Data Sheet

Interconnects—Ethernet Controller I210
59
Besides these configurable protected areas, some fixed Flash words in the Flash header are also write-
protected from host (RO for host, RW for manageability). It concerns mainly pointers to Flash modules
and other Flash words that are critical for the host to device connectivity over PCIe.
Refer to the right-most column in Table 6-1 for the list of protected words.
Any host attempt to write a protected area or word is silently discarded.
Besides protected areas and words mapped in the shadow RAM, the Secure Firmware Area (pointed by
Flash word 0x10) is always write protected from host. The size of this area is defined in the size field in
the module itself.
3.3.3 Flash Clients and Interfaces
There are several clients that can access the Flash to different address ranges via different access
modes, methods, and interfaces. The various clients to the Flash are software tools (BIOS, etc.),
drivers, MC (via firmware), and VPD software.
Table 3-13 lists the different accesses to the Flash.
Table 3-13. Clients and Access Types to the Flash
Note: Firmware saves words like SMBus Slave Addresses or Signature, which are saved into the Flash at the firmware’s initiative.
Software attempts to write access protected areas or words are silently discarded (access completed but not executed).
Client
Flash
Access
Method
Flash
Access
Mode
Logical Byte
Address
Range
Flash Access Interface (CSRs or Other)
VPD Software Parallel (32-bits) EEPROM
0x000000 -
0x0003FF
VPD Address and Data registers (PCI_E config
space), via shadow RAM logic. Any write access
is pushed by the I210 into the Flash as soon as
possible. VPD module must be located in the first
valid Flash sector.
Software
Parallel (16-bits) EEPROM
0x000000 -
0x000FFF
EERD, EEWR, via shadow RAM logic.
Parallel (32-bits)
Flash
0x000000 -
0x001FFF
Memory mapped via BARs.
Write access to this range is not allowed when in
Secure mode. The transaction is completed but
not executed.
Flash
0x002000 -
0xFFFFFF
Memory mapped via BARs.
Parallel (32-bits)
Flash
0x000000 -
0x001FFF
FLSW* register set - Software/Flash burst
control.
Write access to this range is not allowed when in
Secure mode. The transaction is completed with
FLSWCTL.CMDV bit cleared and not executed.
Flash
0x002000 -
0xFFFFFF
FLSW* register set - Software/Flash burst
control
Software Bit-banging (1-bit) Flash
0x000000 -
0xFFFFFFF
FLA.
Access allowed to Software only when in the
non-secure mode.