What do you use for remote BIOS flashing without IPMI?

MARIA3

Member OP

Joined:: Jul 2024
Posts:: 126
From:: Madrid, ES

8mo ago

7 #1

Hello everyone, I need make a server up with new motherboard but this cheap board from Hetzner has not IPMI and I am need update BIOS for recognize new CPU. I am in Madrid and server is in datacenter in Frankfurt. Cannot travel there only for this.

I have see some SPI programmer tools in internet but not sure which one is good. Also not sure how to connect without being physically there. Maybe someone has experience with this problem?

Regards.

siesta first, deploy later

klaus

Member

yaml victim

Joined:: Jul 2024
Posts:: 71
From:: Vienna, Austria

8mo ago

1 #2

So the classic Problem.
No Baseboard management controller.
The german way: Schraubenzieher and Flixbus.
Na ja, not practical here.

I use a RaspberryPiZero with flashrom installed.
So a Gemütlich little setup.
The Pi connects to the SPIHeader via SOIC8Clip.
Datacenter technician plugs it in.
I flash remotely over SSH.
The CompoundWord for this is "Frustration tolerance".

Cost: maybe fifteen Euro.
Time: three hours of sweating.

YuriDavid

Member

Joined:: May 2024
Posts:: 174
From:: Kyiv, Ukraine

8mo ago

#3

---
- approach: SPI programmer remote
- hardware:
- Raspberry Pi Zero W
- SOIC8 test clip
- female-to-female dupont wires
- software:
- flashrom
- ssh tunnel
- WARNING: clip orientation matters
- NOTE: some boards need VCC from PSU, not Pi
---
- alternative approach:
- mail device to datacenter
- include printed photo guide
- include labeled cable ties
---
- @MARIA3: ask datacenter if they allow this first

indentation is not optional

JO

JohnBlu

Member

Joined:: Sep 2024
Posts:: 9
From:: Copenhagen, Denmark

8mo ago

#4

Docker, if we're being honest, is just a fancy way to avoid
Learning systemd

But this thread is worse
You people are mailing computers
To other computers
To flash the first computer

Just buy IPMI
This is the year 2025
Stop this suffering

Doug

Member

New Jersey

Joined:: Jul 2024
Posts:: 271
From:: New Jersey, US

8mo ago

#5

We've got "mail a pi to germany" as a valid technical solution now. Love this forum. .

grabs popcorn, checks /r/drama

Viejito

Member

retired & rooted

Joined:: Aug 2024
Posts:: 45
From:: Valencia, Spain

8mo ago

#6

The terminal is your friend, no?

I have done this server good with a CH341A programmer. The clip is cheap only, but the cable long no is. You need someone in datacenter with hands, no?

I use double sided tape for hold the clip stable. The flashrom in the terminal works perfect. No problem with corrupt BIOS if you verify after write.

IMPORTANT: backup the ROM first. I learn this the HARD way.

JO

JoshTier

Member

Joined:: Sep 2024
Posts:: 5

8mo ago

#7

What cpu does the new board need to recognize

SE

ServersAlex

Member

Joined:: Jul 2024
Posts:: 5
From:: São Paulo, Brazil

8mo ago

#8

Same problem, different datacenter

CarlosBilby

Member

Joined:: Jul 2024
Posts:: 89
From:: São Paulo, Brazil

8mo ago

#9

Hetzner board and no ipmi? I'd check the manual again

MARIA3

Member OP

Joined:: Jul 2024
Posts:: 126
From:: Madrid, ES

8mo ago

#10

Thank you all for the answers. I have ask Hetzner if technician can help with this, they say no, they do not touch customer hardware for this type of work. Only reboot or replace disk. So I need find someone else or send my own person.

The CPU is Ryzen 9 5950X. The board is ASUS Pro WS X570-ACE. I buy it because good price but I forget check for IPMI. Stupid mistake.

I am looking now for CH341A or the Raspberry Pi solution. The SOIC8 clip, is difficult to put for someone who never do this? I worry the datacenter person make mistake and brick the board.

siesta first, deploy later

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