Boot Block Recovery via Serial Port

Тема, канешна, не нова. И касается только AMIBIOS8, но тем не менее рекомендую читать тем, кто без программатора.
The Serial Flash method supported by AMIBIOS8 allows for boot block recovery to load a BIOS image via a serial port. This is used by many embedded systems which rely on a serial port as a debug & utility console port. Serial Flash Requirements:

- The system being updated must have a serial port & “Serial Flash” support compiled into the BIOS image;
- “Host” system with serial port running terminal programs that support XMODEM transfer protocol (HyperTerminal for Microsoft Windows, minicom for Linux/FreeBSD, etc.);
- Null-modem cable.

The following section describes how to use Serial Flash with AMIBIOS8:
1) Attach a null modem cable to the serial port of the system that requires an update (“target”). Attach the other end of the null modem cable to a system running the terminal program (“host”).
2) Make sure the new BIOS image file is accessible from the host system.

3) Start the terminal program on the host and open a new session. The session should use the following communication parameters:
• Bits per second: 115200
• Data bits: 8
• Parity: None
• Stop bits: 1
4) Start the target system. The terminal on the host should display the following message: Press to invoke remote BIOS flash. Immediately press the SpaceBar on the host to confirm. If the SpaceBar is not pressed within a few seconds, the system will skip the flash update and perform a normal boot procedure.
5) A second string will appear on the host terminal: Begin remote BIOS
flash? [y/n]. Press the ‘Y’ key on the host to continue. If the ‘N’ is pressed, the system will skip the flash update and perform a normal boot procedure.
6) You will be prompted to upload the new BIOS file using the XMODEM protocol. Use the host terminal program to select the proper BIOS image and transfer it to the target.
7) If the transfer from host to target is successful, the target will update the BIOS and indicate success. The system will then reboot using the new AMIBIOS image.

XMODEM transfers can be initiated using the ‘Send File’ dialog under
the ‘Transfer’ menu.

AMIBIOS8 Serial Flash will work with any terminal communications program that supports VT-100 and XMODEM protocols. This includes products designed for GNU/LINUX & BSD operating systems, such as minicom. It is recommended that the terminal program be configured to use the ‘CR/LF’ style of line termination.

Serial Flash is an optional component in AMIBIOS8. This feature may not be supported on every system with AMIBIOS. Please consult your system motherboard documentation to see if this feature is enabled.
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NB: If the target system has multiple serial ports, only one will be enabled for Serial Flash. COM1 is the default port, but this can be changed by the system manufacturer. A system with AMIBIOS that does not display the ‘Press to invoke remote BIOS flash’ string over the serial port does not have support for the Serial Flash feature.

NB: There is a known issue with AMIBIOS8 Serial Flash, AMIBIOS8 Serial Console Redirection and the version of HyperTerminal that ships with some installations of Windows 2000. Please make sure you are using the most updated version of HyperTerminal to avoid problems.
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AMIBIOS8 Flash Update & BIOS Recovery Methods, Version 1.2, Updated June 2, 2005