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Update EEPROM for Compute Module 4

What is Compute Module 4

The Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) leverages the computing power of the popular Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, with dramatic performance changes compared to its predecessor: faster CPU cores, better multimedia, more interface capabilities. And for the first time, this release offers multiple choices of RAM density and wireless connectivity options.

In terms of external dimensions, this version adopts a completely new mechanical standard. The overall footprint of the module on its carrier board is reduced, resulting in a smaller and more compact form factor suitable for integration into products.

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note

The power of Raspberry Pi 4 in a compact form factor for deeply embedded applications. Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 incorporates a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor, dual video output, and a wide selection of other interfaces. Available in 32 variants, with a range of RAM and eMMC Flash options, and with or without wireless connectivity. -- Raspbarry Pi CM4{target=_blank}

Seeed Studio Compute Module 4 Products​

reTerminalEdgebox-RPI-100EdgeLogix-RPI-1000reRouterDual Gigabit Ethernet NICs Carrier Board
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How to update CM4 EEPROM​

Prerequisite​

Hardware Required:

  • Linux Based Host Computer(could be one of following):
    • Raspberry Pi 4B with Raspberry Pi OS installed
    • PC with latest Ubuntu OS installed
  • USB Type-C cable

Applicable Seeed Studio Hardware:

reTerminalreRouterDual Gigabit Ethernet NICs Carrier Board
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note

This process requires to put the CM4 eMMC stroage into 'USB mass storage' mode, which currently on applicable with reRouter and reTerminal. If you have Edgebox-RPI-200 or EdgeLogix-RPI-1000 you will need to have a CM4 development board that could put CM4 eMMC storage into USB storage mode, For example Dual Gigabit Ethernet NICs Carrier Board{target=_blank}

Put CM4 eMMC Storage into USB mass storage Mode​

For reTerminal

  • Step 1: Open the case and remove the heatsink of reTerminal to get access the boot selection switch, Please follow the steps from the reTerminal Getting Started Wiki Page until you have flipped the boot mode switch.

For reRouter

  • Step 1: Open the case of reRouter by remove the bottom 4 screws and the bottom cover as shown below:

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  • Step 2: Slide down the reRouter board from the case and take it out

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  • Step 3: Locate the 3-pin interface and short the GND and BOOT pins.
note

Dual Gigabit Ethernet NICs Carrier Board is the same PCB as the reRouter which just need to do the Step 3 to select the boot mode.

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Software Setup and Update EEPROM Firmware​

On your PC or Raspberry Pi 4B (Flash Tool)

note

To update the EEPROM for raspberry pi only support with Linux based operating system, The following steps only tested on PC with Ubuntu 22.04 and Raspberry Pi 4B (Flash Tool) with Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)

  • Step 1: Install required system software package, please open Terminal app and type follow command:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt install git pkg-config make gcc libusb-1.0-0-dev
  • Step 2: Clone the usbboot tool repository
cd ~/

git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/raspberrypi/usbboot

cd usbboot
  • Step 3: Build the usbboot tool

make
  • Step 4: Update the EEPROM
note

The usbboot github repo should have the latest EEPROM bootloader firmware updated, so following step should get you updated to the latest EEPROM bootloader firmware


cd recovery

./update-pieeprom.sh

You should see the similar message as shown below:

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Optional: If you want use the specific release of the bootloader firmware you could visit the rpi-eeprom{target=_blank} repo firmware folder to select and download firmware bin file to replace the pieeprom.original.bin file, For example:

note

This optinal step will replace the pieeprom.original.bin file with the latest stable build pieeprom-2023-01-11.bin at the time of writing this wiki.


cd ~/usbboot/recovery

rm -f pieeprom.original.bin

curl -L -o pieeprom.original.bin https://github.com/raspberrypi/rpi-eeprom/blob/master/firmware/stable/pieeprom-2023-01-11.bin

./update-pieeprom.sh

You should see the similar message as shown below:

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  • Step 5: Connect the USB Type-C to the CM4 Device(reTerminal \ reRouter \ Dual Gigabit Ethernet NICs Carrier Board) and the Host PC/Rasbperry Pi 4B(Flash Tool) Device, which the CM4 Device should be put into the USB massive storage mode.

  • Step 6: To apply and update the EEPROM firmware


cd ~/usbboot

./rpiboot -d recovery

You should see the similar message as shown below:

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At this point your CM4 Device should have the new boot order setup and updated EEPROM firmware.

Change Boot Order and Update EEPROM​

note

You should have followed the above setup step until Step 3

  • Step 1: Edit the boot.conf
cd ~/usbboot/recovery

nano boot.conf

the file should look like as following:


[all]
BOOT_UART=0
WAKE_ON_GPIO=1
POWER_OFF_ON_HALT=0
 
# Try SD first (1), followed by, USB PCIe, NVMe PCIe, USB SoC XHCI then network
BOOT_ORDER=0xf25641
 
# Set to 0 to prevent bootloader updates from USB/Network boot
# For remote units EEPROM hardware write protection should be used.
ENABLE_SELF_UPDATE=1

where the BOOT_ORDER=0xf25641 line is the Boot order settings, where the current boot order setting is SD CARD/eMMC > USB-MSD > NVME > BCM-USB-MSD > NETWORK > RESTART. If you want to change to boot order to NVME > USB-MSD > BCM-USB-MSD > SD CARD/eMMC > NETWORK > RESTART the boot order setting should be BOOT_ORDER=0xf21564.

Therefore the new boot order setting the boot.conf should looks like following:


[all]
BOOT_UART=0
WAKE_ON_GPIO=1
POWER_OFF_ON_HALT=0
 
# Try SD first (1), followed by, USB PCIe, NVMe PCIe, USB SoC XHCI then network
BOOT_ORDER=0xf21564
 
# Set to 0 to prevent bootloader updates from USB/Network boot
# For remote units EEPROM hardware write protection should be used.
ENABLE_SELF_UPDATE=1

Save and exit the nano editor.

The following is the table that defines the property of different boot modes setting for BOOT_ORDER for reference.

ValueModeDescription
0x0SD CARD DETECTTry SD then wait for card-detect to indicate that the card has changed - deprecated now that 0xf (RESTART) is available.
0x1SD CARD/eMMCSD card (or eMMC on Compute Module 4).
0x2NETWORKNetwork boot
0x3RPIBOOTRPIBOOT
0x4USB-MSDUSB mass storage boot
0x5BCM-USB-MSDUSB 2.0 boot from USB Type C socket (CM4: USB type A socket on CM4IO board).
0x6NVMECM4 only: boot from an NVMe SSD connected to the PCIe interface.
0x7HTTPHTTP boot over ethernet.
0xeSTOPStop and display error pattern. A power cycle is required to exit this state.
0xfRESTARTRestart from the first boot-mode in the BOOT_ORDER field i.e. loop

Reference: BOOT_ORDER Property Table

  • Step 2: Get the latest firmware

wget -O pieeprom.original.bin https://github.com/raspberrypi/rpi-eeprom/blob/master/firmware/stable/pieeprom-2023-01-11.bin
  • Step 3: Update the EEPROM firmware with the new boot.conf

./update-pieeprom.sh

  • Step 4: Connect the USB Type-C to the CM4 Device(reTerminal \ reRouter \ Dual Gigabit Ethernet NICs Carrier Board) and the Host PC/Rasbperry Pi 4B(Flash Tool) Device, which the CM4 Device should be put into the USB massive storage mode.

  • Step 5: Apply the firmware to the device

cd ~/usbboot

sudo ./rpiboot -d recovery

You should see the similar message as shown below:

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At this point your CM4 Device should have the new boot order setup and updated EEPROM firmware.

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