Cannot update coreboot for StarBook VI (Intel)

[zeroskyx]

Greetings,

attempting to update coreboot via sudo fwupdmgr update fails with failed to open device for prepare: failed to read layout from Intel ICH descriptor

fwupdmgr (and the whole system) is updated. System is Linux zeroskyx-star6 6.7.6-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:31:48 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux running on Arch/ Gnome 45.

Additional information from fwupdmgr get-updates:

Star Labs StarBook
│
└─StarBook (bios):
  │   Device ID:          dbee8bd3b1ae0316ad143336155651eedb495a0e
  │   Current version:    8.95
  │   Vendor:             Star Labs (DMI:coreboot)
  │   Release Branch:     coreboot
  │   GUIDs:              7227cf32-bb0f-5894-8d66-c91a43c10eae ← FLASHROM\VENDOR_Star Labs&PRODUCT_StarBook&REGION_BIOS
  │                       12de99d7-d328-5bc2-b391-64eab51edea4 ← FLASHROM\GUID_12122d1c-c383-5583-9cb7-3ba8d220913d
  │                       29ce8545-a416-5f70-8735-a2f6e795a3ea ← Star Labs&B62-I&StarBook&B62-I&Star Labs&StarBook
  │                       0d61c51d-51db-58cf-8901-61a3c2803dcd ← Star Labs&B62-I&StarBook&B62-I
  │                       c6bfd6ae-2931-5711-88c1-2923b0141cb7 ← Star Labs&B62-I&StarBook
  │                       b57d4d60-b1af-584d-81b3-c3eb7d9e60b5 ← Star Labs&B62-I&Star Labs&StarBook
  │                       595c5861-a105-509b-8dd6-f77070345286 ← Star Labs&B62-I&StarBook&B62-I&coreboot
  │   Device Flags:       • Internal device
  │                       • Updatable
  │                       • System requires external power source
  │                       • Supported on remote server
  │                       • Needs shutdown after installation
  │                       • Cryptographic hash verification is available
  │ 
  └─StarBook MkVIr2-Intel coreboot System Update:
        New version:      24.02
        Remote ID:        lvfs
        Release ID:       86144
        Branch:           coreboot
        Summary:          coreboot firmware for StarBook MkVIr2-Intel
        License:          Proprietary
        Size:             33.6 MB
        Created:          2024-02-23
        Urgency:          Medium
        Tested by Star Labs:
          Tested:         2024-02-26
          Distribution:   ubuntu 23.10
          Old version:    8.95
          Version[fwupd]: 2.0.0
        Tested by Star Labs:
          Tested:         2024-02-23
          Distribution:   ubuntu 23.10
          Old version:    9.04
          Version[fwupd]: 1.9.13
        Vendor:           Star Labs
        Release Flags:    • Trusted metadata
                          • Is upgrade
                          • Tested by trusted vendor
        Description:      
        This release includes the following features:

        • Rebased on coreboot 24.02.
        • Rebased on edk2/master.
        • Enabled PMC muxing to save power.
        • Removed the option for automatic power-on when connecting to a charger.
        • Changed PECI to IRQ-driven operation for improved efficiency.
        • Emptied the keyboard buffer more quickly.
        • Switched the compiler from Keil to SDCC.
        • Enabled automatic power-on after an EC update.
        • Fixed an issue that prevented the scheduler from running.
        • Reduced false over-current protection warnings.
        • Only wake from sleep when the lid is closed with an active PD connection.
        • Optimised the Keyboard Controller initialization.
        • Added a simple cbmem-style console that uses the PMC interface.
        • Adjusted the muxing to prevent coreboot from disconnecting displays on boot.
        • Optimised i2c operations.
        • Added support for 100W PD (Power Delivery) chargers.
        • Improved S3 resume times.
        • Added options to disable the card reader and fingerprint reader.
        • Changed the default fan profile to Balanced.
        Checksum:         a42cb20e436c2516643ef3509dc9676a529eaeec097520b80a6dfd6f86584019

Help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance -Simon

[Sean-StarLabs]

Hi

sudo fwupdmgr update

That'll break the database, see here

But assuming it's not this, then unfortunately, not a foggy. I'd hazard a guess that something in your kernel config is blocking access, as having a version of flashrom that predates decriptors would be impressive.

[zeroskyx]

Hi Sean,

thanks for the feedback! Turns out it was something else: the flashrom package on Arch (v1.2) doesn't appear to work with the update.
Installing flashrom-git from the AUR (v1.4 -- don't be fooled by the version in the title) solved the issue and the update worked nicely.

Maybe putting this piece of information into the update README could also help others :)

Enjoy!

[Sean-StarLabs]

I think this covers it already