!Snafu v1.65 help file

Introduction
------------

Simtecs Non-specific Advanced Flash Utility(Snafu) is a utility for
reprogramming expansion cards which contain flash re-programmable
eeproms.

Expansion ROMS under RISC os can generally only contain modules, Snafu
will not attempt to program anything that is not a module.

Usage
-----

The Snafu utility has a single window interface.

The main window is divided into three sections.

Greyed out icons indicate the option is not available with the current settings.

The upper section contains a selection list used to select a card to
program.

  There are two buttons:

    "card details" -  obtains card details (manufacturer, vendor, etc.).

    "force handler" - enables the user to force a handler for an
                      unrecognised expansion card

The middle section contains a selection list and controls to change
the module list to program.

    There are several buttons here:

      "Load default modules" - sets the module list to contain the
                               recommended default modules

      "Read from ROM" - reads the modules already present in a flash
                        ROM (if any). This may fail if the expansion
                        card loader has changed significantly from a
                        previous release.

      "Remove" - removes selected module from the list.

      "Remove all" - clears the list.

      "Toggle E.I.P" - toggles the state of execute in place setting for
                       the selected module. Only available for a limited
                       selection of handlers.

The lower section contains :

      "Save image" - saves an image of the current ROM list this is currently
                     non functional (version 1.42)

      "Write" - writes the selected modules to the selected card

      "Close" - Exits the utility.



Notes for Use with Net100 cards
-------------------------------

 - If upgrading from another vendors card often some modules will be
left unplugged, Snafu produces a warning about this. The issue most
often raised is the NET100loader module becoming unplugged, simply use
*RMReinit NET100Loader to fix and check with *ROMModules

Notes for Use with expansion card ROMS
--------------------------------------

 - Currently only expansion ROMS on the Riscstation are supported.

 - Modules are run in one of two modes :
     - Execute In Place(EIP) mode, this means that modules do not occupy
       any ram when initialised. However it places constraints on some
       modules which assume they are being executed from memory.

     - RMA mode, this means the module is copied from ROM into RAM and
       executed from there. Access is typically up to four times faster
       than executing in place at the expense of the extra RAM used.

 - If you have Execute in place modules in use the loader *must* be 
   unplugged (*Unplug ExpansionCardLoader) and the system reset *before* 
   you attempt to re-program the contents of the eeprom. This is because 
   otherwise modules will be running from the ROM as you change its 
   contents which will has disastrous results and may render a machine 
   unbootable until the ROM is removed.

 - If the EEProm has not been previously formated you may have to use
   the "Force handler" option to initialise it. The steps to do this are:

    - Select the "list all cards" radio button.

    - Select slot 3 which may be listed an a simple podule or
      simply be empty.

    - Click the "Force handler" button.

    - Click OK in the confirmation dialog.

    - Select the expansion ROM handler.

    - Select the "list programmable cards" radio button.

    - Proceed "as normal" selecting modules and click "Write Flash"
      when ready.


Support
-------

Please contact your vendor for problems with hardware products.
Please contact support@simtec.co.uk for problems with !Snafu

$Id: !Help,v 1.7 2002/11/18 00:39:31 vince Exp $
