How to use the command rpi-eeprom-update (with examples)

The command rpi-eeprom-update is a tool used to update the EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) on a Raspberry Pi and view other relevant information about the EEPROM. The EEPROM stores important firmware and configuration data for the Raspberry Pi.

Use case 1: Print information about the current raspberry pi EEPROM installed

Code:

sudo rpi-eeprom-update

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to check the current firmware version and configuration stored on the EEPROM of your Raspberry Pi. It allows you to ensure that you have the latest firmware updates and verify the configuration settings.

Explanation: The sudo rpi-eeprom-update command without any options simply displays information about the current Raspberry Pi EEPROM installed.

Example output:

BCM2711 detected
VL805 firmware in bootloader EEPROM
BOOTLOADER: up-to-date
CURRENT: Tue Dec  8 00:00:00 UTC 2020 (1607404800)
 LATEST: Tue Dec  8 00:00:00 UTC 2020 (1607404800)
 FW DIR: /lib/firmware/raspberrypi/bootloader/default
VL805: up-to-date
CURRENT: 000137ab
 LATEST: 000137ab

This output indicates that BCM2711 is the detected Raspberry Pi model, the VL805 firmware is used, and both the bootloader and VL805 firmware are up-to-date.

Use case 2: Update a Raspberry Pi EEPROM

Code:

sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a

Motivation: Updating the EEPROM firmware is necessary when new updates are available to fix bugs, add features, or improve compatibility. This use case allows you to update the Raspberry Pi EEPROM to the latest version available.

Explanation: The -a option in sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a triggers a full update of the EEPROM firmware. This will download and flash the latest firmware onto the EEPROM of your Raspberry Pi.

Example output:

 *** INSTALLING EEPROM UPDATES ***
 BOOTLOADER: up-to-date
 CURRENT: Tue Dec  8 00:00:00 UTC 2020 (1607404800)
 LATEST: Mon Apr 19 12:25:37 UTC 2021 (1618837537)
 FW DIR: /lib/firmware/raspberrypi/bootloader/default
 Future updates will be staged in the same way as this update.

 [...]

 *** INSTALLING VL805 FIRMWARE ***
 VL805 firmware: up-to-date
 CURRENT: 000137ab
 LATEST: 000137ad
 Future updates will be staged in the same way as this update.

 [...]

 Successfully updated bootloader EEPROM
 Successfully updated VL805 EEPROM

The output shows the progress of the EEPROM update process, indicating whether the update was successful or not.

Use case 3: Cancel the pending update

Code:

sudo rpi-eeprom-update -r

Motivation: Sometimes the firmware update process may get stuck or fail for some reason. This use case allows you to cancel a pending update and revert to the previous version.

Explanation: The -r option in sudo rpi-eeprom-update -r is used to cancel a pending EEPROM update. It will stop the ongoing update process and restore the previous version of the firmware.

Example output:

Cancelling pending EEPROM update

The output confirms that the pending EEPROM update has been cancelled.

Use case 4: Display help

Code:

rpi-eeprom-update -h

Motivation: If you need a quick reference on how to use the rpi-eeprom-update command and its available options, this use case will display the help information.

Explanation: The -h option in rpi-eeprom-update -h displays the command’s help information, including a list of available options and their descriptions.

Example output:

RPi EEPROM update and recovery
usage: rpi-eeprom-update [OPTION...]

[…]

    -a, --update-all              Update the bootloader and VL805 firmware
    -r, --recover                 Recover default EEPROM images
    -h, --help                    Print this information
    -d, --debug                   Enable debug printouts
    --config=<config_txt>         Use an alternate config.txt file
    --force                       Require update despite checks
    --wait-uart                    Wait for UART console

[…]

Please use with caution:

   * Wrong use of this tool could potentially render your Pi unbootable.

[…]

The output provides a comprehensive list of available options, their descriptions, and some important warnings to use the command with caution.

Conclusion:

The rpi-eeprom-update command is a useful tool for managing and updating the firmware stored in the EEPROM of a Raspberry Pi. It provides an easy way to check the current firmware information, update to newer versions, cancel pending updates, and display help information. Using this command, users can ensure they have the latest firmware updates with improved stability, bug fixes, and added features for their Raspberry Pi devices.