+

ASUS KCMA-D8 server/workstation board

+ +

+ This is a server board using AMD hardware (Fam10h and Fam15h CPUs available). It can also be used + for building a high-powered workstation. Powered by libreboot. The coreboot port was done by + Timothy Pearson of Raptor Engineering Inc. and, + working with Timothy (and sponsoring the work) merged into libreboot. +

+ +

+ + NOTE: This board is unsupported in libreboot 20150518. + To use it in libreboot, for now, you must build for it + from source using the libreboot git repository. + +

+ +

+ Flashing instructions can be found at ../install/index.html#flashrom + - note that external flashing is required (e.g. BBB), if the proprietary (ASUS) firmware is currently installed. + If you already have libreboot, by default it is possible to re-flash using software running in GNU/Linux + on the kcma-d8, without using external hardware. +

+ +

+ Back to previous index. +

+

Board status (compatibility)

+

+ See https://raptorengineeringinc.com/coreboot/kcma-d8-status.php. +

+

Form factor

+

+ These boards use the SSI EEB 3.61 form factor; make sure + that your case supports this. This form factor is similar + to E-ATX in that the size is identical, but the position of + the screws are different. +

+

IPMI iKVM module add-on

+

+ Don't use it. It uses proprietary firmware and adds a backdoor (remote out-of-band management chip, + similar to the Intel Management Engine. Fortunately, + the firmware is unsigned (possibly to replace) and physically separate from the mainboard since it's + on the add-on module, which you don't have to install. +

+

Flash chips

+

+ 2MiB flash chips are included by default, on these boards. It's on a P-DIP 8 slot (SPI chip). + The flash chip can be upgraded to higher sizes: 4MiB, 8MiB or 16MiB. With at least 8MiB, + you could feasibly fit a compressed linux+initramfs image (BusyBox+Linux system) into CBFS + and boot that, loading it into memory. +

+

+ Libreboot has configs for 2, 4, 8 and 16 MiB flash chip sizes (default flash chip is 2MiB). +

+

+ + DO NOT hot-swap the chip with your bare hands. Use a P-DIP 8 + chip extractor. These can be found online. + See http://www.coreboot.org/Developer_Manual/Tools#Chip_removal_tools + +

+

Native graphics initialization

+

+ Only text-mode is known to work, but linux(kernel) can initialize + the framebuffer display (if it has KMS - kernel mode setting). +

+

Current issues

+

RDIMM memory modules untested, according to tpearson (they'll probably work)
LRDIMM memory modules are currently incompatible
+ SAS (via PIKE 2008 module) requires non-free option ROM (and SeaBIOS) to boot from it + (theoretically possible to replace, but you can put a kernel in CBFS or on SATA + and use that to boot GNU, which can be on a SAS drive. The linux kernel can use + those SAS drives (via PIKE module) without an option ROM). +
+ IPMI iKVM module (optional add-on card) uses proprietary firmware. Since it's for + remote out-of-band management, it's theoretically a backdoor similar to the Intel + Management Engine. Fortunately, unlike the ME, this firmware is unsigned which + means that a free replacement is theoretically possible. For now, the libreboot project + recommends not installing the module. This project + might be interesting to derive from, for those who want to work on a free replacement. + In practise, out-of-band management isn't very useful anyway (or at the very least, + it's not a major inconvenience to not have it). +
Graphics: only text-mode works. See #graphics

+

Hardware specifications

+

+ Check the ASUS website. +

+

+ +

+ Copyright © 2016 Francis Rowe <info@gluglug.org.uk>
+ Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document + under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 + or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; + with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. + A copy of the license can be found at ../gfdl-1.3.txt +

+ +

+ Updated versions of the license (when available) can be found at + https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html +

+ +

+ UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE + EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS + AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF + ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS, + IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, + WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR + PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, + ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT + KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT + ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. +

+

+ TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE + TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, + NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, + INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES, + COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR + USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN + ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR + DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR + IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. +

+

+ The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided + above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent + possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and + waiver of all liability. +

+ +

+

KCMA-D8 external flashing instructions

+

Initial flashing instructions for kcma-d8.

+

+ This guide is for those who want libreboot on their ASUS kcma-d8 + motherboard, while they still have the proprietary ASUS BIOS present. + This guide can also be followed (adapted) if you brick you board, to know + how to recover. +

+ +

+ For more general information about this board, refer to + ../hcl/kcma-d8.html. +

+ +

+ TODO: show photos here, and other info. +

+ +

kcma-d8 boards (and full systems) with libreboot preinstalled
External programmer

+ +

Back to main index

+

External programmer

+

+ Refer to bbb_setup.html for a guide on + how to set up an external SPI programmer. +

+

+ The flash chip is in a PDIP 8 socket (SPI flash chip) on the motherboard, + which you take out and then re-flash with libreboot, using the programmer. + DO NOT remove the chip with your hands. Use a chip extractor tool. +

+

+ +

+ Copyright © 2016 Francis Rowe <info@gluglug.org.uk>
+ Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document + under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 + or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; + with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. + A copy of the license can be found at ../gfdl-1.3.txt +

+ +

+ Updated versions of the license (when available) can be found at + https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html +

+ +

+ UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE + EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS + AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF + ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS, + IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, + WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR + PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, + ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT + KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT + ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. +

+

+ TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE + TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, + NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, + INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES, + COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR + USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN + ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR + DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR + IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. +

+

+ The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided + above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent + possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and + waiver of all liability. +

+ +

Desktops (AMD, Intel, x86)

Servers/workstations (AMD, x86)

ASUS KCMA-D8 server/workstation board

Board status (compatibility)

Form factor

IPMI iKVM module add-on

Flash chips

Native graphics initialization

Current issues

Hardware specifications

ASUS KCMA-D8?

Are you currently running libreboot (or coreboot)?

KCMA-D8 external flashing instructions

External programmer