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    PC Engines apu2 experiences

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    • K
      kevindd992002
      last edited by

      I received an email notification about v4.14.0.2 and this IMPORTANT message was included:

      To update the firmware and keep the runtime configuration unchanged please use the following command:
      flashrom -p internal -w apuX_v4.14.0.2.rom --fmap -i COREBOOT
      The persistent runtime configuration works only when migrating from versions v4.14.0.1 and later. The feature is not yet supported on apu1. Flashrom version needs to be v1.1 or newer.

      I did the upgrade from v4.14.0.1 with that new command without any issues. However, for the longest time this is what I've been using:

      flashrom -p internal -w apuX_v4.14.0.2.rom

      What is the difference?

      B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • B
        bigsy @kevindd992002
        last edited by

        @kevindd992002
        I'm not by any means an expert on coreboot, but

        flashrom -p internal -w apuX_v4.14.0.2.rom

        will overwrite the entire flash chip with the new rom file.

        flashrom -p internal -w apuX_v4.14.0.2.rom --fmap -i COREBOOT

        The flash chip has various partitions defined in a 'flashmap' format and this command specifies which area to overwrite. This probably allows for user altered settings such as seabios boot order changes to persist and not get overwritten during the coreboot update, but I haven't tried it out.

        K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • K
          kevindd992002 @bigsy
          last edited by

          @bigsy said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

          @kevindd992002
          I'm not by any means an expert on coreboot, but

          flashrom -p internal -w apuX_v4.14.0.2.rom

          will overwrite the entire flash chip with the new rom file.

          flashrom -p internal -w apuX_v4.14.0.2.rom --fmap -i COREBOOT

          The flash chip has various partitions defined in a 'flashmap' format and this command specifies which area to overwrite. This probably allows for user altered settings such as seabios boot order changes to persist and not get overwritten during the coreboot update, but I haven't tried it out.

          That's what I thought. However, with the 1st command I have never seen any seabios setting get changed when I use it to update my APU2. I'm wondering if it's really better to use the 2nd command from this point moving forward.

          B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • B
            bigsy @kevindd992002
            last edited by

            @kevindd992002 If you look at the changes to the pcEngines fork of SeaBIOS, the addition of 'support for persistent bootorder in FMAP region' has only been in the most recent release of SeaBIOS v1.14.0.1 and similarly for sortbootorder v4.6.21.

            K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • K
              kevindd992002 @bigsy
              last edited by

              @bigsy I see. So we're just preserving boot order here? Since I just have one boot device in my APU2, then it wouldn't matter to me.

              K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • K
                kevindd992002
                last edited by

                For the APU2C4, why is it that when I have a serial cable connected between its serial port and a computer, its USB ports don't work? I have a UPS plugged in to one of its USB ports and I use the NUT package in pfsense. As soon as I connect to the hardware through the serial port (using putty), the USB port does not work. Unplugging the serial cable fixes the issue and that's why I know it's the one causing it. This is happening for both of my APU2C4 boxes.

                DaddyGoD V K 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • DaddyGoD
                  DaddyGo @kevindd992002
                  last edited by

                  @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                  connected between its serial port and a computer, its USB ports don't work?

                  Hmmmm, I haven't seen it yet, it is true we don't even connect to MOBO in this multiple way...

                  Have you tried to remove NUT? (of course temporarily)

                  Cats bury it so they can't see it!
                  (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

                  K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • K
                    kevindd992002 @DaddyGo
                    last edited by

                    @daddygo said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                    @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                    connected between its serial port and a computer, its USB ports don't work?

                    Hmmmm, I haven't seen it yet, it is true we don't even connect to MOBO in this multiple way...

                    Have you tried to remove NUT? (of course temporarily)

                    I haven't yet but I see the usb disconnect message in the terminal itself so I figured it's a board issue. I also use the USB port only for NUT so removing it will be a moot point but I can still try for the sake of troubleshooting.

                    DaddyGoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • DaddyGoD
                      DaddyGo @kevindd992002
                      last edited by

                      @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                      but I can still try for the sake of troubleshooting.

                      Sure 😉

                      Would it be worth doing to rule out the SW/Code issue (on NUT) in the background...

                      The NUT is a strange animal anyway and sometimes difficult to get to work..

                      It also handles USB and RS232 stuff, so I guess that's where the rub is

                      Cats bury it so they can't see it!
                      (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

                      K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • K
                        kevindd992002 @DaddyGo
                        last edited by

                        @daddygo said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                        @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                        but I can still try for the sake of troubleshooting.

                        Sure 😉

                        Would it be worth doing to rule out the SW/Code issue (on NUT) in the background...

                        The NUT is a strange animal anyway and sometimes difficult to get to work..

                        It also handles USB and RS232 stuff, so I guess that's where the rub is

                        I already uninstalled NUT and I soon as I connected to the serial port, I still see the issue:

                        ugen0.2: <Unknown > at usbus0 (disconnected)

                        So this is definitely an APU2C4 issue. Can anyone try this?

                        fireodoF 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • fireodoF
                          fireodo @kevindd992002
                          last edited by fireodo

                          @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                          So this is definitely an APU2C4 issue. Can anyone try this?

                          I dont have a APU2C4 (Only APU2C0) but I would suggest to try an older BIOS version.

                          Kettop Mi4300YL CPU: i5-4300Y @ 1.60GHz RAM: 8GB Ethernet Ports: 4
                          SSD: SanDisk pSSD-S2 16GB (ZFS) WiFi: WLE200NX
                          pfsense 2.7.2 CE
                          Packages: Apcupsd Cron Iftop Iperf LCDproc Nmap pfBlockerNG RRD_Summary Shellcmd Snort Speedtest System_Patches.

                          K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • K
                            kevindd992002 @fireodo
                            last edited by

                            @fireodo said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                            @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                            So this is definitely an APU2C4 issue. Can anyone try this?

                            I dont have a APU2C4 (Only APU2C0) but I would suggest to try an older BIOS version.

                            I'm at v4.14.0.2 but this is not the first time I've tried this. I've tried this a year ago when it was still using an older BIOS version and it's the same issue.

                            DaddyGoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • DaddyGoD
                              DaddyGo @kevindd992002
                              last edited by

                              @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                              4.14.0.2 but this is not the first time I've tried this

                              You say, this is the case on several boxes (MOBO)
                              (so no HW issue I think, some PCB schematics or BIOS)

                              Worth a question for him:
                              https://github.com/miczyg1

                              BTW:
                              I can't check it either, because we only use apu24d4

                              Cats bury it so they can't see it!
                              (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

                              K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • K
                                kevindd992002 @DaddyGo
                                last edited by

                                @daddygo said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                4.14.0.2 but this is not the first time I've tried this

                                You say, this is the case on several boxes (MOBO)
                                (so no HW issue I think, some PCB schematics or BIOS)

                                Worth a question for him:
                                https://github.com/miczyg1

                                BTW:
                                I can't check it either, because we only use apu24d4

                                Just created an issue:

                                https://github.com/pcengines/pcengines.github.io/issues/107

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • V
                                  VAMike @kevindd992002
                                  last edited by

                                  @kevindd992002 using the serial port is pretty normal, and what you're describing is not at all common. I'd probably first make sure of the power supply (marginal power supplies cause all sorts of issues), then look at whether the serial cable is dodgy/shorted/etc.

                                  DaddyGoD K 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • DaddyGoD
                                    DaddyGo @VAMike
                                    last edited by DaddyGo

                                    @vamike said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                    what you're describing is not at all common

                                    Hi,
                                    we are not talking about just one unit, so this is not relevant advice now...
                                    (marginal power supplies cause all sorts of issues), then look at whether the serial cable is dodgy/shorted/etc.)

                                    by the way he is quite an experienced pcEngines user @kevindd992002

                                    Cats bury it so they can't see it!
                                    (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

                                    V 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • K
                                      kevindd992002 @VAMike
                                      last edited by

                                      @vamike said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                      @kevindd992002 using the serial port is pretty normal, and what you're describing is not at all common. I'd probably first make sure of the power supply (marginal power supplies cause all sorts of issues), then look at whether the serial cable is dodgy/shorted/etc.

                                      I know it's happening for two units and I'm using a power supply that I sourced from pcengines themselves. The only variable that I haven't eliminated is the serial cable that I'm using. I guess I can buy one of the good ones and try.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • V
                                        VAMike @DaddyGo
                                        last edited by

                                        @daddygo really? so you think "apu2 hardware generally doesn't work with serial and usb at the same time and up until now nobody ever noticed" is a likely thing?

                                        DaddyGoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • stephenw10S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          Mmm, I would at least try a different cable.

                                          Does it disconnect all usb devices when you connect the serial cable?

                                          You may be creating a ground loop there since it's the UPS that is connected. Is the terminal device you're using also running from the UPS?

                                          Steve

                                          K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • K
                                            kevindd992002 @stephenw10
                                            last edited by

                                            @stephenw10 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                            Mmm, I would at least try a different cable.

                                            Does it disconnect all usb devices when you connect the serial cable?

                                            You may be creating a ground loop there since it's the UPS that is connected. Is the terminal device you're using also running from the UPS?

                                            Steve

                                            I only have one usb device plugged in, the UPS. I'm trying now to see if using the other USB port will fix the issue because I only ever see the ugen0.2 disconnect message in the terminal. If ugen0.1 is the other port, then I don't see it getting affected.

                                            Is there a command that I can invoke in the pfsense shell to see which usb port is a device connected to?

                                            Yes, the terminal I'm using is connected to the same UPS.

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