OLPC Firmware q4b08

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OLPC Firmware Release q4b08

For A2 and later boards ONLY! Do not install on A1 boards.

Add a compatible property to device-tree to fix frame key on membrane keyboards, enable the freezing of the DCON if RAM is present, and export a property, add DRAM recalibration, add GUID Partition Table support.

Download q4b08.rom
Build date time 2011-08-24 02:02:29
Source revision 2427
EC version 0.2.03
CForth version 8df74d2
Wireless firmware version Libertas thinfirm 9.0.7.p2

Changes since q4b07

Open Firmware

  • r2469 ARM memory test - minor formatting change to align code with x86 version.
  • r2464 OLPC XO-1.75 - add a compatible property for device tree to convey model
  • r2463 OLPC XO-1.75 - Enable/disable DCON freezing based on presence of DCON RAM (in turn based on board ID). If RAM is absent, the /display/dcon device node now has a "no-freeze" property.
  • r2462 OLPC XO-1.75 - removed unused debugging word from bootascall.fth .
  • r2461 OLPC XO-1.75 - enabled DCON freeze functionality since some machines now support it.
  • r2458 OLPC XO-1.75 - Added DRAM recalibration.
  • r2433 r2418 r2416 GUID Partition Table support
  • r2428 USB hub probe code - replaced some non-fcode words with equivalent sequences of FCodes.

CForth

  • Support game buttons in PS/2 keyboard handler (thanks to Paul Fox).

EC

  • no change

WLAN

  • no change


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  q4b08 ...   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  q4b08 ...   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

  • 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:\q4b08.rom
  • if the downloaded file is on an external SD card:
 flash sd:\boot\q4b08.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,
su
cd /versions/boot/current/boot/
wget http://dev.laptop.org/pub/firmware/q4b08/q4b08.rom
  • 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\q4b08.rom
  • if the file is on the internal SD card of an XO-1.5 or XO-1.75:
flash int:\boot\q4b08.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.

  • 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\q4b08\q4b08.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.
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