Re: [gentoo-embedded] Advantech PCM-3350, linux box, boot from CF

[Daniel]

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On Sat, 13 Dec 2003 02:24 am, you wrote:
> > >  I plan to boot everything from the CompactFlash card (128MB). I also
> > > installed 256MB RAM. I will use an I/O and a multiport RS232 card.
> > >
> > >
> > >  I already tried some installations(basically started with slackware,
> > > but also tried others) but always failed. It boots ok into DOS but
> > > fails booting with LiLo(it returned LI 04 - which shall be "sector not
> > > found"). It runs ok if I boot from a rescue floppy and the chroot to
> > > CF's /.
> >
> > Be very careful with your lilo options. Make sure the specify what the
> > boot device is at bootup (not /dev/sda1 when its attached to you card
> > read/ writer). I remeber I did something with the bios=0x84(?) options in
> > lilo to make it work (I had a harddrive and a compact flash to that may
> > of been related). I'll email my former collegue to attempt to obtain the
> > lilo configuration. I do remember facing a similar problem. lba related
> > maybe but I can't remember exactly.
>
> OK, I actually made it to install lilo on /dev/sda1 (while on desktop
> machine). in lilo.conf everything was /dev/hda1 as will be on the
> industrial box. lilo was called with -b boot-dev witch overides the
> current settings. If lilo started, then this should be ok?
>

The lilo conf from when I used it

boot="/dev/hdc"
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout="50
compact
disk=/dev/hdc bios=0x80
serial=1,9600b8
append="console=tty0 console=ttyS1,9600n8"
default="linuxr"
password="pass"
restricted
image="/boot/bzImage"
	label=linuxr
	root=dev/hdc1

The lilo -b may tell it where to write the image but the config file tells it 
how what is layed out where when it is installed.

The bios=0x80 fixed the problem with the  LI 04 for me. I was using a compact 
flash and a harddrive and booting off the compact flash.

> > >  Now, I have a Gentoo 1.4 running working machine (freshly installed
snip
> I think RAM shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't like to write too much on
> the CF or is the number of writes nowadays unlimited?

Good move.  Comment out bits of the bootup process that write to disk and when 
you think your complete - change the fstab to mount readonly and see what you 
missed.

> > > I would mount the CF for writing settings and some
> > > info.
> > >  At the end I would like to have the major work done on the PC/desktop
> > > and only finalize/debug on the PC/104 box.
> > >  Don't need fancy things, just working environment. It won't have a
> > > standard display/keyboard on runtime, anyway.
> >
> > Look at the serial conole options for the kernel and lilo if you havent'
> > already.

there is the config for it above.

> > >  How would "crossdev-0.2", "base-layout lite", "uclibc buildroot/
> > > toolchain", ...  help in this process? How to get them?
> >
> > crossdev = emerge crossdev
>
> This is then the only one.
> Are out there others, I only mentioned the ones mentioned on the list
> last days?

I the others are work in progress.

> Doesn't want to emerge. It says it is masked. (sorry, new to gentoo)
> I read somewhere about masked.
> Where can I read more on that 'masked' stuff? And how to get it down?

env ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~x86" emerge .....

> > uclibc buildroot = still being worked on although there is an exampe in
> > bug 29312 (http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=29312)
> > base-layout lite = still in design phases.
> >
> > If your arch is the same on both machines. Compile binary packages with
> > the correct optimisations and to a binary install onto the compact flash.
> > Use the "env ROOT=(CF mount point)" to install them.  Always do a pretend
> > first as I have seen some occasion pecularities where it doesn;t want ot
> > install to $ROOT (ref http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=34887)
> >
> > To save disk space do a bind mount (or symlink) on the CF /usr/share/doc
> > some other documentation directories (/usr/share/info /usr/share/man) to
> > local disk space.
>
> info and man pages are not required.

Yep - this places these files in a different directory so they aren't copied.

>  The user won't notice this is a computer - this a weighing machine with
> some I/O. It shall be an industrial controller, then decided for linux
> due to big number of serial ports, printing and later HTTP or FTP access
> for displaying/downloading statistics and maybe(probably, just for the
> fun of doing it) some web management.
>  Display is a 2x16 LCD just for current status, changing params and
> major warnings.
>

sounds good

- -- 

Daniel Black
- --
Proudly a Gentoo Linux User.
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