Provided by: plc-utils-extra_0.0.6+git20230504.1ba7d5a0-1_amd64 
NAME
int6kboot - Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Device Boot Utility I
SYNOPSIS
int6kboot [options] -N file -P file [device] [device] [...]
DESCRIPTION
Download and start runtime firmware on any local Atheros powerline device that is in
bootloader mode. A device remains in bootloader mode when it cannot load firmware from
flash memory for some reason. This can happen because there is no flash memory or because
the flash memory is blank or corrupted. This program can start a device or start then
flash a device.
The bootloader only recognizes a subset of Atheros message types. This program uses that
subset to write runtime firmware and parameters into SDRAM then start firmware execution
at a known address. Optionally, this program can then proceed to download the same
firmware and parameters, again, and instruct the runtime firmware to write them to flash
memory.
Starting a device is a three phase operation that can only be performed when the
bootloader is running. The first phase writes an SDRAM configuration program into TCM and
executes it. The second phase writes runtime firmware and parameters as images into
SDRAM. The third phase starts firmware execution. Once the runtime firmware starts, the
device will be operational.
Flashing a device is a two phase operation that can only be performed when the firmware is
running. The first phase downloads runtime firmare and parameters into scratch buffers
under firmware control. The second phase instructs the firmware to write the scratch
buffers to flash memory and restart the device. After flashing, the device will be self-
sustaining.
Since the device address is 00:B0:52:00:00:01 on boot, the host must send all messages to
that address. This can cause problems if multiple devices are connected to the host and
in Bootloader mode. The devices will have the same firmware and MAC address because their
PIBs will be identical. One should avoid this situation.
Is probably alright to have other device connected to the host that are running firmware
because they will still see but not recognize the messages used in this operation. If
only one device is connected to the host, then is save to flash the device using address
00:B0:52:00:00:01. Otherwise, the host should address messages to the actual device
address so that other devices do not attempt to write to their own flash memory at the
same time.
This program is part of the Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Toolkit. See the plc man page for
an overview and installation instructions.
OPTIONS
-e Redirects stderr messages to stdout. By convention status and error messages are
printed on stderr while primary program output is printed on stdout. This option
prints all output on stdout in cases where this is desired.
-F[F] Write previously downloaded MAC and PIB to NVRAM using VS_MOD_NVM. Adding a second
F here or another -F anywhere on the command line will force-flash a blank or
corrupted NVRAM. Firmware loaded from NVRAM will treat force-flash as an error.
This option can be used to create factory settings but cannot be used to change
them once created. Subsequent use creates and updates operational settings that
can be erased using a factory reset.
-i interface
Select the host Ethernet interface. All requests are sent via this host interface
and only reponses received via this host interface are recognized. The default
interface is eth1 because most people use eth0 as their principle network
connection; however, if environment string "PLC" is defined then it takes
precedence over the default interface. This option then takes precedence over
either default.
-N filename
Read the named NVM file and write it to the device. This option and argument are
required. Any file having an invalid NVM file format will be rejected. No
assumptions are made based on filename and no filename conventions are enforced.
-P filename
Read the named PIB file and write it to the device. This option and argument are
required. Any file having an invalid PIB file format will be rejected. No
assumptions are made based on filename and no filename conventions are enforced.
-q Suppresses status messages on stderr.
-t milliseconds
Read timeout in milliseconds. Values range from 0 through UINT_MAX. This is the
maximum time allowed for a response. The default is shown in brackets on the
program menu.
-v Prints additional information on stdout. In particular, this option dumps outgoing
Ethernet packets on stdout.
-?,--help
Print program help summary on stdout. This option takes precedence over other
options on the command line.
-!,--version
Print program version information on stdout. This option takes precedence over
other options on the command line. Use this option when sending screen dumps to
Atheros Technical Support so that they know exactly which version of the Linux
Toolkit you are using.
ARGUMENTS
device The Ethernet hardware address of some powerline device. More than one address may
be specified on the command line. If more than one address is specified then
operations are performed on each device in turn. The default address is local. as
explained in the DEVICES section.
DEVICES
Powerline device addresses are 12 hexadecimal digits in upper, lower or mixed case.
Individual octets may be separated by colons, for clarity, but colons are not required.
For example, "00b052000001", "00:b0:52:00:00:01" and "00b052:000001" are valid and
equivalent.
A local device is any Atheros Powerline Device connected directly to a host Ethernet
interface. A remote device is any Atheros Powerline Device at the far end of a powerline
connection. A foreign device is any powerline device not manufactured by Atheros.
Common device addresses have symbolic names that can be used in place of the actual
address value. The following symbolic addresses are recognized by this program and most
other toolkit programs.
all Equivalent to "broadcast", described next.
broadcast
A synonym for the Ethernet broadcast address, FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF. All devices,
whether local, remote or foreign will respond to this address.
local A synonym for the Qualcomm Atheros Local Management Address (LMA),
00:B0:52:00:00:01. All local Atheros devices will respond to this address but
remote and foreign devices will not.
REFERENCES
See the Qualcomm Atheros HomePlug AV Firmware Technical Reference Manual for technical
information. See the Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Toolkit Online Documetation for practical
information and examples.
EXAMPLES
The -N and -P options are always required. Their order is not important. Tne MAC address
is not needed because devices default to address 00:B0:52:00:00:01 (the program default
address) in bootloader mode. Once this operation completes, firmware is running in SDRAM
but the NVRAM, if present, has not been programmed. This operation is common for flash-
less devices. If we reset the device at this point then the device will return to
bootloader mode.
int6kboot -N test.nvm -P test.pib
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write SDRAM Configuration
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Written.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write to device memory
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Written.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write to device memory
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Written.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Start Firmware
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Started.
The next example does the same thing but performs the extra steps needed to program NVRAM.
It first downloads the firmware image from file test.nvm and the parameter block image
from file test.pib using VS_WR_MEM then starts firmware execution using VS_ST_MAC. Once
runtime firmware has started, it downloads the same firmware image and parameter block
image (again) using VS_WR_MOD and commits them to NVRAM using VS_MOD_NVM.
int6kboot -N test.nvm -P test.pib -F
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write SDRAM Configuration
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Written.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write to device memory
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Written.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write to device memory
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Written.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Start Firmware
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Started.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write MAC as module
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Written.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write PIB as module
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Written.
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Flash Device
# eth0 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Flashed.
DISCLAIMER
Atheros HomePlug AV Vendor Specific Management Message structure and content is
proprietary to Qualcomm Atheros, Ocala FL USA. Consequently, public information may not
be available. Qualcomm Atheros reserves the right to modify message structure and content
in future firmware releases without any obligation to notify or compensate users of this
program.
SEE ALSO
plc(1), ampboot(1), chknvm(1), chkpib(1), int6k(1), modpib(1)
CREDITS
Charles Maier