"flash too small" using recent versions of BOOTUTIL

[pwatson]

We are facing problems programming the 1Mbit SPI Flash attached to the 82599 10GbE Controller on our Tews Technologies TXMC888 with the Intel PXE boot image when using the latest Intel preboot tool version (v23.5.1). Using Linux “bootutil” reports “flash too small”.

When using an older version of the preboot tool (we have tested v20.0) programming works perfectly fine. The schematic of our TXMC888 is based on the Intel 82599 Reference Design, which also utilizes a 1Mbit SPI Flash.

I guess that the problem is caused by the recent “bootutil” versions, because using the older "bootutil" version (v20.0) with the latest BootIMG.FLB (from v23.5.1) also works fine.

[Daniel_D_Intel1]

Hello Pwatson, Thank you for posting in Intel Ethernet Communities. What is the command you used to load the boot image in the new Bootutil? Are you currently using the new BootIMG.FLB with the old Bootutil without any issue? Do you currently have a test system you want to troubleshoot Bootutil 23.5.1 on, so we can recommend any steps? Let us know if you have any other questions. Best regards, Daniel D Intel Customer Support

[pwatson]

Hello Daniel,

Following I will list the commands we used and the output the two different versions of BOOTUTIL created.

First, we used the old Version 20.0 with its corresponding BootIMG.FLB:

# ./BootUtil_20.00/Linux_x64/bootutil64e -UP=PXE -NIC=1 -FILE=./BootUtil_20.00/BootIMG.FLB   Intel(R) Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility BootUtil version 1.5.48.0 Copyright (C) 2003-2014 Intel Corporation   Programming flash on port 1 with flash firmware image Create restore image of NIC 1 before proceeding? (Y)es or (N)o: N N Continue update without restore image? (Y)es or (N)o: Y Y / Flash update successful   Port Network Address Location Series WOL Flash Firmware Version ==== =============== ======== ======= === ============================= ======= 1 00xxxxxxxxF6 3:00.0 10GbE N/A PXE 2.3.34 2 00xxxxxxxxF7 3:00.1 10GbE N/A FLASH Disabled

Then we used the old Version 20.0 of BOOTUTIL but used the BootIMG.FLB of the most recent Version 23.5.1:

# ./BootUtil_20.00/Linux_x64/bootutil64e -UP=PXE -NIC=1 -FILE=./BootUtil_23.5.1/BootIMG.FLB   Intel(R) Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility BootUtil version 1.5.48.0 Copyright (C) 2003-2014 Intel Corporation   Programming flash on port 1 with flash firmware image Create restore image of NIC 1 before proceeding? (Y)es or (N)o: N N Continue update without restore image? (Y)es or (N)o: Y Y / Flash update successful   Port Network Address Location Series WOL Flash Firmware Version ==== =============== ======== ======= === ============================= ======= 1 00xxxxxxxxF6 3:00.0 10GbE N/A PXE 2.4.32 2 00xxxxxxxxF7 3:00.1 10GbE N/A FLASH Disabled

Then we used the most recent Version 23.5.1 with its corresponding BootIMG.FLB:

# ./BootUtil_23.5.1/Linux_x64/bootutil64e -UP=PXE -NIC=1 -FILE=./BootUtil_23.5.1/BootIMG.FLB Connection to QV driver failed - please reinstall it!   Intel(R) Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility BootUtil version 1.6.87.12 Copyright (C) 2003-2018 Intel Corporation ERROR: Flash too small for the image   Port Network Address Location Series WOL Flash Firmware Version ==== =============== ======== ======= === ============================= ======= 1 00xxxxxxxxF6 3:00.0 10GbE N/A FLASH Unknown 2 00xxxxxxxxF7 3:00.1 10GbE N/A FLASH Disabled

PLease note Line 2: "Connection to QV driver failed - please reinstall it!" and the fact that the Flash Firmware in the BOOTUTIL output is "Unknown" instead of "PXE" even though the flash should still be programmed from the previous programming with Version 20.0

After installing a new "Intel Pro Diagnostic Driver" iqvlinux Version 1.2.0.8 we retried using Version 23.5.1 with its corresponding BootIMG.FLB:

# ./BootUtil_23.5.1/Linux_x64/bootutil64e -UP=PXE -NIC=1 -FILE=./BootUtil_23.5.1/BootIMG.FLB   Intel(R) Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility BootUtil version 1.6.87.12 Copyright (C) 2003-2018 Intel Corporation ERROR: Flash too small for the image   Port Network Address Location Series WOL Flash Firmware Version ==== =============== ======== ======= === ============================= ======= 1 00xxxxxxxxF6 3:00.0 10GbE N/A FLASH Unknown 2 00xxxxxxxxF7 3:00.1 10GbE N/A FLASH Disabled

"Connection to QV driver failed - please reinstall it!" is no longer output but it still comes back with "ERROR: Flash too small for the image" and "FLASH Unknown".

[Daniel_D_Intel1]

Hello Pwatson, Thank you for the information. The 82599 10 Gigabit Ethernet Controller is not listed on the latest version of the Preboot tools, but there are adapters that use the controller such as the X520. Please check with Tews Technologies if there are any modifications to the controller during integration. If you have any questions regarding design and integration the Embedded Community would be the best source for answers. Please use the following link to contact them: https://forums.intel.com/s/topic/0TO0P00000018NIWAY/embedded-products Let us know if you have any other questions. Best regards, Daniel D Intel Customer Support

[pwatson]

Hello Daniel,

I am working in the Hardware Development department of Tews Technologies and was involved in the development of the TXMC888. Our TXMC888 is based on the official Intel Reference Design, just like the Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520. For configuration of the Ethernet Controller we use the official Image 82599_SFI_NO_MNG_4.40.bin provided by Intel.

If "Intel® Ethernet" is not the right place for questions regarding an Intel Ethernet Controller then please move this thread to the Embedded Community to make sure that no information I have provided so far is lost.

[Daniel_D_Intel1]

Hello Pwatson, Thank you for the reply. I have moved the thread to the Embedded Community. Please provide the Etrack ID and EEPROM dump. The Embedded team will need this to investigate the issue. Let us know if you have any other questions. Best regards, Daniel D Intel Customer Support

[pwatson]

Hi Daniel,

The Etrack ID is 0x800006D1 and attached you find the EEPROM File we use to configure our TXMC888 modules.

[Daniel_D_Intel1]

Hello Pwatson, Thank you for providing the requested information. We have checked this Internally, as it has not been picked up by the Embedded group. We have logged this issue as a bug, but cannot provide an ETA for a fix. Will using the older 20.0 Bootutil be sufficient as a temporary work around? Please let us know if there are any other questions. Thank you for providing the information to address this issue. Best regards, Daniel D Intel Customer Support Under contract to Intel Corporation

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

Hello, @pwatson​:​

Thank you for contacting Intel Embedded Community.

In order to be on the same page, could you please verify if the problem persists when you use the version of the mentioned tool included in the Intel Network Connections 20.7 PV, Intel Pre-boot BIOS Image Utility BootUtil, LAN Software Tools document # 387754? This document is available when you are logged into your Resource and Design Center (RDC) privileged account at the following website:

https://cdrdv2.intel.com/v1/dl/getContent/387754

By the way, could you please let us know where you obtained the version of the cited tool associated to the cited issue?

Waiting for the information that should answer our questions.

Best regards,

@Mæcenas_INTEL​.

[Daniel_D_Intel1]

Hello Pwatson,

The Embedded support team was unable to reply directly, but provided the following:

"Hello, @pwatson​ 

Thank you for contacting Intel Embedded Community.

In order to be on the same page, could you please verify if the problem persists when you use the version of the mentioned tool included in the Intel Network Connections 20.7 PV, Intel Pre-boot BIOS Image Utility BootUtil, LAN Software Tools document # 387754?

This document is available when you are logged into your Resource and Design Center (RDC) privileged account at the following website:

https://cdrdv2.intel.com/v1/dl/getContent/387754

By the way, could you please let us know where you obtained the version of the cited tool associated to the cited issue?

Waiting for the information that should answer our questions.

Best regards,

@Mæcenas_INTEL​ "

[pwatson]

Hi Carlos,

In the past we downloaded all versions of BootUtil from the following URL:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/19186/Intel-Ethernet-Connections-Boot-Utility-Preboot-Images-and-EFI-Drivers

As you asked for, I logged in to my Intel Premier Support Account and downloaded version 20.7 from the link you provided. The driver provided with the package (iqvlinux-1.1.5.3) could not be compiled by a current Ubuntu Linux system running Kernel 4.19.7

So we used an older Linux system running an older Kernel 3.19.1. This system was able to run the driver but version 20.7 of BootUtil also produced the error:

sudo ./bootutil64e -UP=PXE -NIC=1 -FILE=../BootIMG.FLB   Intel(R) Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility BootUtil version 1.5.94.2 Copyright (C) 2003-2015 Intel Corporation ERROR: Flash too small for the image   Port Network Address Location Series WOL Flash Firmware Version ==== =============== ======== ======= === ============================= ======= 1 0001060036F6 3:00.0 10GbE N/A FLASH Unknown 2 0001060036F7 3:00.1 10GbE N/A FLASH Disabled

[CarlosAM_INTEL]

​Hello, @pwatson​:

Thanks for your update.

In order to help you, we will contact you via email.

Best regards,

@Mæcenas_INTEL​.