Bios Update Utility; Recovery Mode; Recovery Flow - QUANTA STRATOS S210 Series S210-X12MS Technical Manual

BIOS

3.2 BIOS Update Utility

The flash ROM contains system initialization routines, the BIOS
Setup Utility, and runtime support routines. The exact layout is
subject to change, as determined by BIOS. The flash ROM also
contains initialization code in compressed form for onboard
peripherals, like SCSI, NIC and video controllers. The complete
ROM is visible, starting at physical address 4 GB minus the size
of the flash ROM device.
A 16-KB parameter block in the flash ROM is dedicated to
storing configuration data that controls the system configuration
(ESCD). Application software must use standard APIs to
access these areas; application software cannot access the
data directly.
BIOS Update Utility
Server platforms support the DOS-based, Windows-based, and
Linux-based firmware update utility. This utility loads a fresh
copy of the BIOS into the flash ROM.
The BIOS update may affect the following items:
The system BIOS, including the recovery code, setup util-

ity and strings.
Onboard video BIOS, RAID BIOS, and other option

ROMS for the devices embedded on the server board.
Memory reference code.

Microcode updates.


Recovery Mode

The recovery process can be initiated by setting the recovery
jumper. BIOS will detect the hotkey and starts to execute the
recovery code.
A BIOS recovery can be accomplished from a USB mass
storage device.

Recovery Flow

The BIOS has an embedded recovery technique in the 'boot
block'. In the event that the BIOS becomes corrupt, the boot
block can be used to restore the BIOS to a working state. The
routine is called when the 'system block' of the BIOS is empty or
corrupt. The restore routine when called will access the USB
drive looking for a file named BIOSREC.ROM. This is the
reason the USB drive light comes on and the drive appears to
be in use. If the file (BIOSREC.ROM) is found it is loaded into
the 'system block' of the BIOS to replace the corrupted
information To restore your BIOS, copy the most recent version
of your mainboard's BIOS file to a USB key and make sure the
file name is BIOSREC.ROM.
The recovery mode procedure is as follows:
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BIOS U U
PDATE TILITY