OLPC Firmware q4c09
Contents
OLPC Firmware Release q4c09
Works on XO-1.75 B1 and C1 only. Do not use on A2 or A3.
This version fixes longstanding bugs with WiFi WEP and WPA authentication.
| Download | q4c09.rom |
| Build date time | 2011-12-22 19:01:13 |
| Source revision | 2785 |
| EC version | 0.3.07 |
| CForth version | f550eeba |
| Wireless firmware version | Libertas thinfirm 9.0.7.p2 |
Changes since q4c08
Open Firmware
- svn 2784 - WiFi supplicant code - various tweaks. The major developer-visible one is that the debug? flag is now a static variable so it is easier to set. The rcnt variable is now accessed as a 64-bit data type instead of as an 8-byte array.
- svn 2783 - LPC XO-1.75 and XO-3 - Fixed MMP2 hash engine code to use non-cached memory for DMA, fixing a problem whereby the hash answer was often wrong because the source data was stuck in L1 cache and thus invisible to DMA.
- svn 2782 - Libertas WLAN driver - implemented "disconnected?" method used by WiFi supplicant.
- svn 2780 - WiFi - Fixed a problem that made WEP authentication not work when the access point is set for WEP open authentication mode instead of WEP shared key mode. Shared key mode used to be the norm, but open is now believed to be somewhat better, eliminating a WEP-key recovery attack on the challenge phase of the shared-mode authentication protocol.
- svn 2779 - OLPC XO-1.75 and XO-3 - revised build-wlan.fth and */wlan-version.fth to make it easier to select thin vs. non-thin WLAN firmware.
CForth
- none
EC
- none
WLAN
- none
Which Firmware Do You Have?
The best method for finding out what firmware version you have on a laptop depends on whether the laptop is secured or not, and what operating state it is in.
Unsecured Laptop
Obtain the Ok prompt, the firmware version is displayed in the startup banner, thus:
OLPC ..., ... memory installed, ..., S/N SHF7250024D
OpenFirmware q4c09 ... EC Firmware Ver:...
^^^^^
You can also obtain the built date:
ok .built
This is the date and time that this image of the firmware was built by the release engineer.
Secured Laptop
Power up the laptop with the ✓ (check mark) game button held down. You will be asked to Release the game keys to continue. Release the ✓ (check mark) game button and watch carefully. For a short time the startup banner will be displayed, like this:
OLPC ..., ... memory installed, ..., S/N SHF7250024D
OpenFirmware q4c09 ... EC Firmware Ver:...
^^^^^
Alternatively, if the laptop is already booted, go to the Sugar home view, click on the icon at the centre of the screen and select "My Settings" then "About my Computer." The firmware version is displayed there.
Alternatively, in the Terminal activity or a text console, type:
cat /proc/device-tree/openprom/model
or
cat /ofw/openprom/model
With certain older firmware versions, if the operating system will not start, and the laptop is secured, you will not be able to obtain the firmware version using the above methods, so our recommendation is to go ahead and upgrade anyway. The procedure is safe and will not do anything if you already have up-to-date firmware.
Installation
When installing new firmware, you must have a well-charged battery and the AC adapter plugged in. The firmware update code will not proceed otherwise. Possible error messages are:
| error message | how to fix |
|---|---|
| AC not present | plug in the power cord, check the battery LED is on, then try again. |
| No external power | plug in the power cord, check the battery LED is on, then try again, |
| No battery | plug in the battery, check the latches, then try again, or try another battery, |
| Battery low | allow more time for the battery to charge, then try again, or try another battery. |
Unsecured Laptop
This section is for unsecured laptops. Most XO-1.5 and XO-1.75 laptops are unsecured. Most developer XO laptops are unsecured. To unsecure your laptop, follow the instructions at Activation and Developer Keys.
You may install using either:
- a USB drive or SD card,
- the laptop's internal drive,
- a network.
Choose one.
Using a USB drive or SD card
- download the firmware from http://dev.laptop.org/pub/firmware/q4c09/q4c09.rom and save it to a USB drive or SD card,
- shutdown the laptop,
- check the battery is inserted and locked,
- check that the power cord is in place and the battery indicator is green,
- insert the USB drive or SD card,
- turn on the laptop, and get to the 'ok' prompt. See Ok for more detail. You should see:
ok
- if the downloaded file is on a USB drive, type:
flash u:\q4c09.rom
- if the downloaded file is on an external SD card:
flash sd:\boot\q4c09.rom
- wait for the laptop to reboot itself,
- remove the USB drive or SD card.
(Expert users may remove the USB drive after the message "Got firmware" ... at this stage the file has been read and closed.)
Using the laptop internal drive
An alternate method is to download the firmware file to the laptop internal drive and then install from the internal drive.
- start the laptop,
- connect to a wireless or wired network,
- start the Terminal Activity and type:
su cd /versions/boot/current/boot/ wget http://dev.laptop.org/pub/firmware/q4c09/q4c09.rom
- shutdown the laptop,
- check the battery is inserted and locked,
- check that the power cord is in place and the battery indicator is green,
- turn on the laptop, and get to the 'ok' prompt. See Ok for more detail. You should see:
ok
- if the downloaded file is on an XO-1, type:
flash n:\boot\q4c09.rom
- if the file is on the internal SD card of an XO-1.5 or XO-1.75:
flash int:\boot\q4c09.rom
Using a network
You will need a compatible USB to ethernet adapter, or an open or WEP wireless access point, connected to the internet.
- shutdown the laptop,
- check the battery is inserted and locked,
- check that the power cord is in place and the battery indicator is green,
- turn on the laptop, and get to the 'ok' prompt. See Ok for more detail. You should see:
ok
- if using wireless, type the essid of the wireless network:
essid mynetwork
- if using a WPA wireless access point, type the WPA key for the network:
wpa passphrase
- type the flash command using the download link above, but change all slash characters so they are backwards, for example:
flash http:\\dev.laptop.org\pub\firmware\q4c09\q4c09.rom
Secured Laptop
Secured laptops can only use flash firmware that has been signed. All mass-production machines had the latest firmware at the time of manufacture.
Upgrading firmware describes how to upgrade to a newer signed firmware release.
See also
- Cheat codes for information about how game buttons control startup options.
