Libreboot release information (old)

Information for this release can be found at release.html. Updated versions of libreboot can be found at libreboot.org.

Releases

• r20150124 (2015 January 24th), r20150126 (2015 January 26th)
• r20141015 (2014 October 15th)
• 6th release (2014 September 11th pre-release, 7th beta)
• 5th release (2014 March 7th, revised 2014 June 22nd)
• 4th release (2014 February 21st)
• 3rd release (2013 December 14th)
• 2nd release (2013 December 13th)
• 1st release (2013 December 12th)

"Release" means that a new coreboot git revision with substantially different code has been adapted for libreboot.

"Revision" means a modification to an existing release, where the result is insubstantially different from what preceded it.

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th releases were really just older revisions of the 5th release. For historical reasons (and to avoid confusion), these are still called 'releases' instead of correcting the mistake.

Release 20150124, 20150126 and 20150208

Release date: January 24th, 2015.

Machines supported in this release:

• Lenovo ThinkPad X60/X60s
  • You can also remove the motherboard from an X61/X61s and replace it with an X60/X60s motherboard. An X60 Tablet motherboard will also fit inside an X60/X60s.
• Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet (1024x768 and 1400x1050) with digitizer support
  • See hcl/index.html#supported_x60t_list for list of supported LCD panels
  • It is unknown whether an X61 Tablet can have it's mainboard replaced with an X60 Tablet motherboard.
• Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (Intel GPU) (there are issuesinstall/x200_external.html; see below):
  • See notes below for exceptions, and hcl/index.html#supported_t60_list for known working LCD panels.
  • It is unknown whether a T61 can have it's mainboard replaced with a T60 motherboard.
  • See future/index.html#t60_cpu_microcode.
  • T60P (and T60 laptops with ATI GPU) will likely never be supported: hcl/index.html#t60_ati_intel
• Lenovo ThinkPad X200
  • X200S and X200 Tablet are also supported, conditionally; see hcl/x200.html#x200s
  • ME/AMT: libreboot removes this, permanently. hcl/gm45_remove_me.html
• Lenovo ThinkPad R400 (r20150208 and later, only)
  • ME/AMT: libreboot removes this, permanently. hcl/gm45_remove_me.html
• Apple MacBook1,1 (MA255LL/A, MA254LL/A, MA472LL/A)
  • See hcl/index.html#macbook11.
• Apple MacBook2,1 (MA699LL/A, MA701LL/A, MB061LL/A, MA700LL/A, MB063LL/A, MB062LL/A)
  • See hcl/index.html#macbook21.

Revisions for r20150208 (relative to r20150126)

This is a maintenance release (polishing) based on r20150126. Users who installed r20150126 don't really need to update to this release.

• buildrom-withgrub: use gnulove.jpg background on 16:10 laptops (MacBook2,1 and X200)
• build-release: include grub-background script in libreboot_bin
• grub-background (new): lets user change GRUB background image
• grub-assemble: Add link to original utility.
• buildrom-withgrub: Put background.jpg in CBFS, not GRUB memdisk
• grub-assemble: merge scripts into a single script gen.sh
• Documentation: implement theme, drastically improve readability
• docs/hcl/index.html: update list of compatible T60 LCD panels
• docs/index.html: more clarification of libreboot's stated purpose.
• build-release: include the commitid file in the release archives
• docs/index.html: Further emphasize the GNU/Linux requirement.
• lenovobios_firstflash: fix BASH errors
• lenovobios_secondflash: fix BASH errors
• docs/install/x200_external.html: Tell user to switch MAC address.
• docs/git/index.html: Add to the list of x86_64 compatible hosts.
• docs/install/index.html: Remove old (obsolete) information.
• docs/git/index.html: Say that the build dependencies are for src (and not nedeed for libreboot_bin)
• build: re-factor the descriptor/gbe generating loop for GM45/ICH9M
• X60, X60S and X60 Tablet now the same ROM images.
• Add QEMU (q35/ich9) support to libreboot.
• Add QEMU (i440fx/piix4) support to libreboot
• docs/index.html: Re-write the description of what libreboot is.
• docs/release.html: Add notes about how to use GPG.
• build-release: delete the commitid file from release archives
• build-release: create file named commitid after build-release

Revisions for r20150126 (relative to r20150124)

This is a bug fix release based on r20150124. It contains a few small changes:

• grub.cfg: hardcode the list of partitions to search (speeds up booting considerably. GRUB regexp isn't very well optimized)
• Docs (x200.html hcl): Remove incorrect information
• Documentation (bbb_setup.html): Fix typos
• build-release: delete ich9fdgbe_{4m,8m}.bin files from ich9gen
  • These were accidentically included in the r20150124 release. They are generated from ich9gen so it's ok, but they don't need to be in the archive.
• Documentation (grub_cbfs.html): Looping in libreboot_grub.cfg (Add notes about it if the user copied from grub.cfg in CBFS.)
• Documentation: refer to Guix as GNU Guix System Distribution or GNU GSD per advice from the Guix project.

Changes for this release (latest changes first, earliest changes last)

• Documentation: added information about how to boot Guix GNU/Linux.
• grub.cfg: Added (usb0) and (usb0,*) to the list of devices in the Search for GRUB menuentry (this is needed for Guix GNU/Linux)
• grub.cfg: Added (ahci1) to list of devices for ISOLINUX parser (CD/DVD) (this is needed for the X200 docking station).
• grub.cfg: ISOLINUX parsing is now done on all USB partitions.
• grub.cfg: Automatically switched to /boot/grub/libreboot_grub.cfg on a partition, if it exists.
• libreboot_bin: added static ARM binaries for flashrom, cbfstool, ich9gen and ich9deblob (tested on beaglebone black).
• Flashrom: removed redundant Macronix flashchip definitions (for X200 owners).
• Flashrom: added whitelist for ThinkPad X200.
• X200: fixed uneven backlight (at low levels)
• ich9macchange (new script, uses ich9gen): for changing the default MAC address on X200 ROM images.
• ich9gen: added capability to change the default MAC address (and update the checksum)
• ich9deblob: added new utility ich9gen: this can generate a descriptor+gbe image without a factory.rom dump present.
• Modified ich9deblob to use a struct for Gbe, documenting everything.
• Massively updated the ich9deblob utility: re-factored everything completely.
• Enabled cstates 1 and 2 on macbook21. This reduces idle heat / power consumption.
• buildrom-withgrub: disabled creation of *txtmode*.rom for X200 (only framebuffer graphics work)
• Updated SeaBIOS (again)
• docs/install/index.html#flashrom_x200: improve instructions
• Updated flashrom (again) - patches updated
• Updated GRUB (again)
• Updated coreboot (again)
• build-release: not all files were copied to libreboot_src. fix that.
• build-release: include cbmem (statically compiled) in libreboot_bin
• Documentation (X200): added software-based flashing instructions
• Documentation: remove all references to the bus pirate (replaced with BBB flashing tutorials)
• New board: ThinkPad X200S and X200 Tablet support added to libreboot
• build: automatically find board names (configs) to build for
• New board: ThinkPad X200 support added to libreboot
• coreboot-libre config (all boards): enable USB dongle log output (for BeagleBone Black)
• cleandeps: actually clean grubinvaders
• .gitignore: add powertop directory
• cleandeps: clean i945-pwm utility
• scripts (all): fix typos
• Documentation: general cleanup.
• builddeps-flashrom: reduce build commands to a single for loop
• scripts (all): replace unnecessary rm -rf with rm -f
• powertop.trisquel7: remove sudo (script already checks if the user is root)
• docs/release.html: add lenovo g505s to the list of candidates
• .gitignore: add libreboot_bin.tar.xz and libreboot_src.tar.xz
• libreboot_bin.tar.xz: Include utils as statically linked binaries
  • This means that the user does not have to install build dependency or build from source anymore.
• deps-trisquel: Add binutils-source
• powertop.trisquel7 (new): Setup powertop on trisquel 7
• deps-trisquel,flash,lenovobios_firstflash,lenovobios_secondflash,macbook21_firstflash x60flashfrom5,powertop.trisquel6: check if user is root
• deps-trisquel: Make GRUB build on in Trisquel 7 x86_64. (cross compile dependencies. fixes build error in GRUB)
• deps-parabola (removed) Remove Parabola dependencies script. Will re-add later (properly tested)
• grub.cfg: Add more path checks to isolinux parser (more ISOs should work now)
• Update SeaBIOS
• x60flashfrom5 (new), for X60 users upgrading from 5th/early release
• Update flashrom
• Update GRUB
• Updated coreboot-libre
  • i945: permanently set tft_brightness to 0xff (fixes bug on X60 where turning up brightness at max would make it loop back to low brightness)
• getcb: Revert X60/T60 to legacy backlight controls
  • The ACPI brightness patches were abandoned and obsolete.
• grub.cfg: Only load initrd.img if it exists. Add rw to linux line (for ProteanOS)
• build: Only generate the GRUB configurations once (re-use on all images)
• Only build 2 GRUB payload executables, re-use on all boards.
• resources/utilities/grub-assemble/gen.txtmode.sh: Use GNU BASH
  resources/utilities/grub-assemble/gen.vesafb.sh: Use GNU BASH
• scripts (error handling): Replace exit with exit 1 (make debugging easier)
• Move most files in CBFS to GRUB memdisk, except grub.cfg and grubtest.cfg
  This reduces the space used in CBFS because coreboot compresses its payloads with LZMA by default. grub.cfg is all that most users will want to modify, which remains in CBFS.
• docs/release.html Add DMP vortex86ex to list of candidates.
• docs/release.html Add ThinkPad X201 to list of candidates.
• New links added to docs/security/x60_security and docs/security/t60_security
• lenovobios_secondflash: Warn if BUCTS is not present. (not a dealbreaker. Can just pull out nvram battery/coin).
• lenovobios_firstflash: Fail if BUCTS fails. (anti-bricking precaution)
• Removed obnoxious warnings from flashing scripts, improved documentation instead.
• scripts (all): add proper error checking (fail fast, fail early. Do not continue if there are errors)
• buildrom-withgrub: rename image to boardname_layout_romtype.rom
• buildrom-withgrub: don't move cbfstool, execute directly
• resources/utilities/grub-assemble: add French Dvorak (BEPO) keyboard layout.
• Documentation: add docs/hardware/x60_keyboard.html (show how to replace keyboard on X60/X60T)
• Documentation: major cleanup (better structure, easier to find things)
• docs/release.html: Remove Acer CB5 from list of future candidates.
  • Too many issues. Chromebooks are crippled (soldered RAM/storage/wifi) and have too many usability issues for the libreboot project.
• docs/gnulinux/grub_cbfs.html Major cleanup. Usability improvements.
• hocs/gnulinux/encrypted_trisquel.html: Fixed mistakes/typos. General improvements
• flash (flashrom script): remove boardmismatch=force
  • This was put there before for users upgrading from libreboot r5 to r6, but also allows the user to flash the wrong image. For example, the user could flash a T60 image on an X60, thus bricking the machine. It's almost certain that most people have upgraded by now, so remove this potentially dangerous option.
• Documentation: update compatibility list for X60T LCD panels.
• docs/release.html: add note about X60 Tablet board in X60/X60s
• docs/howtos/grub_boot_installer.html: small corrections
• docs/howtos/grub_boot_installer.html: improved readability, fixed html errors
• Documentation (macbook21 related): clean up

Release 20141015

Machines supported in this release:

• Lenovo ThinkPad X60/X60s
  • You can also remove the motherboard from an X61/X61s and replace it with an X60/X60s motherboard. An X60 Tablet motherboard will also fit inside an X60/X60s.
• Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet (1024x768 and 1400x1050) with digitizer support
  • See hcl/index.html#supported_x60t_list for list of supported LCD panels
  • It is unknown whether an X61 Tablet can have its mainboard replaced with an X60 Tablet motherboard.
• Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (Intel GPU) (there are issues; see below):
  • See notes below for exceptions, and hcl/index.html#supported_t60_list for known working LCD panels.
  • It is unknown whether a T61 can have its mainboard replaced with a T60 motherboard.
  • See future/index.html#t60_cpu_microcode.
  • T60P (and T60s with ATI GPU) will likely never be supported: hcl/index.html#t60_ati_intel
• Apple MacBook1,1 (MA255LL/A, MA254LL/A, MA472LL/A)
  • See hcl/index.html#macbook11.
• Apple MacBook2,1 (MA699LL/A, MA701LL/A, MB061LL/A, MA700LL/A, MB063LL/A, MB062LL/A)
  • See hcl/index.html#macbook21.

Changes for this release (latest changes first, earliest changes last)

• Updated coreboot (git commit 8ffc085e1affaabbe3dca8ac6a89346b71dfc02e), the latest at the time of writing.
• Updated SeaBIOS (git commit 67d1fbef0f630e1e823f137d1bae7fa5790bcf4e), the latest at the time of writing.
• Updated Flashrom (svn revision 1850), the latest at the time of writing.
• Updated GRUB (git commit 9a67e1ac8e92cd0b7521c75a734fcaf2e58523ad), the latest at the time of writing.
• Cleaned up the documentation, removed unneeded files.
• ec/lenovo/h8 (x60/x60s/x60t/t60): Enable wifi/bluetooth/wwan/touchpad/trackpoint by default.
• Documentation: Updated list of T60 LCDs (Samsung LTN150XG 15" XGA listed as non-working).
• builddeps-coreboot: Don't build libpayload (not needed. This was leftover by mistake, when trying out the TINT payload).
• Replaced most diff files (patches) for coreboot with gerrit checkouts (cherry-pick).
• Documentation: x60_security.html and t60_security.html: added links to info about the ethernet controller (Intel 82573).
• Documentation: x60_security.html and t60_security.html: added notes about DMA and the docking station.
• Documentation: configuring_parabola.html: basic post-install steps for Parabola GNU/Linux (helpful, since libreboot development is being moved to Parabola at the time of writing).
• builddeps-coreboot: use 'make crossgcc-i386' instead of 'make crossgcc'. Libreboot only targets x86 at the time of writing.
• ROM images no longer include SeaBIOS. Instead, the user adds it afterwards. Documentation and scripts updated.
• docs/images/encrypted_parabola.html: Notes about linux-libre-grsec
• Documentation: encrypted_parabola.html: add tutorial for encrypted Parabola GNU/Linux installation.
• Documentation: added more info about wifi chipsets

Back to top of page.

6th release (pre-release, 7th beta)

• Released 2014 July 11th (pre-release) 1st beta
• Revised (pre-release, 2nd beta) 2014 July 16th
• Revised (pre-release, 3rd beta) 2014 July 20th
• Revised (pre-release, 4th beta) 2014 July 29th
• Revised (pre-release, 5th beta) 2014 August 11th (corrected 2014 August 11th)
• Revised (pre-release, 6th beta) 2014 September 3rd
• Revised (pre-release, 7th beta) 2014 September 11th

Machines still supported (compared to previous release):

• Lenovo ThinkPad X60/X60s
  • You can also remove the motherboard from an X61/X61s and replace it with an X60/X60s motherboard.

New machines supported in this release:

• Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet (1024x768 and 1400x1050) with digitizer support
  • See hcl/index.html#supported_x60t_list for list of supported LCD panels
  • It is unknown whether an X61 Tablet can have its mainboard replaced with an X60 Tablet motherboard.
• Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (Intel GPU) (there are issues; see below)
  • See notes below for exceptions, and hcl/index.html#supported_t60_list for known working LCD panels.
  • It is unknown whether a T61 can have its mainboard replaced with a T60 motherboard.
  • T60P (and T60s with ATI GPU) will likely never be supported: hcl/index.html#t60_ati_intel
• Apple MacBook1,1 (MA255LL/A, MA254LL/A, MA472LL/A)
  • See hcl/index.html#macbook11.
• Apple MacBook2,1 (MA699LL/A, MA701LL/A, MB061LL/A, MA700LL/A, MB063LL/A, MB062LL/A)
  • See hcl/index.html#macbook21.

Machines no longer supported (compared to previous release):

• All previous machines still supported!

Revisions for 7th beta (2014 September 11th)

• The changes below were made in a git repository, unlike in previous releases. Descriptions below are copied from 'git log'.
• Update .gitignore for new dependencies.
• Use a submodule for i945-pwm.
• Don't clean packages that fail or don't need cleaning.
• Don't clean i945-pwm, it's not needed.
• Regression fix: Parabola live ISO boot issues
• Re-enable background images in ISOLINUX/SYSLINUX GRUB parser menus
• Regression fix: Re-add CD-ROM (ata0) in GRUB
• Documentation: add notes about performance penalty when using ecryptfs.
• Documentation: Fixed spelling and grammatical errors.
• Documentation: macbook21: add new machine as tested
• Documentation: macbook21: add info about improving touchpad sensitivity
• Documentation: X60 Tablet: add more information about finger input
• Documentation: release.html: Add information about recently merged commit in coreboot

Revisions for 6th beta (2014 September 3rd)

• Added modified builddeb* scripts for Parabola GNU/Linux-libre: buildpac, buildpac-flashrom, buildpac-bucts (courtesy of Noah Vesely)
• Documentation: updated all relevant areas to mention use of buildpac* scripts for Parabola users.
• Documentation: added information showing how to enable or disable bluetooth on the X60
• MacBook1,1 tested! See hcl/index.html#macbook11
• Documentation: fixed typo in index.html#get_edid_panelname (get-edit changed to get-edid)
• Documentation: added images/x60_lcd_change/ (pics only for now)
• Added gcry_serpent and gcry_whirlpool to the GRUB module list in the 'build' script (for luks users)
• Libreboot is now based on a new coreboot version from August 23rd, 2014:
  Merged commits (relates to boards that were already supported in libreboot):
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6697/
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6698/ (merged already)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6699/ (merged already)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6696/ (merged already)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6695/ (merged already)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/5927/ (merged already)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6717/ (merged already)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6718/ (merged already)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6723/ (merged already) (text-mode patch, might enable memtest. macbook21)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6732/ (MERGED) (remove useless ps/2 keyboard delay from macbook21. already merged)
• These were also merged in coreboot (relates to boards that libreboot already supported):
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/5320/ (merged)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/5321/ (merged)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/5323/ (merged)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6693/ (merged)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/6694/ (merged)
  • http://review.coreboot.org/#/c/5324/ (merged)
• Documentation: removed the section about tft_brightness on X60 (new code makes it obsolete)
• Removed all patches from resources/libreboot/patch/ and added new patch: 0000_t60_textmode.git.diff
• Updated getcb script and DEBLOB script.
• Updated configuration files under resources/libreboot/config/ to accomodate new coreboot version.
• Removed grub_serial*.cfg and libreboot_serial*.rom, all configs/rom files are now unified (containing same configuration as serial rom files from before).
  • Documentation: updated index.html#rom to reflect the above.
• Updated GRUB to new version from August 14th, 2014.
• Unified all grub configurations for all machines to a single grub.cfg under resources/grub/config/
• Updated flashrom to new version from August 20th, 2014
• Added getseabios and builddeps-seabios (builddeps and getall were also updated)
  • Added instructions to 'buildrom-withgrub' to include bios.bin.elf and vgaroms/vgabios.bin from SeaBIOS inside the ROM.
• Added seabios (and sgavgabios) to grub as payload option in menu
• Disabled serial output in Memtest86+ (no longer needed) to speed up tests.
  • MemTest86+ now works properly, it can output on the laptop screen (no serial port needed anymore).
• Added getgrubinvaders, builddeps-grubinvaders scripts. Added these to getall and builddeps.
  • Added GRUB Invaders menu entry in resources/grub/config/grub.cfg
• Added rules to builddeps-coreboot to build libpayload with TinyCurses. (added appropriate instructions to cleandeps script).
• Commented out lines in resources/grub/config/grub.cfg for loading font/background (not useful anymore, now that GRUB is in text-mode).
• Commented out lines in buildrom-withgrub that included backgrounds/fonts (not useful anymore, now that GRUB is in text-mode).
• Added resources/utilities/i945-pwm/ (from git://git.mtjm.eu/i945-pwm), for debugging acpi brightness on i945 machines.
  • Added instructions for it in builddeps, builddeps-i945pwm, builddeb and cleandeps
• 'build' script: removed the parts that generated sha512sum manifests (not needed, since release tarballs are GPG-signed)
• 'build' script: removed the parts that generated libreboot_meta directory (not needed anymore, since _meta will be hosted in git)
  • Updated index.html#build_meta (and other parts of documentation) to accomodate this change.
• Documentation: simplified (refactored) the notes in index.html#rom
• 'build' script: removed the parts that generated libreboot_bin and added them to a new script: 'build-release'
  • Documentation: index.html#build updated to reflect the above.
• Removed 'sudo' from builddeb, builddeb-flashrom, powertop.trisquel6 and builddeb-bucts scripts (assuming that the user has it is a really bad idea).
• Added all gcry_* modules to grub (luks/cryptomount): gcry_arcfour gcry_camellia gcry_crc gcry_dsa gcry_md4 gcry_rfc2268 gcry_rmd160 gcry_seed gcry_sha1 gcry_sha512 gcry_twofish gcry_blowfish gcry_cast5 gcry_des gcry_idea gcry_md5 gcry_rijndael gcry_rsa gcry_serpent gcry_sha256 gcry_tiger gcry_whirlpool
• Added GNUtoo's list of GRUB modules (includes all of the gcry_* modules above), cryptomount should be working now.
• Removed builddeb-bucts and builddeb-flashrom, merged them with builddeb (index.html updated accordingly)
• Removed buildpac-bucts and buildpac-flashrom, merged them with buildpac (index.html updated accordingly)
• Renamed builddeb to deps-trisquel (index.html updated accordingly)
• Renamed buildpac to deps-parabola (index.html updated accordingly)
• Documentation: removed all parts talking about build dependencies, replaced them with links to index.html#build_dependencies
• Documentation: emphasized more strongly on the documentation, the need to re-build bucts and/or flashrom before flashing a ROM image.
• build-release: flashrom, nvramtool, cbfstool and bucts are no longer provided pre-compiled in binary archives, and are now in source form only. (to maximize distro compatibility).
• Documentation: added gnulinux/encrypted_trisquel.html showing how to setup a fully encrypted Trisquel installation (including /boot) and boot it from the GRUB payload.
• 'build' script: replaced grub.elf assembly instructons, it is now handled by a utility added under resources/utilities/grub-assemble
• Moved resources/grub/keymap to resources/utilities/grub-assemble/keymap, and updated that utility to use it
• Documentation: removed useless links to pictures of keyboard layouts and unmodified layouts.
• Removed all unused fonts from dejavu-fonts-ttf-2.34/ directory
• 'buildrom-withgrub' script: updated it to create 2 sets of ROMs for each machine: one with text-mode, one with coreboot framebuffer.
• Documentation: updated index.html#rom to reflect the above
• Deleted unused README and COPYING file from main directory
• Removed some rm -rf .git* instructions from the get* scripts and moved them to build-release script
• Split up default grub.cfg into 6 parts: extra/{common.cfg,txtmode.cfg,vesafb.cfg} and menuentries/{common.cfg,txtmode.cfg,vesafb.cfg}
  • buildrom-withgrub script uses these to generate the correct grub.cfg for each type of configuration.
• grub_memdisk.cfg (used inside grub.elf) now only loads grub.cfg from cbfs. It no longer enables serial output or sets prefix. (menuentries/common.cfg does instead)
• resources/grub/config/extra/common.cfg, added:
  • insmod instructions to load those modules: nativedisk, ehci, ohci, uhci, usb, usbserial_pl2303, usbserial_ftdi, usbserial_usbdebug
  • set prefix=(memdisk)/boot/grub
  • For native graphics (recommended by coreboot wiki):
    gfxpayload=keep
    terminal_output --append gfxterm
  • Play a beep on startup:
    play 480 440 1
• Documentation: added note about 'fb=false' workaround for text-mode debian-installer (Trisquel net install) to gnulinux/grub_boot_installer.html
• Documentation: updated gnulinux/grub_cbfs.html to make it safer (and easier) to follow.

Corrections to 5th beta (2014 August 2014)

• Fixed typo where revision list for 5th beta was listed as March 11th 2014, when in fact it was August 11th 2014
• Fixed incorrect grub.cfg that was actually placed in resources/grub/config/x60/grub_usqwerty.cfg which broke the default GRUB menu entry on X60

Revisions for 5th beta (2014 August 11th)

• build: added 'luks', 'lvm', 'cmosdump' and 'cmostest' to the list of modules for grub.elf
• Documentation: added pics showing T60 unbricking (still need to write a tutorial)
• build: include cmos.layout (coreboot/src/mainboard/manufacturer/model/cmos.layout) files in libreboot_bin
• Documentation: added install/x60tablet_unbrick.html
• Documentation: added install/t60_unbrick.html
• Documentation: added install/t60_lcd_15.html
• Documentation: added install/t60_security.html
• Documentation: added install/t60_heatsink.html
• Documentation: Renamed RELEASE.html to release.html
• Documentation: removed pcmcia reference in x60_security.html (it's cardbus)
• Documentation: added preliminary information about randomized seal (for physical intrusion detection) in x60_security.html and t60_security.html
• Documentation: added preliminary information about preventing/mitigating cold-boot attack in x60_security.html and t60_security.html
• Documentation: added info to index.html#macbook21 warning about issues with macbook21
• Documentation: X60/T60: added information about checking custom ROMs using dd to see whether or not the top 64K region is duplicated below top or not. Advise caution about this in the tutorial that deals with flashing on top of Lenovo BIOS, citing the correct dd commands necessary if it is confirmed that the ROM has not been applied with dd yet. (in the case that the user compiled their own ROMs from libreboot, without using the build scripts, or if they forgot to use dd, etc).
• Split resources/libreboot/patch/gitdiff into separate patch files (getcb script updated to accomodate this change).
• Re-added .git files to bucts
• Fixed the oversight where macbook21_firstflash wasn't included in binary archives
• Release archives are now compressed using .tar.xz for better compression

Revisions for 4th beta (2014 July 29th)

• Documentation: improved (more explanations, background info) in docs/security/x60_security.html (courtesy of Denis Carikli)
• MacBook2,1 tested (confirmed)
• macbook21: Added script 'macbook21_firstflash' for flashing libreboot while Apple EFI firmware is running.
• Documentation: macbook21: added software-based flashing instructions for flashing libreboot while Apple EFI firmware is running.
• Reduced size of libreboot_src.tar.gz:
  • Removed .git and .gitignore from grub directory (libreboot_src); not needed. Removing them reduces the size of the archive (by a lot). GRUB development should be upstream.
  • Removed .git and .gitignore from bucts directory (libreboot_src); not needed. Removing them reduces the size of the archive. bucts development should be upstream.
  • Removed .svn from flashrom directory (libreboot_src); not needed. Removing it reduces the size of the archive. flashrom development should be upstream.
• Added ROMs with Qwerty (Italian) layout in GRUB (libreboot*itqwerty.rom)
• Added resources/utilities/i945gpu/intel-regs.py for debugging issues related to LCD panel compatibility on X60 Tablet and T60. (courtesy of Michał Masłowski)

Revisions for 3rd beta (2014 July 20th)

• Fixed typo that existed in 2nd beta where the release date of the 2nd beta was listed as being in year 2016, when in actual fact it was 2014.
• Documentation: added (preliminary) details about (rare) buggy CPUs on the ThinkPad T60 that were found to fail (instability, kernel panics, etc) without the microcode updates.
• Documentation: added docs/hardware/x60_heatsink.html for showing how to change the heatsink on the Thinkpad X60
• Added ROM images for Azerty (French) keyboard layout in GRUB (courtesy of Olivier Mondoloni)
• Tidied up some scripts:
  • Re-factored those scripts (made easier to read/maintain): build-x60, build-x60t, build-t60, build-macbook21
  • Reduced the number of grub configs to 2 (or 1, for macbook21), the build scripts now generate the other configs at build time.
  • Deleted build-x60, build-x60t, build-t60, build-macbook21 and replaced with intelligent (generic) buildrom-withgrub script
  • Updated build to use buildrom-withgrub script for building the ROM images.
  • coreboot.rom and coreboot_serial.rom renamed to coreboot_usqwerty.rom and coreboot_serial_usqwerty.rom
  • coreboot_dvorak and coreboot_serial_dvorak.rom renamed to coreboot_usdvorak.rom and coreboot_serial_usdvorak.rom
  • Renamed coreboot*rom to libreboot*rom
  • Made flash, lenovobios_firstflash and lenovobios_secondflash scripts fail if the specified file does not exist.
  • Updated all relevant parts of the documentation to reflect the above.
• Replaced background.png with background.jpg. added gnulove.jpg. (resources/grub/background/)
• Updated buildrom-withgrub to use background.jpg instead of background.png
• Updated buildrom-withgrub to use gnulove.jpg aswell
• Updated resources/grub/config/macbook21/grub*cfg to use gnulove.jpg background.
• Updated resources/grub/config/{x60,t60,x60t}/grub*cfg to use background.jpg background.
• Documentation: updated docs/index.html#grub_custom_keyboard to be more generally useful.
• nvramtool:
  • Updated builddeps-coreboot script to build it
  • Updated build script to include it in libreboot_bin
• Documentation: added docs/security/x60_security.html (security hardening for X60)

Revisions for 2nd beta (2014 July 16th)

• Deleted all git-related files from the coreboot directory. This was necessary because with those it is possible to run 'git diff' which shows the changes made in the form of a patch (diff format); this includes the blobs that were deleted during deblobbing.

Revisions for 1st beta (2014 July 11th)

• Initial release (new coreboot base, dated June 1st 2014. See 'getcb' script for reference)
• DEBLOBBED coreboot
• Removed the part from memtest86+ 'make' where it tried to connect to some scp server while compiling. (commented out line 24 in the Makefile)
• X60 now uses a single .config (for coreboot)
• X60 now uses a single grub.cfg (for grub memdisk)
• X60 now uses a single grub.elf (payload)
• Added new native graphics code for X60 (replaces the old 'replay' code) from Vladimir Serbinenko: 5320/9 from review.coreboot.org
• T60 is now supported, with native graphics. (5345/4 from review.coreboot.org, cherry-picked on top of 5320/9 checkout)
• Added macbook2,1 support (from Mono Moosbart and Vladimir Serbinenko) from review.coreboot.org (see 'getcb' script to know how that was done)
  • Documentation: added information linking to correct page and talking about which models are supported.
  • Added resources/libreboot/config/macbook21config
  • macbook21: Added 'build-macbook21' script and linked to it in 'build' (ROMs included under bin/macbook21/)
  • macbook21: Removed dd instructions from build-macbook21 script (macbook21 does not need bucts when flashing libreboot while Apple EFI firmware is running)
  • Documentation: Added macbook21 ROMs to the list of ROMs in docs/index.html#rom
  • Documentation: Write documentation linking to Mono Moosbart's macbook21 and parabola page (and include a copy)
• Documentation: added a copy of Mono's Parabola install guide (for macbook21 with Apple EFI firmware) and linked in in main index.
• Documentation: added a copy of Mono's Coreboot page (for macbook21) and linked it in main index.
• T60: Copy CD option from the grub.cfg files for T60 *serial*.rom images into the grub configs for non-serial images. (T60s have CD/DVD drive on main laptop)
• macbook21: remove options in build-macbook21 for *serial*.rom (there is no dock or serial port available for macbook21)
• Added patches for backlight controls on X60 and T60 with help from Denis Carikli (see ./resources/libreboot/patch/gitdiff and ./getcb and docs/i945_backlight.html)
  • Documentation: added docs/i945_backlight.html showing how backlight controls were made to work on X60/T60
• Documentation: Added info about getting LCD panel name based on EDID data.
  • Documentation: Added a link to this from the list of supported T60s and LCD panels for T60 (so that the user can check what LCD panel they have).
• X60/T60: Merged patches for 3D fix (from Paul Menzel) when using kernel 3.12 or higher (see ./resources/libreboot/patch/gitdiff and ./getcb)
  • based on 5927/11 and 5932/5 from review.coreboot.org
• Improved thinkpad_acpi support (from coreboot ): xsensors shows more information.
  • From 4650/29 in review.coreboot.org (merged in coreboot 'master' on June 1st 2014)
• Merged changes for digitizer (X60 Tablet) and IR (X60 and T60) based on 5243/17, 5242/17 and 5239/19 from review.coreboot.org
  • (see ./resources/libreboot/patch/gitdiff and ./getcb)
• Documentation: added information about building flashrom using 'builddeps-flashrom' script.
• Re-created resources/libreboot/config/x60config
• Re-created resources/libreboot/config/t60config
• Added 'x60tconfig' in resources/libreboot/config (because X60 Tablet has different information about serial/model/version in 'dmidecode')
  • Added 'build-x60t' script
  • Updated 'build' script to use 'build-x60t'
  • Documentation: added to #config section the section #config_x60t (libreboot configuration and dmidecode info)
  • Documentation: added x60t ROMs to the list of ROMs
• Tidied up the 'builddeps' script (easier to read)
• Tidied up the 'cleandeps' script (easier to read)
• Annotated the 'buildall' script
• Added 'getcb' script for getting coreboot revision used from git, and patching it.
• Added 'getgrub' script for getting the GRUB revision used from git, and patching it.
• Added 'getmt86' script for getting the memtest86+ version used, and patching it.
• Added 'getbucts' script for getting the bucts version used.
• Added 'getflashrom' script for getting the flashrom version used, and patching it
• Added 'getall' script which runs all of the other 'get' scripts.
• Add instructions to the 'build' script to prepare libreboot_meta.tar.gz
  • New archive: libreboot_meta.tar.gz - minimal archive, using the 'get' scripts to download all the dependencies (coreboot, memtest, grub and so on).
• Documentation: added information about where 'build' script prepares the libreboot_meta.tar.gz archive.
• Documentation: added information about how to use the 'get' scripts in libreboot_meta.tar.gz (to generate libreboot_src.tar.gz)
  • Documentation: mention that meta doesn't create libreboot_src/ directory, but that libreboot_meta itself becomes the same.
  • Documentation: advise to rename libreboot_meta to libreboot_src after running 'getall'.
• Annotated the 'builddeb' script, to say what each set of dependencies are for.
• Separated bucts/flashrom builddeb sections into separate scripts: builddeb-flashrom, builddeb-bucts.
• Documentation: Updated relevant parts based on the above.
• Added instructions to 'build' script for including builddeb-bucts and builddeb-flashrom in libreboot_bin
• Updated flashrom checkout (r1822 2014-06-16) from SVN (http://flashrom.org/Downloads).
  • Updated flashing instructions in docs/index.html for new commands needed (Macronix chip on X60/T60)
  • For X60/T60 (flashrom): Patched flashchips.c_lenovobios_macronix and flashchips.c_lenovobios_sst executables for SST/macronix (included in resources/flashrom/patch)
  • Updated builddeps to build flashrom_lenovobios_sst and flashrom_lenovobios_macronix, for X60/T60 users with Lenovo BIOS
  • moved the flashrom build instructions from 'builddeps' and put them in 'builddeps-flashrom', excecuting that from 'builddeps'.
  • Added builddeps-flashrom to libreboot_bin.tar.gz
• flashrom: added patched flashchips.c to resources/flashrom/patch (automatically use correct macronix chip on libreboot, without using '-c' switch)
  • removed 'MX25L1605' and 'MX25L1605A/MX25L1606E' entries in flashchips.c for the patched version of flashchips.c
  • added instructions to 'builddeps-flashrom' to automatically use this modified flashchips.c in the default build
• Added builddeb to libreboot_bin.tar.gz
• Moved 'bucts' build instructions from builddeps to builddeps-bucts
  • builddeps now runs 'builddeps-bucts' instead
  • Added 'builddeps-bucts' to libreboot_bin.tar.gz
  • Documentation: Added information about using 'builddep-bucts' to build the BUC.TS utility.
• Added 'lenovobios_firstflash' and 'lenovobios_secondflash' scripts
  • Added instructions to 'build' script for including those files in libreboot_bin
  • Documentation: Add tutorial for flashing while Lenovo BIOS is running (on X60/T60)
• Added 'flash' script (make sure to run builddeps-flashrom first) which (while libreboot is already running) can use flashrom to flash a ROM
  • eg: "sudo ./flash bin/x60/coreboot_serial_ukdvorak.rom" equivalent to "sudo ./flashrom/flashrom -p internal -w bin/x60/coreboot_uk_dvorak.rom"
  • updated 'build' script to include the 'flash' script in libreboot_bin.tar.gz
• Documentation: replaced default flashrom tutorial to recommend the 'flash' script instead.
• Re-add cbfstool source code back into libreboot_bin.tar.gz, as cbfstool_standalone
  • Patched that version to work (able to be built and used) without requiring the entire coreboot source code.
  • Created patched version of the relevant source files and added it into resources/cbfstool/patch
    • see coreboot/util/cbfstool/rmodule.c and then the patched version in resources/cbfstool/patch/rmodule.c
    • see coreboot/src/include/rmodule-defs.h and the rule in 'build' for including this in ../libreboot_bin/cbfstool_standalone
  • Added instructions to 'build' script for applying this patch to the cbfstool_standalone source in libreboot_bin
  • Added instructions to 'build' script for then re-compiling cbfstool_standalone in libreboot_bin after applying the patch
  • Added a 'builddeps-cbfstool' script (in src, but only used in bin and put in bin by 'build') that compiles cbfstool_standalone in libreboot_bin (make), moves the cbfstool and rmodtool binaries into libreboot_bin/ and then does 'make clean' in libreboot_bin/cbfstool_standalone
  • Updated the 'build' script to put 'builddeps-cbfstool' in libreboot_bin
  • Updated the 'build' script in the cbfstool (standalone) part to accomodate the above.
  • Documentation: added notes about cbfstool (standalone) in libreboot_bin
• Documentation: made docs/gnulinux/grub_cbfs.html slightly easier to follow.
• Annotate the 'build*' scripts with 'echo' commands, to help the user understand what it actually happening during the build process.
• Documentation: added information about how 'dmidecode' data was put in the coreboot configs
  • Documentation: In fact, document how the 'config' files in resources/libreboot/config/ were created
• Documentation: Added information about which ThinkPad T60s are supported, and which are not.
• Documentation: added information about LCD inverters (for upgrading the LCD panel on a T60 14.1' XGA or 15.1' XGA)
  • it's FRU P/N 41W1478 (on T60 14.1") so this was added to the docs.
  • it's P/N 42T0078 FRU 42T0079 or P/N 41W1338 (on T60 15.1") so this was added to the docs.
• Documentation: added information about names of LCD panels for T60 to the relevant parts of the documentation.
• Documentation: added information (with pictures) about the differences between T60 with Intel GPU and T60 with ATI GPU.
• Documentation: added pictures of keyboard layouts (US/UK Qwerty/Dvorak) to the ROM list, to let the user compare with their own keyboard.
• Move the coreboot build instructions in 'builddeps' into 'builddeps-coreboot' and link it in 'builddeps'
  • Link to 'builddeps-coreboot' in final stage of 'getcb'
• Move GRUB build instructions from 'builddeps' into 'builddeps-grub', link from 'builddeps'
  • Link to 'builddeps-grub' in final stage of 'getgrub'
• Move MemTest86+ build instructions from 'builddeps' into 'builddeps-memtest86', link from 'builddeps'
  • Link to 'builddeps-memtest86' in final stage of 'getmt86'
• made 'build' script put resources/ directory in libreboot_bin, to make builddeps-flashrom work in libreboot_bin
• Removed instructions for building source code in the 'get' script (they don't really belong there)
• Added libfuse-dev and liblzma-dev to the list of GRUB dependencies in 'builddeb' script.
• Converted the 'RELEASE' file to 'docs/RELEASE.html'
• Added those dependencies to builddeb script (for GRUB part): gawk libdevmapper-dev libtool libfreetype6-dev
• Added to build script the instruction at the end to create a sha512sum.txt with a file manifest plus checksums.
• Deleted the RELEASE and BACKPORT files (no longer needed)
• Documentation: added information about X60/T60 dock (ultrabase x6 and advanced mini dock) to relevant sections.
  • Added to docs/index.html#serial

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5th release

• 2014 March 7th
• revised 2014 June 22nd

Officially supported

• ThinkPad X60
• ThinkPad X60s

Development notes

• Binary archive now have 2 images:
  • With serial output enabled and memtest86+ included (debug level 8 in coreboot)
  • With serial output disabled and memtest86+ excluded (faster boot speeds) (debugging disabled)
• Reduced impact on battery life:
  • 'processor.max_cstate=2' instead of 'idle=halt' for booting default kernel
• coreboot.rom (faster boot speeds, debugging disabled):
  • Disabled coreboot serial output (Console-> in "make menuconfig")
  • Set coreboot debug level to 0 instead of 8 (Console-> in "make menuconfig")
  • Changed GRUB timeout to 1 second instead of 2 (in grub.cfg
  • Removed background image in GRUB.
  • Removed memtest86+ payload (since it relies on serial output)
• coreboot_serial.rom (slower boot speeds, debugging enabled):
  • Boot time still reduced, but only by ~2 seconds
  • has the memtest86+ payload included in the ROM
  • has serial port enabled. How this is achieved (from X60_source): Turn on debugging level to 8, and enable serial output
• (in Console-> in coreboot "make menuconfig")
• (and build with grub_serial.cfg and grub_memdisk_serial.cfg)

Revision notes (2014 March 9th):

• recreated coreboot config from scratch
• GRUB loads even faster now (less than 2 seconds).
• Total boot time reduced by further ~5 seconds.
• Added crypto and cryptodisk modules to GRUB
• cbfstool now included in the binary archives

Revision notes (2014 June 5th):

• added backlight support (Fn+Home and Fn+End) on X60
• fixed broken/unstable 3D when using kernel 3.12 or higher
• (see 'BACKPORT' file)

Revision notes (2014 June 11th):

• removed 'CD' boot option from coreboot.rom (not needed)
• removed 'processor.max_cstate=2' and 'idle=halt' options (see README.powertop file)

Revision notes (2014 June 22nd)

• updated GRUB (git 4b8b9135f1676924a8458da528d264bbc7bbb301, April 20th 2014)
• Made "DeJavu Sans Mono" the default font in GRUB (fixes border corruption).
• re-added background image in GRUB (meditating GNU)
• added 6 more images:
  • coreboot_ukqwerty.rom (UK Qwerty keyboard layout in GRUB)
  • coreboot_serial_ukqwerty.rom (UK Qwerty keyboard layout in GRUB)
  • coreboot_dvorak.rom (US Dvorak keyboard layout in GRUB)
  • coreboot_serial_dvorak.rom (US Dvorak keyboard layout in GRUB)
  • coreboot_ukdvorak.rom (UK Dvorak keyboard layout in GRUB)
  • coreboot_serial_ukdvorak.rom (UK Dvorak keyboard layout in GRUB)
  • (coreboot.rom and coreboot_serial.rom have US Qwerty keyboard layout in GRUB, as usual)
• improved the documentation:
  • removed FLASH_INSTRUCTION and README.powertop and merged them with README
  • removed obsolete info from README and tidied it up
  • deleted README (replaced with docs/index.html)
• tidied up the menu entries in GRUB
• tidied up the root directory of X60_source/, sorted more files into subdirectories
• added 'pkg-config' to the list of dependencies for building powertop on Trisquel
• wrote a script (powertop.trisquel6) to automatically setup Powertop to run at boot time (for Trisquel 6 users)
• improved the commenting inside the 'build' script (should make modifying it easier)
• Renamed X60_binary.tar.gz and X60_source.tar.gz to libreboot_bin.tar.gz and libreboot_src.tar.gz, respectively.
• Replaced "GNU GRUB version" with "FREE AS IN FREEDOM" on GNU GRUB start screen.
• Added sha512.txt files in libreboot_src and libreboot_bin. (inside the archives)
• Added libreboot_bin.tar.gz.sha512.txt and libreboot_src.tar.gz.sha512.txt files (outside of the archives)

Revision (2014 June 22nd - extra)

• Documentation: Improved the instructions for using flashrom
• Documentation: Improved the instructions for using cbfstool (to change the default GRUB menu)
• Documentation: Numerous small fixes.

Revision (2014 June 22nd - extra)

• Documentation: added X60 Unbricking tutorial
• Documentation: added info about enabling or disabling wifi
• Documentation: added info about enabling or disabling trackpoint

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4th release

• 2014 February 21st

Officially supported

• ThinkPad X60
• ThinkPad X60s

Development notes

• Removed SeaBIOS (redundant)
• New GRUB version (2.02~beta2)
  • Fixes some USB issues
  • Includes ISOLINUX/SYSLINUX parser
• New grub.cfg
• Removed useless options:
  • options for booting sda 2/3/4
  • seabios boot option
• Added new menu entries:
  • Parse ISOLINUX config (USB)
  • Parse ISOLINUX config (CD)
  • Added 'cat' module for use on GRUB command line.
• "set pager=1" is set in grub.cfg, for less-like functionality

The "Parse" options read ./isolinux/isolinux.cfg on a CD or USB, and automatically converts it to a grub config and switches to the boot menu of that distro. This makes booting ISOs *much* easier than before.

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3rd release

• 2013 December 14th

Supported:

• ThinkPad X60
• ThinkPad X60s

Development notes

• Added SeaBIOS payload to GRUB2 (for booting USB drives)
• new grub.cfg

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2nd release

• 2013 December 13th

Supported:

• ThinkPad X60
• ThinkPad X60s

Development notes

• added background image to GRUB2
• added memtest86+ payload to grub2
• improvements to the documentation
• new grub.cfg

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1st release

• 2013 December 12th

Supported:

• ThinkPad X60
• ThinkPad X60s

Development notes

• initial release
• source code deblobbed

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Copyright © 2014, 2015 Francis Rowe <info@gluglug.org.uk>
This document is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Public License and all future versions. A copy of the license can be found at license.txt.

This document is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See license.txt for more information.