Flash Images

Intel® Ethernet Adapters and Devices User Guide

ID	Date	Version	Classification
705831	11/28/2024		Public

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“Flash” is a generic term for nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM), firmware, and option ROM (OROM). Depending on the device, it can be on the Ethernet adapter or on the system board.

This page describes how to update the flash for the following OSes:

Microsoft Windows*
Linux*
UEFI

Note:

You cannot update the flash of a device in the “Pending Reboot” state. Reboot your system before attempting to update the device’s flash.

Updating the Flash in Microsoft Windows

Intel® PROSet for Windows* Device Manager can update the flash on an Intel® Ethernet network adapter. However, if you need to enable or disable the Boot ROM, use BootUtil. See Intel® Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility for more information on using BootUtil.

Intel PROSet for Windows Device Manager can only be used to program add-in Intel Ethernet network adapters. LOM (LAN On Motherboard) network connections cannot be programmed with the UEFI network driver option ROM.

Note:

This functionality is not supported in Intel® PROSet Adapter Configuration Utility (Intel® PROSet ACU).

Using Intel® PROSet to Flash the UEFI Network Driver Option ROM

Intel PROSet for Windows Device Manager can install the UEFI network driver on an Intel network adapter’s option ROM. The UEFI network driver will load automatically during system UEFI boot when installed in the option ROM.

UEFI-specific .FLB images are included in the downloaded release media. The “Boot Options” tab in Intel PROSet for Windows Device Manager will allow the UEFI .FLB image to be installed on the network adapter.

Note:

This functionality is not supported in Intel® PROSet Adapter Configuration Utility (Intel® PROSet ACU).

Updating the Flash from Linux

The BootUtil command line utility can update the flash on an Intel Ethernet network adapter. Run BootUtil with the following command line options to update the flash on all supported Intel network adapters. For example, enter the following at the command line:

bootutil64e -up=efi -all

See Intel® Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility for more information on using BootUtil.

Note:

BootUtil can only be used to program add-in Intel Ethernet network adapters. LOM (LAN On Motherboard) network connections cannot be programmed with the UEFI network driver option ROM.

Installing the UEFI Network Driver Option ROM from the UEFI Shell

The BootUtil command line utility can install the UEFI network driver on an Intel network adapter’s option ROM. The UEFI network driver will load automatically during system UEFI boot when installed into the option ROM.

For example, run BootUtil with the following command line options to install the UEFI network driver on all supported Intel network adapters:

FS0:\>bootutil64e -up=efi -all

See Intel® Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility for more information on using BootUtil.

Note:

BootUtil can only be used to program add-in Intel Ethernet network adapters. LOM (LAN On Motherboard) network connections cannot be programmed with the UEFI network driver option ROM.