Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 15:31:18 -1000 From: "Randal S. Masutani" <randal@comtest.com> To: Marc Nicholas <marc@hippocampus.net> Cc: freebsd-small@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: BIOS bootstrap? Message-ID: <199805230112.PAA07832@oldyeller.comtest.com> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.95.980522201322.7813M-100000@neuron.hippocampus.net>
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On 22 May 98 at 20:16, Marc Nicholas wrote: > This is a tiny bit off-topic for the list, but I thought I'd throw it out > there... > > My embedded system supports BIOS extension and includes it's own local > Flash memory to do so. Basically what I'd like to do is build some sort of > (EE)ROM bootstrap to load my custom FreeBSD operating system. HOWEVER... > > All input/output must be done via COM1. I've never done much low level PC > programming...has anyone attempted something like this? In an ideal world, > I'd also be looking to front-end the BIOS setup screen over COM1. > > And, no, I can't just get a BIOS kit and re-write the BIOS :-p > > > -marc The input/output through COM1 must be done with BIOS support. If you do not have BIOS support for this then I am not sure what else you can do. I have an embedded controller which has bios support for this. If the BIOS doesn't detect a video card installed it will assume that there is a terminal on COM1,9600,8,n,1. Also you need to boot the kernel with the -h option, which redirects console output to the serial port during booting. Then set up /etc/ttys with getty enabled on the COM1 ttyd1 device, so you can login afterwards. This works from me and it really neat. I am currently doing this on a PC/104 board from Mesa Electronics www.mesanet.com, Model 4c27 386SX-40MHz, 8MB RAM, 8MB Flash, Ethernet, and the usual PC AT ports. Its a great little board. What kind of board are you using? Randal Masutani ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ComTest Technologies, Inc. 3049 Ualena St., Suite 1005 Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-small" in the body of the message
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