OS neutral BIOS updates.

[Harald_Jensas at Dell.com]

Update packages for RedHat Linux is available on http://support.dell.com
 
Also if you have a look at the BIOSdisk project you will find software that can extract the floopy IMG files you want from the EXE files on http://support.dell.com.
Also explanation on how to update your BIOS using GRUB and MEMDISK to emulate a floppy.
 
More info here:
http://linux.dell.com/projects.shtml#biosdisk
 


I can see that Matt already replied on the forum you mentioned, and that he gave you a hint about firmware-tools and http://fwupdate.com/

At FWupdate.com you can read:

Adding other operating systems / Linux distributions
If you're interested in porting the firmware-tools project software, or enabling non-RPM package formats (say Gentoo or Debian), please send an email to the firmware-tools project public mailing list (http://lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/firmware-tools-devel). We'd welcome expert assistance. 

So I guess, if the Mandriva community is interested....


//
Harald Jensås
 


________________________________

	From: linux-poweredge-bounces at dell.com [mailto:linux-poweredge-bounces at dell.com] On Behalf Of James, Rick
	Sent: 02 June 2006 18:25
	To: linux-poweredge-Lists
	Subject: OS neutral BIOS updates.
	
	

	Question: Why are Dell BIOS updates distributed as .exe files which must be run from a Microsoft environment and which the user must already have?

	This creates a great deal of inconvenience for users of Linux (and other OS's) unnecessarily. 

	I am requesting that you provide bootable 1.44MB floppy image files (.img) and/or bootable CD (.iso) images which includes just enough of an OS (DRDOS, Linux, whatever) to flash the BIOS ROM.

	Even though this is the PowerEdge list, my request is for all Dell Server, Desktop and Laptop products. 

	Please see this site for an example of the hoops you currently make us go through. 

	http://forum.mandrivaclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=49956 <http://forum.mandrivaclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=49956>  

	Thank you, 
	Rick James