Re: [gentoo-user] How to flash an LSI SAS controller from IR to IT mode on linux with sas2flsh

[Corbin Bird]

On 03/20/2018 02:02 PM, Taiidan@×××.com wrote:
> On 03/19/2018 08:02 PM, mad.scientist.at.large@××××××××.com wrote:
>> A virtual machine is useful largely because it isolates the VM from the real hardware, therefore it's not likely you can update firmware from a VM (you really shouldn't be able to).
> Actually you can update firmware from a VM, I have done it many times
> on many different PCI-e cards and I already updated the IR mode
> firmware to the latest version in a linux VM (but you need DOS to go
> IR>IT)
>
> It is part of the reason as to why SR-IOV was created besides the
> performance benefits you also get security benefits with restricted
> registers and the inability to flash a malicious firmware from a guest
> if you attach a VF to the VM instead of the PF.
>
> I don't have any UEFI machines as I hate UEFI (all my machines run
> coreboot with the grub payload)
>> The reason they still want us to upgrade with dos is it's a lowest common denominator, i.e. every one has it or can get it (freedos).  it also helps that it's a minimal enviroment.
>>
>> In any case, I suggest you run a REAL freedos on a Real machine, so that you can update real not virtual firmware.  i.e. no Virtual Machine.
> The issue is not being able to use linux as well and having a bare
> metal freedos won't help my disk driver issue there still won't be a
> way to load the files.
.
Curious ... you cannot use 'FreeDOS' even as a bootable cdrom?
Its very easy to open the image, tuck in two files and one new
directory, then close and burn the image.

FreeDOS comes with a 'generic' PATA / SATA driver for cdrom drives.

Correction :
(but you need DOS to go IR>IT) ---> the EFI Shell also can do it.

Corbin