Raptor Computing Systems Community Forums (BETA)

Software => Firmware => Topic started by: witsu on February 27, 2020, 10:54:59 pm

Title: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: witsu on February 27, 2020, 10:54:59 pm: I am looking for some advice on how to recover the BMC on my Talos II after a failed attempt to upgrade to the new 2.0 firmware.
I can see the BMC heartbeat LED flashing rapidly on the board, and I am not able to get any output on the serial console.

From what I've read on the wiki, it looks like I will either need to get a flash programmer to externally re program the chip.
Has anyone here done this recently and can recommend what kind to get?

Thanks
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: MPC7500 on February 28, 2020, 07:49:49 am: AFAIK, you could reprogramming through J7701 header with a serial adopter (https://wiki.raptorcs.com/wiki/Talos_II/Hardware_Compatibility_List#Serial_Adapters_for_J7701_Header). No ISP programmer needed. I have an ASSMANN AK-610300-003-E (https://www.assmann.com/en/products/cable-and-adapter/computer-cable/serialparallel-cable-and-adapter/ak-610300-003-e/?PL=en).

You already read this guide?
Debricking the BMC (https://wiki.raptorcs.com/wiki/Debricking_the_BMC)

I haven't done this till now.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: witsu on February 28, 2020, 11:00:15 am: Yea I looked at that guide already.
The first 2 methods didn't work for me, I am not getting any output from the BMC over the serial console.
The other method requires the ASPEED SOC Flash Utility which I don't have, and the link seems to be broken. I assume that's because you need to be a registered developer now to get it. I haven't looked into regisering yet, I assumed getting a flash programmer would probably be cheaper.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: ClassicHasClass on February 28, 2020, 04:01:31 pm: What method did you use to update it that went wrong?
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: witsu on February 28, 2020, 04:13:11 pm: I was trying to follow the instructions for upgrading to 2.0 on the wiki https://wiki.raptorcs.com/wiki/File:Talos-ii-openbmc-v2.00-bundle.tar

I copied image-bmc over, rebooted th BMC, and then it didn't come back online after that.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: FlyingBlackbird on February 28, 2020, 04:38:45 pm: Quote from: witsu on February 28, 2020, 11:00:15 am
The other method requires the ASPEED SOC Flash Utility which I don't have, and the link seems to be broken. I assume that's because you need to be a registered developer now to get it.
I haven't looked into regisering yet, I assumed getting a flash programmer would probably be cheaper.

It looks like you can download a backup version of the SOC Flash Utility here (not verified - treat this as untrusted source and apply virus checks first eg. via online scanners):

https://github.com/abrahamrhoffman/bmc_tools
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: MPC7500 on February 28, 2020, 06:18:54 pm: This error occurs if you forget to decompress the file, AFAIK.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: witsu on February 29, 2020, 11:26:12 am: Yea, I don't remember for sure, but that's certainly possible that I just renamed and forgot to decompress the file. I've done firmware updates before with out any issues, so probably just screwed up something this time.

I am a little concerned over using an untrusted utility to recover the BMC, I wouldn't want some malware to get down in there. Not sure how likely that is. Could re flashing the BMC the regular way immediately after take care of that? Or do I actually need to get a flash programmer?
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: ClassicHasClass on February 29, 2020, 11:45:27 am: It should, yes. At worst it just won't work -- you won't be any worse off.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: MPC7500 on February 29, 2020, 01:13:43 pm: If you don't trust the Github source, you could ask JSharp. He has the ASpeed utilities, too.
I assume you're on the Talos IRC, too? aperson678?
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: witsu on February 29, 2020, 05:13:06 pm: Actually I haven't tried asking in the IRC chat yet.
I had tried to get on there a few months ago but wasn't able to.
I just got some message saying I was banned as soon as I tried to sign in.
I can try again now though.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: MPC7500 on February 29, 2020, 09:02:12 pm: At the moment there is someone who has the similar problem.

You are banned (https://wiki.raptorcs.com/wiki/IRC)
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: witsu on March 01, 2020, 11:08:13 pm: I ordered a Bus Pirate and cable. We'll see if I am able to get anywhere with it.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: MPC7500 on March 02, 2020, 07:57:48 pm: It should also work with the serial adopter on header J7701. If that doesn't work I hardly guess the pinout of the adopter is wrong or you used the wrong USB DB9 cable.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: witsu on March 02, 2020, 09:36:21 pm: With the Bus Pirate you mean ? Or using socflash?
My serial adapter should work since I used it before after a bad update and was able to use the u-boot tftp method to recover.
This time is different though since I get no output at all.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: MPC7500 on March 03, 2020, 06:23:49 pm: Sorry, my mistake. If it worked before and now it doesn't, then the problem lies elsewhere. Bus Pirate will do the job.
Title: Re: Recovering BMC After Failed Firmware Update
Post by: witsu on March 04, 2020, 08:04:52 pm: Awesome. Will give it a try once I actually get it.

Thanks