Some device configurations have no flash memory to store runtime parameters and firmware so the local host must store them until needed then write them into device SDRAM and start execution. This is also needed when the flash memory is blank or corrupted because the runtime firmware is the only way to write flash memory. Programs int6kf, int6kboot, ampboot and plcboot are used to configure a blank device then download runtime parameters and firmware and start execution. They all perform the same basic function but in different ways.
Example 5.18. Start Firmware on INT6000™
# int6kf -C abc.cfg -N abc.nvm -P abc.pib
Program int6kf can be used to download runtime firmware and parameters and start execution on and INT6000™ chipset. The process involves downloading a .cfg file using VS_SET_SDRAM, downloading a .nvm file using VS_WR_MEM, downloading a .pib file using VS_WR_MEM then starting firmware execution using VS_ST_MAC. See the int6kf man page for an explanation of the command line options and arguments used here.
Example 5.19. Start Firmware on INT6300™ and INT6400™
# int6kboot -N abc.nvm -P abc.pib
Program int6kboot can be used to download runtime firmware and parameters and start execution on an INT6300™ or INT6400™ chipset. The process involves downloading a .nvm file using VS_WR_MEM, downloading a .pib file using VS_WR_MEM then starting firmware execution using VS_ST_MAC. No .cfg file is needed or permitted with this application.
Example 5.20. Start Firmware on AR7400™
# ampboot -N abc.nvm -P abc.pib
Program ampboot can be used to download runtime firmware and parameters and start execution of runtime firmware on an INT6300™, INT6400™ or AR7400™ chipset. The process involves downloading a .pib file using VS_WR_MEM, downloading a .nvm file using VS_WR_MEM then starting firmware execution using VS_ST_MAC. A general purpose applet, stored in the .nvm file, configures SDRAM. No .cfg file is needed or permitted with this application.
Example 5.21. Start Firmware on AR7420™
# plcboot -N abc.nvm -P abc.pib
Program plcboot can be used to download runtime firmware and parameters and start execution an INT6300™, INT6400™, AR7400™ or AR7420™ chipset. This program detects the type of chipset and the image file format. The boot process varies depending on the chipset that is detected and the image file format. For the AR7420™ chipset, this process involves downloading a .pib and .nvm file using only VS_WRITE_EXECUTE messages. For earlier chipsets, the process is as described above.