flash(1M)flash(1M)NAMEflash - reprogram the flash PROM hardware on Origin and OCTANE machines
SYNOPSISflash [ -a ] [ -c ] [ -d ] [ -D ] [ -f ] [ -F ] [ -i ] [ -m module_id ]
[ -n ] [ -o ] [ -p dir_name ] [ -P img_name ] [ -s slot_name ] [ -S ]
[ -v ] [ -V ]
The SGI Origin 3000 server series.
flash [ -a ] [ -d ] [ -D ] [ -f ] [ -F ] [ -b brick_id ]
[ -o ] [ -p dir_name ] [ -P img_name ] [ -S ]
[ -v ] [ -V ]
flash-L
DESCRIPTIONflash allows a user to manage the flash PROMs on the IO and CPU boards of
Origin systems, the base system board on OCTANE systems and CPU boards on
the SGI Origin 3000 server series. Without options, the command flashes
all appropriate boards on the machine with the PROM images found in
/usr/cpu/firmware. Normally, flash is executed automatically during the
installation of a new release of IRIX. A customer should rarely need to
use it directly. You must have superuser privilege to use this command.
By default on Origin systems, flash takes the current configuration
values (such as processor speed and cache size) that are currently stored
in the CPU board PROM and uses these values when flashing the new images.
Without options, flash proceeds in parallel in two phases. Half the
boards are flashed in the first phase and half in the second. Using
options, it is possible to flash a subset of the boards. Also, the user
can specify a different image directory and different image files.
By default on OCTANE systems, the single system flash PROM is flashed
with the specified image. On OCTANE systems, options specifying multiple
PROMs, types of PROMs, or PROM configuration values will be silently
ignored.
OCTANE systems have an additional feature of storing information from
diagnostics in the flash PROM for extraction at a later time. The -L
option invokes this processing, and transfers the extracted information
into syslog. This processing will take place automatically during each
system boot.
Unless forced, flash does not flash the PROM unless the specified version
is newer than what is currently in the PROM. flash can also be used to
obtain information about the current PROMs.
The options are:
-a Flash all PROMs at once, overriding the protection of
flashing in two groups.
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flash(1M)flash(1M)-c Flash only the node (CPU) PROMs on the machine. This option
is ignored on the SGI Origin 3000 server series.
-d Print out the PROM header information for the current PROMs.
-D Dump the entire contents of a PROM to a file.
-f Specify different (than currently in PROM) configurations
values to be used when the new images are flashed. These
values include the speed of the CPU, hub, and size of the
cache. This option should be used with great care as cause
the machine to freeze and be rendered unusable if incorrect
values are given.
-F Similar to -f except more detailed information is required
and no checking is done in the input values. This is more
dangerous the -f option and the same cautions apply.
-i Flash only the IO PROMs on the machine. This option is
ignored on the SGI Origin 3000 server series.
-m module_id Flash only PROMs in the module given by module_id. This
option does not apply to the SGI Origin 3000 server series.
-b brick_id Flash only PROMs in the brick given by brick_id. This
option applies only to the SGI Origin 3000 server series.
-n Flash only the node (CPU) PROMs on the machine. This option
is ignored on the SGI Origin 3000 server series.
-o Override the version checking and flash the PROM even if it
is not newer than what is currently on the PROM.
-p dir_name Specify a directory other than the default of
/usr/cpu/firmware to look for images. Note that there are
standard names that flash looks for and thus the files in
this should follow the correct naming scheme.
-P img_name Specify the full pathname of the image desired to be
flashed. The options specifying the type of PROM to be
flashed should match the PROM specified in img_name.
-s slot_name Flash only the PROMs in the slot given by slot_name. This
option does not apply to the SGI Origin 3000 server series.
-S Force all the flashes to occur sequentially (versus in two
parallel phases).
-v Turn on verbose mode.
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flash(1M)flash(1M)-V Print currently loaded flash PROM version and time flashed
information.
OCTANE specific options
-L Extract information logged into the flash PROM by
diagnostics from the PROM and into syslog.
FILES
/usr/cpu/firmware/io6prom.img default file for flashing IO PROMs for
Origin
/usr/cpu/firmware/ip27prom.img default file for flashing CPU PROMs
for Origin 2000 and Origin 200
/usr/cpu/firmware/ip35prom.img default file for flashing CPU PROMs
for Origin 3000
/usr/cpu/firmware/IP30prom.bin default file for flashing OCTANE PROMs
WARNINGS
The flash command is not intended for casual use. If used incorrectly,
it can completely freeze a system and prevent it from even booting the
PROM. Also, frequent flashing decreases the lifetime of the system's
boards. Silicon Graphics strongly recommends that this command only be
used under the supervision of a support representative.
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