[57north-discuss] Bricked Startech IP-KVM

[Tony Travis]

On 19/01/2021 08:55, Lawrence wrote:
> Tony
> 
> As U-boot tends to be built for the board and is very flexible it is 
> possible to build it with a zero timeout on the boot prompt so it 
> becomes impossible to enter interactive mode.

Hi, Lawrence.

Can't help thinking they did that on purpose :-(

> When you have it open also look for a JTAG connector, typically a 2*5 or 
> 2*10 pin header as this will be another possible route into accessing 
> the flash. (Looks as if maybe a 16 pin connector 
> https://www.etoolsmiths.com/jtag-pinouts-and-connectors-for-powerpc/)

OK + thx for that link.

> U-Boot probably has it's own partitions in the flash, commonly a 
> partition for uboot and a partition for uboot confirguration. But also 
> has default configuration built in so just erasing uboot config may not 
> help.

I've attached the boot logs from my 'bricked' SV841DUSBI IP-KVM and a 
working SV841DUSBI IP-KVM, which seems to have idenical firmware, and a 
diff of the boot logs, showing where the SV841DUSBI IP-KVM goes wrong.

> If in touch with startech them ask them whether it has a JTAG port or 
> what do they use for factory programming. I have a variety of 
> programming hardware.

My Startech support contact has not relied since I told him I bought the 
IP-KVM off eBay, despite Startech's widely advertised lifetime support.

> Looking at the boot log the kernel looks OK and it is possibly the root 
> filesystem that is the problem.

Yes, I think you're right about that.

Thanks for your helpful suggestions,

   Tony.

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