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The primary function of the AT9Tool is to serve as an In-System Programmer (ISP) for AVR chips, particularly the ATmega8, ATmega328, and ATmega8515. Unlike official programmers such as the Atmel-ICE, the AT9Tool is typically built from scratch using a handful of common components: a breadboard, a few resistors, a voltage regulator, and a parallel port or USB-to-serial adapter. Its name derives from the original 9-pin D-sub connector used in early designs, though modern versions often employ USB interfaces. The tool communicates with the microcontroller via the SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) bus, allowing it to flash new bootloaders, extract existing firmware, or reset fuse bitsâthe low-level configuration settings that control clock sources, boot vector addresses, and memory lock. For hobbyists resurrecting a chip with disabled reset pins or incorrect clock settings, the AT9Tool can be a lifesaver, offering a low-cost way to recover hardware that would otherwise be discarded.
Despite its utility, the AT9Tool has faded somewhat from mainstream discussion, largely due to the proliferation of cheap USBasp programmers and the rise of ARM-based microcontrollers. However, it retains a devoted following among retrocomputing enthusiasts and those working with older AVR chips in legacy systems. Moreover, the principles embodied by the AT9Toolâopen documentation, accessible hardware, and user-controlled programmingâremain more relevant than ever in an era of right-to-repair legislation and growing concerns about planned obsolescence. The tool stands as a testament to the idea that with sufficient knowledge and determination, the barrier between user and device can be dramatically lowered. at9tool
In the sprawling ecosystem of electronics hobbyists, Arduino developers, and reverse engineers, few tools have garnered as much quiet utilityâand occasional controversyâas the AT9Tool. While not a household name like a multimeter or a soldering station, the AT9Tool occupies a specific and valuable niche: it is a homemade programming interface and hardware modification device designed primarily for working with AVR microcontrollers, specifically the ATmega series. At its core, the AT9Tool represents the spirit of open-source ingenuity, allowing users to read, write, and debug firmware on chips that might otherwise be locked, bricked, or obsolete. However, its capabilities also place it at the center of debates regarding hardware security, intellectual property, and ethical reverse engineering. To understand the AT9Tool is to understand a microcosm of the modern maker movementâits triumphs, its technical challenges, and its gray areas. The primary function of the AT9Tool is to
The construction and use of an AT9Tool require a moderate level of technical competence. A builder must understand basic electronicsâresistor values, voltage levels (3.3V vs. 5V logic), and signal timing. The software side typically involves command-line tools like avrdude , which supports the AT9Tool through a custom configuration. Because the tool lacks the sophisticated error handling of commercial programmers, users must be meticulous: a miswired connection can easily short the chip or corrupt the firmware. Yet this very fragility is educational. Building an AT9Tool forces a hobbyist to learn how SPI works, how memory mapping functions, and how low-level debugging operates. It is a rite of passage for many embedded systems learners, bridging the gap between high-level Arduino abstractions and raw microcontroller operation. The tool communicates with the microcontroller via the
Beyond basic programming, the AT9Tool is prized for its ability to bypass certain security mechanisms. AVR microcontrollers include "lock bits" that, when set, prevent external reading of the flash memory. The AT9Tool, in skilled hands, can sometimes circumvent these protections through fault injection or timing attacks, though this is far from trivial. More commonly, it is used to read firmware from a chip that has not been fully locked, allowing hobbyists to learn from existing code or to backup proprietary configurations before modification. This capability walks a fine line: for an engineer maintaining legacy industrial equipment, it is indispensable; for someone attempting to clone a commercial product, it is legally and ethically problematic. The tool itself is neutral, but its applications are not.
In conclusion, the AT9Tool is far more than a simple programming cable. It is a symbol of the do-it-yourself ethos, a practical educational tool, and a point of tension in the ongoing dialogue between hardware manufacturers and end users. It empowers individuals to repair, modify, and understand their devices while also raising legitimate questions about security and intellectual property. For the hobbyist willing to learn its intricacies, the AT9Tool offers a rare kind of freedom: the ability to reach into a silicon chip and read its deepest secrets. For the rest of us, it serves as a reminder that hardware, no matter how polished, is never truly sealed against determined human curiosity.
15 thoughts on âHow to install Adobe ColdFusion 9 x64 on Windows Server 2016/2019 x64â
Great article, lots of steps but worked like a charm. CF 9 is the last version I have, but I recently upgraded servers to Windows 2016 Server and didnât want to upgrade CF at the huge cost for the small website I maintain. Still trying to get other websites to work other than the default, but Iâll get through that now that CF is working.
Hi Tom
Glad to hear things worked well. Enjoy and Cheers
Tom
This is a really good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
Simple but very precise information⊠Thanks for sharing this one.
A must read article!
Up graded the server to 2016, the reinstall worked like a charm, lots of information, obviously lots of time and work put into this. Thank you very much for sharing.
The JWildCardHandler wildcard broke the regular sites so I removed that handler and so far everything is working fine for me anyhow.
Didnât want to update from CF 9 could not justify the expense for 2 websites we serve.
Thanks again for a great how-to post!
Tom, this is indeed a very helpful breakdown. (There are still other ways to make things work, but Iâm sure many will be satisfied with this alone.)
That said, and while you mention security a few times, it really should be emphasized very strongly to people doing this: beware that youâre using a version of CF that is 9 years old! (as of this writing): since then we have CF10, 11, 2016, and 2018, all of which have had major security enhancements (and of course many other enhancements).
Keep in mind that CF9 stopped being updated in 2013. There have been no more public bug fixesâor security updates to itâsince then. That said, some good news is that some of the security improvements in 10 were actually also made available as security hotfixes for 9 (and even 8 back then), so at least having those updates in place would be better than running a stock 9 install.
But many people find that they have never have applied any CF9 updates, let alone security updates.
I have many blog posts about CF9 updates, and I did one that pulls all the info together (including tools and other resources), which may help some readers in that boat:
http://www.carehart.org/blog/client/index.cfm/2014/3/14/cf9_and_earlier_hotfix_guide
I can also help people with doing such updates, if interested. Though again I always warn folks that this is a bit like putting lipstick on a pig.
And Iâm simply warning folks here that trying to force CF9 to work on Windows 2016 (or 2012) is basically playing with a loaded gun. Youâre updating the OS because you want to/feel you have to but you are not updating CF (perhaps because it will cost money or you fear compatibility issues, or whatever).
Maybe the better analogy is that itâs a WW2 era gun. You might be able to get it cheaper, or itâs just âwhat you knowâ and prefer to use, and you MIGHT take really good care of it, but just beware that if not taken care of it may well explode in your face. So be careful out there.
You are God sendâŠ. CF9 works now on Windows 2012
Following your guide, with minor adjustments, I was able to get ColdFusion 9 to run on Windows Server 2019! My only problem is now ASP.net sites serve up â404 â File or directory not found. The resource you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.â errors. I moved the five Handler Mappings âScript Mapâ down from the top level to a specific CF9 site thinking it would help the ASP.net site. The CF9 site runs beautifully yet the change didnât help my ASP.net situation. Iâm hopeful someone can provide insight into what may have caused this problem and how to fix it.
Hi Rick
> My only problem is now ASP.net sites serve up â404 â File or directory not found.
Did you remove all handler mappings as described?
Regards
Tom
I only added the handler mappings, left the others alone. Although the original ones fell below the fold post moving the custom Handler Mappings to the top of the Ordered List.
Try to move the Static Handler Mapping with the wildcard path (*) below the .asp or .aspx handler and probably play around with the 32-bit application pool setting âSet Enable 32-bit Applicationsâ. Also check if you have a blocking rule at âRequest Filteringâ options within IIS. To be sure, execute a âiisresetâ command after your modifications and before you test.
I am looking at doing an inplace upgrade from 2008r2â>2012r2 with CF9 installed. Has anyone seen how this reacts?
I didnât. Maybe you install a fresh server and then use the âPackaging&Deploymentâ functionality to migrate all your stuff over to the new server. Have a look at the CF Administrator at âPackaging&Deploymentâ -> âColdFusion Archivesâ. I donât know if this works. You probably try it on a testsystem first. I always installed fresh and did a manual migration.
Thanks for response! I was trying to avoid building out a new box as I will be retiring Cold Fusion (finally) in 2020.
I will give the upgrade path ago (2008r2â>2012â>2016) in my test environment and report back what craziness happens.
OK,
The in place upgrade from 2008r2â> 2012 r2 standard went well. I am working through Java.lan.NullPointerException 500 error with CF9 though. Keep you all posted.
Hello,
Just wanted to drop in and say that I successfully did an in-place upgrade of a 2008r2 box running CF9 and it went really well. Aside re-installing .net 4.7 our CF9 installation didnât seem to mind. Good luck out people.