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jhess

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Posted - 30 Aug 2007 :  15:10:37  Show Profile  Email Poster

Debian Ramdisk 2007-08-27 (armel)

Debian Ramdisk (armel) 2007-08-27 is a root file system that is derived from the Debian (armel) distribution and is trimmed down to fit (compressed) in a 5MB partition in on-board flash, and roughly 12 megs of RAM (once uncompressed). 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.

This image is based on the armel port of Debian, which uses EABI. EABI is a new application binary interface (ABI) for Linux that offers performance improvements over the old ABI. See the EABI FAQ for details.

While EABI has its advantages, this release has the following issues:
  • It is not as well tested or as stable as the regular Debian arm system.
  • It is based on Debian unstable, not on Debian testing, which may make it harder to maintain than our arm releases.
  • The Debian armel port is not yet complete and does not yet contain all all software available for Debian arm.


The ADS Debian ramdisk uses Microwindows/Nano-X as its GUI environment.

The following files are included in this release:
portal/root_config_ramonflash.txt
portal/tty_config.txt
portal/root_config.txt
portal/start.txt
bitsyXb/root_config_ramonflash.txt
bitsyXb/tty_config.txt
bitsyXb/root_config.txt
bitsyXb/start.txt
sphere/root_config_ramonflash.txt
sphere/tty_config.txt
sphere/root_config.txt
sphere/start.txt
vix/root_config_ramonflash.txt
vix/tty_config.txt
vix/root_config.txt
vix/start.txt
MD5SUMS
cmdline.txt
README.txt
cmdline_bitsyx.txt
ramdisk.gz
700050-41122.partno


Usage
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. Note that you must use an EABI version of the kernel, such as the one provided here.

For systems such as the BitsyXb, BitsyG5, TurboXb, Sphere, VGX, VIX, and Portal, which use the u-boot bootloader, a set of u-boot configuration files is needed. See this topic for all the available files, download the appropriate files and copy them to the card. You will need at a minimum start.txt, ramdisk root_config.txt, and a tty_config.txt file for your system. A hw_config.txt file for your system's frame buffer is recommended for best performace of the video demonstration programs included in this distribution.

For PXA systems such as the BitsyX, AGX, and GCX, which do not use the u-boot bootloader, a kernel command line is required to direct the kernel to mount this file system during start up. Download a cmdline.txt file as shown below and copy it to the card, then create a file named ProgramFlash.ads! on the card. A register.txt file is recommended for best performace of the video demonstration programs included in this distribution. Download the register.txt file for your system's frame buffer as shown below and copy it to the card.

On your ADS system, set the first dip switch to ON (Flash Update Mode) make sure that the DIP switches on your system are NOT set to 'secure mode' (secure mode prevents booting from PCMCIA/compact flash).

Now 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, follow these instructions: For boards using the u-boot bootloader, download the ramdisk_from_flash root_config.txt file and reboot the system. For boards not using the u-boot bootloader, create a file named ProgramFlash.ads! on the card. 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.

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.


Command lines
On the BitsyX, use this cmdline.txt.

On AGX, GCX and VGX, use this cmdline.txt.


Verification
MD5SUMS provides MD5 checksums for all files in this release.


History
This ramdisk root file system is derived from Debian and supersedes our previous 2007-03-30 release.


Edited by - adrian on 11 Jan 2008 14:56:43
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