
> 
> "It is not recommended to "downgrade" a BIOS to an older version than 
> the one a board is supplied with."
> 
> Can someone from Soekris comment / help ? I am using FreeBSD 6.3 with 
> images build via nanobsd.
> What has changed in 1.33 ? There is no change log.
> 
>          ---Mike
> 
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