Updating the BIOS on a Soekris board is pretty trivial compared to the method needed for an ALIX board. This is a short guide on how to get a Soekris board's BIOS updated via XMODEM transfer.

Files

Click here for a list of comBIOS upgrade files and miscellaneous information.

Viewing the Console

This has been directly covered in a previous tutorial, Serial Communication Basics

Hyperterm Settings

To log in to the Soekris board, I used the Hyperterm program which comes with a basic Microsoft Windows installation. To find it, go to START > Programs > Accessories > Communications > Hyperterm. Name your session and pick the COM terminal to use.

Set the baud rate to 19200, the Soekris board's default. If you see crazy characters scrolling by when we start booting up at any time, change the baud rate until it looks like normal ASCII characters.

We also need to change Flow Control to Xon/Xoff or disable it completely to be able to transfer the file to the box.

Transfer the File

Now all we have to do it tell Hyperterm to send the file to BIOS.

First, initiate the file transfer in the Soekris BIOS by pressing CTRL+P during, or right after, POST to get into the BIOS. Type download - at the prompt.

The - is ABSOLUTELY necessary! I made this mistake and it does not work at all.

1. > download -
2. Start sending file using XMODEM/CRC protocol.

Go to the file menu and click on Transfer > Send File.Now browse to your BIOS update file, change the protocol to Xmodem, and send the file on its way.

Don't forget the Xmodem part. This is needed or the file will not send.

The file should transfer, mimicking the following. After everything is complete (only a few seconds) just type reboot and notice if the version number changed at boot up.

1. comBIOS ver. 1.32 20070614 Copyright (C) 2000-2007 Soekris Engineering.
2. net45xx
3. 0064 Mbyte Memory CPU Elan SC520 133 Mhz
5. Pri Mas 064MB ATA Flash Disk LBA 977-4-32 62 Mbyte
6.  
7. Slot Vend Dev ClassRev Cmd Stat CL LT HT Base1 Base2 Int
8. -------------------------------------------------------------------
9. 0:00:0 1022 3000 06000000 0006 2280 00 00 00 00000000 00000000
10. 0:16:0 1260 3873 02800001 0117 0290 10 3C 00 A0000008 00000000 10
11. 0:17:0 168C 0013 02000001 0116 0290 10 3C 00 A0010000 00000000 11
12. 0:18:0 100B 0020 02000000 0107 0290 00 3F 00 0000E001 A0020000 05
13.  
14. 3 Seconds to automatic boot. Press Ctrl-P for entering Monitor.
15.  
    
16. comBIOS Monitor. Press ? for help.
17.  
18. > download -
19. Start sending file using XMODEM/CRC protocol.
20.  
21. 
22. File downloaded successfully, size 608 Blocks.
23.  
24. > reboot

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