Debian Ramdisk 2005-04-26-B (Sarge)
Debian Ramdisk 2005-04-26-B [MD5] is a root file system that is derived from the Debian (Sarge) distribution and is trimmed down to fit (compressed) in a 5MB partition in on-board flash. The bootloader will copy the ramdisk.gz image from on-board flash or an ATA flash card into RAM where the kernel will find and uncompress it during start up.
Usage
To use it, download the ramdisk.gz image from the link above and copy it to an ATA flash card. Also copy onto the card, the kernel zImage file for the kernel you want to use. This README.txt file provides more information on using the ramdisk. See the main README.txt for the 2005-04-26-B ADS Debian release for detailed information about the root filesystems.
NOTE: This root filesystem only runs a single getty process for serial login. The SERIALGETTY parameter controls which serial line is used. If the SERIALGETTY parameter is not supplied in the kernel command line, the root filesystem will default to ttyS0. To login on a different port, you will need a kernel command line that includes this parameter (e.g. to use the debug port on a BitsyX, you will need SERIALGETTY=ttyS1).
On the BitsyX, use this cmdline.txt:
console=ttyS1,38400 rw SERIALGETTY=ttyS1 ramdisk_size=12288 initrd=0xA0800000,5m root=/dev/ram mtdparts=pxa:256k(adslinux.rom),1536k(zImage),5m(ramdisk.gz),-(flashfs1) quiet_console=null
On AGX, GCX and VGX, use this cmdline.txt:console=ttyS0,38400 rw SERIALGETTY=ttyS0 ramdisk_size=12288 initrd=0xA0800000,5m root=/dev/ram mtdparts=pxa:256k(adslinux.rom),1536k(zImage),5m(ramdisk.gz),-(flashfs1) quiet_console=null
On your ADS System, set the first dip switch to ON (Flash Update Mode), insert the card, and boot your system. The kernel and ramdisk root file system will be loaded from the card, and Linux will start. Booting from the card this way allows you to try different kernels and ramdisks until you satisfied - without having to erase and reprogram on-flash memory.
If and when you want to install the kernel and ramdisk and boot from on-board flash, instead of the ATA flash card, create a file named ProgramFlash.ads! on the card and reboot the system. The bootloader will erase everything in on-board flash (except the bootloader itself) and program (copy) the images on the ATA card to on-board flash. The kernel and ramdisk will be loaded from on-board flash and the ramdisk will be uncompressed and mounted when Linux starts.
Delete the ProgramFlash.ads! file and remove the ATA flash card to prevent an unnecessary erase/reprogramming of on-board flash the next time you reboot. See the bootloader manual for more information on the dip switch settings and boot options.HistoryThis ramdisk root file system is derived from Debian and supersedes our previous 2004-04-26 release. This release and the previous one have the same date because they are based on the same 2005-04-26 Debian distribution, however, this release (2005-04-26-B) has updated ADS modifications.
This ramdisk is very similar to our previous Debian-based ramdisk. If you have used non-Debian based ramdisks from us in the past, however, you will find some differences. Most of the utilities (e.g. ls, cd, and cp) are provided by busybox in both ramdisks and will work in the same manner. On the other hand, many of the programs (e.g minicom) and daemons (in.telnetd) have been replaced with similar items. Also, the Debian distribution has a different layout for things like /etc/rc.d so you may need to search a little bit if you can't find something where you expect it.
We have tried to preserve and extend the functionality of our old ramdisks in the new one. Please let us know if there is something you miss in the new ramdisk.
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Posted - 19 Aug 2005 : 10:56:48
