X440 won't boot after FPGA image install

[rflabs]

Hi

We have recently purchased a X440. We got it working with a PC over the 1Gbit Ethernet interface using the X4_200 FPGA image.

We then purchased a 100Gb interface and updated the FPGA image to CG_400. The installation failed - we don't have the error messages that occurred. Since then the board boots to the "BIOS" but no further. The USB serial link shows errors such as:

[1285.090791 power state 3 = S0, in 0x002d]
[1285.092524 power state 3 = S0, in 0x0025]
[1285.163802 power state 3 = S0, in 0x002d]
[1305.304411 HC 0x400b err 1]
[1305.306305 HC 0x08 err 3]
[1305.307143 HC 0x8d err 1]
[1305.309463 HC 0x2b err 1]
[1305.466421 HC 0x70 err 2]
[1305.477090 HC 0xa9 err 1]

We can enter BIOS commands such as "help" but it won't boot into Linux so we can't connect over Ethernet to try it again. Commands available from "help" are pasted below.

We have tried reflashing the firmware using the instructions at https://kb.ettus.com/How_to_Upgrade_X410-X440_MCU_Firmware. This process finished successfully but the X440 still won't boot past the BIOS.

Any help would be appreciated,

Ben

[GDEV · Accepted solution]

Hi Ben,

the USRP X440 relies on processes on an embedded controller running Open Embedded Linux to fully initialize.
Based on your description you may have loaded an incompatible FPGA that now causes the embedded OS to be caught in a boot loop.
I would recommend you try to execute the instructions for X4x0 User Manual - Resetting Boot Environment.

Since you mentioned that you already used the serial link to connect to the onboard SCU, note that the USRP X440 offers a second serial link to the embedded OS (X4x0 User Manual - Serial Connection) that needs to be used to reset the boot environment.

Kind Regards,

[rflabs]

Hi,

Thank you for the reply, I appreciate the help this solved the issue. 

Many thanks,

Ben