Gentoo Archives: gentoo-user

From: meino.cramer@×××.de
To: gentoo-user@l.g.o
Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Shutdown, Gentoo and the Arietta.G25
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 18:29:51
Message-Id: 20141201182942.GE4522@solfire
In Reply to: [gentoo-user] Re: Shutdown, Gentoo and the Arietta.G25 by James
1 James <wireless@×××××××××××.com> [14-12-01 19:12]:
2 > <meino.cramer <at> gmx.de> writes:
3 >
4 >
5 > > But: Shutdown (as recommmended by acmesystems "shutdown -h -H now")
6 > > REBOOTS the system instead of powering it down.
7 >
8 > What about "halt"? man halt
9 >
10 > > What is the difference here?
11 > > Isn't it, that all shutdown applications only send some instructions
12 > > to the kernel and the kernel is the main actor in bringing the system
13 > > down?
14 >
15 > > Meino
16 >
17 >
18 > Meino, "it's an embedded system". That can mean unique hardware, via
19 > the SoC, hidden codes via the in-situ firmware, or a myriad of things
20 > hidden in the "recommended" kernel(s). Many embedded developers
21 > forked off their own "embedded kernel" form linux via the 2.2 or 2.4
22 > kernel series.
23 >
24 > So, you have to "fully characterize" the system. Which is difficult to
25 > impossible, as the vendor wants to retain control in most circumstances.
26 > The good news is most "hardware vendors" are dumb, when it comes to codes;
27 > so there is most always a work-around; hence "man halt" as for your
28 > next leg of the journey?
29 >
30 > hth,
31 > James
32 >
33
34 Hi James,
35
36 :)
37
38 The complete software is open source. The patches from acmesystems to (or is
39 "against" the better english word for that process???) the
40 kernel are only adding dts/dtb files (device
41 tree...kinda "config file to tell the kernel at what adress what
42 hardware is, what size the memory/flash is etcetera"...human readable)
43 and prepare an already done kernel configuration. There is no "hiding"
44 by acmesystems. No propietary firmware blob (ok...there is one...but it is for
45 the additional Ralink Wifi chip and is offered inside a Linux.firmware.tar.gz
46 indepandantly from acmesystems.)
47
48 The hardware itself consists of an AT91SAM9G25 CPU by Atmel and 256 MB
49 of RAM (and some analog power thingies and regulators) and a Mico-USB
50 socket. And lots of GPIO connectors. The hardware is such a "Middle of
51 the road" that Robert Nelsons said, that even a complete mainline
52 kernel just directly taken from Linus desktop would work.
53
54 The problem with shutdown was mentioned in their "Trouble shooting
55 FAQ" and it was said, that instead of "halt" one should use "shutdown
56 -h -H now"...which works with a Debian system...but not with Gentoo.
57
58 They describe how to compile the kernel thet use...:
59 Fetch the 3.16.1 kernel from ftp.kernel.org
60 Apply the patch
61 Compile the kernel and the modules
62 Install it on the SDcard.
63 Add a rootfs
64 Done.
65 No hiding or propietary stuff.
66 Just open source.
67
68 The problem I think is burried under the differences of both rootfs:
69 Debian and Gentoo
70
71 Best regards,
72 Meino

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Subject Author
[gentoo-user] Re: Shutdown, Gentoo and the Arietta.G25 James <wireless@×××××××××××.com>