223 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
223 lines
7.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: ASUS KGPE-D16 server/workstation board
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x-toc-enable: true
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...
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Introduction
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============
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This is a server board using AMD hardware (Fam10h *and Fam15h* CPUs
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available). It can also be used for building a high-powered workstation.
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Powered by libreboot. The coreboot port was done by Timothy Pearson of
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Raptor Engineering Inc. and, working with them (and sponsoring the
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work), merged into libreboot.
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*Memory initialization is still problematic, for some modules. We
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recommend avoiding Kingston modules.*
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*For working configurations see <https://www.coreboot.org/Board:asus/kgpe-d16>.*
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Flashing instructions can be found at
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[../install/\#flashrom](../install/#flashrom) - note that external
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flashing is required (e.g. BBB), if the proprietary (ASUS) firmware is
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currently installed. If you already have libreboot, by default it is
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possible to re-flash using software running in GNU+Linux on the
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KGPE-D16, without using external hardware.
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CPU compatibility
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=================
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*Use Opteron 6200 series (works without microcode updates, including hw
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virt).* 6300 series needs microcode updates, so avoid those CPUs. 6100
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series is too old, and mostly untested.
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Board status (compatibility) {#boardstatus}
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============================
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See <https://raptorengineeringinc.com/coreboot/kgpe-d16-status.php>.
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Form factor {#formfactor}
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===========
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These boards use the SSI EEB 3.61 form factor; make sure that your case
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supports this. This form factor is similar to E-ATX in that the size is
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identical, but the position of the screws are different.
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IPMI iKVM module add-on {#ipmi}
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=======================
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Don't use it. It uses proprietary firmware and adds a backdoor (remote
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out-of-band management chip, similar to the [Intel Management
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Engine](../../faq.md#intelme). Fortunately, the firmware is
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unsigned (possibly to replace) and physically separate from the
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mainboard since it's on the add-on module, which you don't have to
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install.
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Flash chips {#flashchips}
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===========
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2MiB flash chips are included by default, on these boards. It's on a
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P-DIP 8 slot (SPI chip). The flash chip can be upgraded to higher sizes:
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4MiB, 8MiB or 16MiB. With at least 8MiB, you could feasibly fit a
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compressed linux+initramfs image (BusyBox+Linux system) into CBFS and
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boot that, loading it into memory.
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Libreboot has configs for 2, 4, 8 and 16 MiB flash chip sizes (default
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flash chip is 2MiB).
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*DO NOT hot-swap the chip with your bare hands. Use a P-DIP 8 chip
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extractor. These can be found online. See
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<http://www.coreboot.org/Developer_Manual/Tools#Chip_removal_tools>*
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This guide shows how to flash the chip:\
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[25xx NOR flashing guide](../install/spi.md)
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Native graphics initialization {#graphics}
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==============================
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Only text-mode is known to work, but linux(kernel) can initialize the
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framebuffer display (if it has KMS - kernel mode setting).
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Current issues {#issues}
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==============
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- LRDIMM memory modules are currently incompatible
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- SAS (via PIKE 2008 module) requires non-free option ROM (and
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SeaBIOS) to boot from it (theoretically possible to replace, but you
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can put a kernel in CBFS or on SATA and use that to boot GNU, which
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can be on a SAS drive. The linux kernel can use those SAS drives
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(via PIKE module) without an option ROM).
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- SeaBIOS lacked serial console support out-of-the-box in release 20160907
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and as such a workaround using SGABIOS is necessary. You can find
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instructions on how to do this on the
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[Notabug issue tracker](http://web.archive.org/web/20210416011941/https://notabug.org/libreboot/libreboot/issues/736)
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- IPMI iKVM module (optional add-on card) uses proprietary firmware.
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Since it's for remote out-of-band management, it's theoretically a
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backdoor similar to the Intel Management Engine. Fortunately, unlike
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the ME, this firmware is unsigned which means that a free
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replacement is theoretically possible. For now, the libreboot
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project recommends not installing the module. [This
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project](https://github.com/facebook/openbmc) might be interesting
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to derive from, for those who want to work on a free replacement. In
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practise, out-of-band management isn't very useful anyway (or at
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the very least, it's not a major inconvenience to not have it).
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- Graphics: only text-mode works. See [\#graphics](#graphics)
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Hardware specifications {#specifications}
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-----------------------
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The information here is adapted, from the ASUS website.
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### Processor / system bus
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- 2 CPU sockets (G34 compatible)
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- HyperTransport™ Technology 3.0
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- CPUs supported:
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- AMD Opteron 6100 series (Fam10h. No IOMMU support. *Not*
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recommended - old. View errata datasheet here:
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<http://support.amd.com/TechDocs/41322_10h_Rev_Gd.pdf>)
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- AMD Opteron 6200 series (Fam15h, with full IOMMU support in
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libreboot - *highly recommended - fast, and works well without
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microcode updates, including virtualization*)
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- AMD Opteron 6300 series: these CPUs have higher performance and are
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more power efficient, but require microcode updates for stable
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virtualization. You can get these by adding them to the coreboot
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image, or by loading it from your linux kernel
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- NOTE: 6300 series CPUs have buggy microcode built-in, and
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libreboot recommends avoiding the updates. The 6200 series CPUs
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have more reliable microcode. Look at this errata datasheet:
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<http://support.amd.com/TechDocs/48063_15h_Mod_00h-0Fh_Rev_Guide.pdf>
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(see Errata 734 - this is what kills the 6300 series)
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- 6.4 GT/s per link (triple link)
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### Core logic
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- AMD SR5690
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- AMD SP5100
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### Memory compatibility (with libreboot)
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- *Total Slots:* 16 (4-channel per CPU, 8 DIMM per CPU), ECC
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- *Capacity:* Maximum up to 256GB RDIMM (Tested max 128GB)
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- *Memory Type that is compatible:*
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- DDR3 1600/1333/1066/800 UDIMM\*
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- DDR3 1600/1333/1066/800 RDIMM\*
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- *Compatible sizes per memory module:*
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- 16GB, 8GB, 4GB, 3GB, 2GB, 1GB RDIMM
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- 8GB, 4GB, 2GB, 1GB UDIMM
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### Expansion slots
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- *Total slot:* 6
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- *Slot Location 1:* PCI 32bit/33MHz
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- *Slot Location 2:* PCI-E x16 (Gen2 X8 Link)
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- *Slot Location 3:* PCI-E x16 (Gen2 X16 Link), Auto switch to x8
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link if slot 2 is occupied
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- *Slot Location 4:* PCI-E x8 (Gen2 X4 Link)
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- *Slot Location 5:* PCI-E x16 (Gen2 X16 Link)
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- *Slot Location 6:* PCI-E x16 (Gen2 X16 Link), Auto turn off if
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slot 5 is occupied, For 1U FH/FL Card, MIO supported
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- *Additional Slot 1:* PIKE slot (for SAS drives. See notes above)
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- Follow SSI Location\#
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### Form factor {#form-factor}
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- SSI EEB 3.61 (12"x13")
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### ASUS features
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- Fan Speed Control
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- Rack Ready (Rack and Pedestal dual use)
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### Storage
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- *SATA controller:*
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- AMD SP5100
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- 6 x SATA2 300MB/s
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- *SAS/SATA Controller:*
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- ASUS PIKE2008 3Gbps 8-port SAS card included
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### Networking
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- 2 x Intel® 82574L + 1 x Mgmt LAN
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### Graphics
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- Aspeed AST2050 with 8MB VRAM
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### On board I/O
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- 1 x PSU Power Connector (24-pin SSI power connector + 8-pin SSI
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12V + 8-pin SSI 12V power connector)
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- 1 x Management Connector , Onboard socket for management card
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- 3 x USB pin header , Up to 6 Devices
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- 1 x Internal A Type USB Port
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- 8 x Fan Header , 4pin (3pin/4pin fan dual support)
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- 2 x SMBus
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- 1 x Serial Port Header
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- 1 x TPM header
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- 1 x PS/2 KB/MS port
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### Back I/O ports
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- 1 x External Serial Port
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- 2 x External USB Port
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- 1 x VGA Port
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- 2 x RJ-45
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- 1 x PS/2 KB/Mouse
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### Environment
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- *Operation temperature:* 10C \~ 35C
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- *Non operation temperature:* -40C \~ 70C
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- *Non operation humidity:* 20% \~ 90% ( Non condensing)
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### Monitoring
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- CPU temperatures
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- Fan speed (RPM)
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### Note:
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- \* DDR3 1600 can only be supported with AMD Opteron 6300/6200 series
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processor
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