# Tales from the Bringup Lab

- Show: [Oxide and Friends](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends)
- Published: 2021-12-07
- Length: 1h 42m
- Episode: 25
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9ed140d2

## Summary

Nathanael Huffman, Eric Aasen, and Rick Altherr of Oxide Computer Company recount the bring-up of their server board, detailing the debugging of an AMD SP3 Milan processor. They describe fixing a 'zombie board' caused by a schematic error in the power supply, resolving an I2C level shifter issue, and overcoming an infinite reset loop. The breakthrough came when Eric Aasen identified a firmware bug in the SDLE load simulator's handling of VOTF packets, followed by a final fix for swapped SPI data pins and broken test cables.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab#t=0) Introduction: First power-on and expectations
- [6:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab#t=366) Board architecture: AMD SP3, IBC, and power design
- [14:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab#t=872) iCE40 FPGA configuration and service processor bring-up
- [33:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab#t=2002) Zombie board: Power supply failure and thermal imaging
- [47:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab#t=2849) I2C level shifter undefined behavior and debugging
- [1:09:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab#t=4187) Valley of despair: Infinite reset loop and voltage foldback
- [1:24:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab#t=5041) Breakthrough: SDLE firmware bug and VOTF packets
- [1:30:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab#t=5444) Final fixes: SPI pin swap and broken DuPont wires

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Oxide Computer Company (company)
- AMD (company)
- SP3 (chip)
- Milan (chip)
- iCE40 (chip)
- SDLE (tool)
- FLIR (tool)
- FTDI (chip)
- Renesas (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [203: Save My Board](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-06-08-203-save-my-board) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-02-25-the-spark-gap-episode-27) (The Spark Gap)
- [405: Bacta Tank for Your Brain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-03-11-405-bacta-tank-for-your-brain) (Embedded.fm)
- [Wrong Hardware, Wrong Software - Fugacious Fan Funding](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-09-08-wrong-hardware-wrong-software-fugacious-fan-funding) (The Amp Hour)
- [38: Blame the Monkey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-07-tales-from-the-bringup-lab. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Oxide and Friends.