ALIX BIOS Update Procedure

From PFSenseDocs

This article is part of the HOWTO series.

This procedure should update the BIOS for PC Engines ALIX systems (Except alix3c3 and other boards with VGA ports!!)

In order to boot NanoBSD-based pfSense 1.2.3 images, a PC Engines ALIX needs to have at least BIOS version 0.99h and be set for CHS mode.

Update via FreeDOS image

• Download the FreeDOS CF image which contains the ALIX 0.99h BIOS update.
  • Optional step, verify it with md5 from here.
• Decompress (if needed) and write the image to CF
  • Instructions for writing this image are similar to those for writing a NanoBSD/Embedded image. See here.
• Insert the CF into the ALIX and boot
• At the prompt, type:

sb.com

That should update the BIOS to 0.99h. After the update finishes, power off the ALIX and remove the card.

You may need to reset your ALIX BIOS settings (Press the 's' key while the RAM test is running). Typically, the BIOS defaults to a serial speed of 38400. Adjust your serial client if needed. In particular, check that the BIOS is set for CHS mode. You may also want to set the serial speed of the BIOS to 9600 to match pfSense.

Alternate Procedure - Update with PC Engines FreeDOS image+BIOS

If you have trouble with the FreeDOS image supplied, you can use the image from PC Engines (the third image, the first two are for special cards).

After you write the FreeDOS image from PC Engines to a card, you will then need to download the 0.99h BIOS files separately and copy them onto the CF card. Then boot from the card and run sb.com as explained above.

Alternate Procedure #2 - Update with Xmodem

You can also update the BIOS over the serial console with Xmodem.

• Download the BIOS files to your PC and unzip them
• Connect to the ALIX with a null modem serial cable and a terminal program capable of Xmodem transfers
• Power on the ALIX
• Press the 's' key while the RAM test is running to enter setup
• Press the 'x' key for Xmodem upload, follow the prompts to upload the ALIX BIOS binary