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Jacobi - 2012-01-16 5:55 AM
Thanks for posting here!
I expect many users and readers in the other guru thread on Linux for the Psion NBP
are dealing with the 256MB RAM version, which may have other differences besides the RAM?
As you see from the title of this thread, here we are dealing specifically with the regular, 128MB version.
Please confirm, do the files you refer to in your whole post, work well on the 128MB NBP?
Hi there, nice to see there's still people out there with interest in useful equipment
All I was saying was about the nbp 128MB revision, none of the devs has a nbp 256MB so nothing was tested there
(yet
).
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I'm a newbie as regards Linux, so your post was elusive for me in places,
please answer these questions so I could succeed in doing the basics to install Linux:
1- can you give me a working, current link to download the file nBkProOs.img?
Or can you upload it to hpcfactor and post the link?
At present there is only the above mentioned toolchain on openembedded. If hpcfactor has file storage facilities
(didn't know that
) I will try to upload a kernel image here, but the rootfs is about 100 to 120 MB, not sure if that is possible. If it is then somebody just say and I'll make a post with a 125MB attachement right here
EDIT: just checked, max file size is 100KB, that's not enough for even the kernel.
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2- can I use FAT32 instead of FAT16 for the CF?
short answer - Nope won't be possible
(unless someone recodes the boost bootloader, which is rather unlikely to happen as the chances are good for obtaining a brick
)
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3- please post the full filename and a link to the current best file compilation to unpack into the ext2 partition?
The way to obtain that currently is by running a build with the openembedded toolchain. That is, I admit, by no means the way a normal user should get his kernel and rootfs, but at the moment it's the only way. As soon as there is an image that has enouh stuff working
(eg []{} on kbd not working atm, no locales etc
) I'm sure we will find a way to officially release it to the public. There is also work to have a different GUI than lxdm
(eg gpe/qt4 and/or e17
), and some programs are ported
(eg emacs
). I'll try to find a good way to have a download link for an unfinished image so people can try and see without having to learn oe.
Nevertheless you can try to do the build yourself, but be aware that this is no trivial procedure and will require a lot of reading and google searches.
I will give some links at the end of the post.
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to make sure, please explicit the correct the sequence and correct timing?
The instructions I read led me to believe that ctrl-d-esc had to be pressed while the paperclip presses on reset. That's not the case:
1
)press reset, and then release it
2
)now hit ctrl-d and hold it down
3
)hit esc and let all three go
that's all it takes. Just said that because I sometimes tried for minutes without turning it on again -.-
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Also, how to load the new Linux system?
The instructions I had read when I started this thread were for the original OEM Psion Linux distro,
The instructions stayed the same: two partitions on CF, one FAT16 for nBkProOs.img and one ext2 for rootfs
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and I had asked for a link to download that image but did not receive it...
OK I will give you this one link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/67872227/soho-image-netbook-pro-2005010...
Be aware that it took me 30 secs to find that in google the day the netbook came to me
(30.12.2012
)
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It's been a long time.... so I would like now, to try the current distro that's out there,
but I need new step-by-step instructions, i.e. explicit for someone who does not know Linux.
Well firstly, there is no distro. There is only images with more or less apps. For a real distro we'd need a maintainer and a repo, and I don't think someone has the time or the money.
The instructions stayed the same, it's normal booting from CF. WinCE is left untouched.
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Hope you won't mind to list the steps and the commands to type to install Linux booting from a CF card.
I recently hooked up a Dell USB keyboard to my NBP, and I really would like to use this great little HPC a lot more!
As said, no extra steps needed:
nBkProOs.img on FAT16
(bootable
)
rootfs on ext2
From running wince press reset with a paperclip, then do a ctrl-d esc and boost will come up.
Now insert the CF card and linux will boot.
some downloadable
(though starting to initramfs shell!
) kernel images and a rootfs
(you will have to mount that manually and do pivot_root, then start lxdm
)
http://www.tworaz.net/downloads/NetBookPro/
The rootfs is minimal, the kernel does not load it automatically as it was not designed to do that
(there was no rootfs at build time of the kernel
)
some useful links for people who want to try a build:
tworaz main git repo for building the rootfs, kernel and boost-wrapping of the kernel
(meta-netbookpro and oe-tworaz are the interesting parts
):
https://github.com/tworaz
openembedded core 'getting started'
(yes, classic oe won't work here,we also need meta-oe
):
https://wiki.yoctoproject.org/wiki/OpenEmbedded-Core
meta openembedded layer index:
http://www.openembedded.org/wiki/LayerIndex
OE irc people are helpful as long as you don't ask questions that are answered in the manual, faq or a quick google search.
tips:
at least ofono and virtual/libsdl need to be bitbaked by hand, if upower fails compiling add gobject-introspection-native to depends,
add COMMERCIAL_LICENSE = "" to your local.conf, edit bblayers to contain at least oe-core, oe-tworaz, meta-oe, meta-netbookpro, meta-lxde and meta-jlime,
kernel.org repo is failing frequently, so be prepared to search for suitable substitute repos for packages that can't be downloaded automatically.
/!\Remember: tips are only valid until a short time after this is written/!\ The repo and recipes update frequently and this may be out of date real quick.
If you are successful edit lxdm.conf in the rootfs for automatic login
(otherwise you will only see a login screen
).
Suspend currently works by
echo mem > /sys/power/state
swapfile is a good idea
(cf have builtin wear leveling
), also activating iwmmxt in kernel config.
Manual and download link for working kernel+rootfs combos will follow as soon as we figured all that out
EDIT: forgot to mention: by some combination of broken ext2 and removing pcmcia cards while in suspend may pseudo-brick the nbp.
In that case it's enough to take out all batteries and re-insert them, the nbp will work as before
(and start wince first -.-
)
Edited by psinix 2012-01-18 3:02 PM