% ASUS KCMA-D8 desktop/workstation board

This is a desktop 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 them, merged into libreboot.

Memory initialization is still problematic, for some modules. We recommend avoiding Kingston modules.

Flashing instructions can be found at ../install/#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.

CPU compatibility

Use Opteron 4200 series (works without microcode updates, including hw virt). 4300 series needs microcode updates, so avoid those CPUs. 4100 series is too old, and mostly untested.

Board status (compatibility) {#boardstatus}

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

Form factor {#formfactor}

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 {#ipmi}

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 {#flashchips}

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 {#graphics}

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

Current issues {#issues}

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 {#specifications}

Check the ASUS website.

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.

Memory initialization is still problematic, for some modules. We recommend avoiding Kingston modules.

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

External programmer {#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.

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