In trying to get a new u-boot version on the spd8020 I bricked the two I had.
The reason is unclear the new u-boot was tested before writng to flash. The problem seems to be the driver I made to write u-boot to flash when running linux
In principle the new boot is ready and has support for disks with GPT partitions so enabling use of disk bigger then 2TB
Also it has like the lacie devices the possibility to access u-boot via the network connector so without the need to connect to serial console.
But without another spd8020 this project can not continue.
hope someone has one that is no longer used.