Easy Devuan J720 install from disk image!!

Markus PorNadas...

Veni, vidi, vici!!! I fingered it out...the wifi card setup!

Write down the MAC address of your wifi card, the ip address of your router,the password(passphrase), SSID name.

Become familiar with the command to stop and start connman (in root/su mode):
/etc/init.d/connman stop ....and.... /etc/init.d/connman start

In root open the following settings file with: nano /var/lib/connman/settings and add the following:



I am having good success with static IP, yet dhcp should work.

Save file (in nano) with ctrl x, etc.

Plug in your wifi card, type /etc/init.d/connman stop... then /etc/init.d/connman start... to turn connman off and then back on.

Wait a few seconds and the wifi card will connect (to the static address if set as so). it should autoconnect on next boot and thereafter.

That's it! Veni, vidi, vici!! Yes, I tried cmst... nice, but a little slow. Prefer the above approach.

Using LXTerminal... (RasPi default) much bettr than XTerm.... re: colors,scrolling, multiple tabs, adjustable default window size. Thanks again for that suggestion.

best regards,

joval

posting on J720/Devuan_IceWM/connmanWPA-wifi/RasPi/Firefox Hybrid


Edited by joval 2021-08-20 2:13 AM

Omnes ave, Jovalus!

Tu es magna, unus, rex wifi!

Will give this a try.....

Thanks,

Mark




PS. can't take credit for suggesting LXTerminal.....as I had suggested urxvt.......but LXTerminal is good, used it before.....

Mark,

Sorry to say on repeat I am running into glitches... wifi not connecting. cmst and settings file are getting reset and wifi adapter changes name from wlan0 to wlan4... so more work to do, but I'm getting there!

Please don't throw me to the Lions!

Joval

ADDENDUM: Have a quick fix. check ip a==>shows wlan4, next in Root, stop connman service with "/etc/init.d/connman stop" then type "ip link set wlan4 name wlan0" then restart connman with "/etc/init.d/connman start" and it should connect in a few seconds. I'be working on a permanent soon, may have it...need testing though.!!!

Edited by joval 2021-08-20 4:00 AM

No worries, Joval.....understand this is work in progress.....

Keep up the good work....

Mark

Marconi...

OK, now have easy wifi card permanent fix for wrong names as wlan2, wlan3, wlan4 need changing to wlan0 for connection.

In root (su), nano into /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules , edit the list of wifi card info so that all entries are named "wlan0" instead of "wlan4" etc. and save. That's it!! Now I can swap wifi cards at will, and each will connect.

FYI, Linux/devuan has an (newer) built-in device numbering policy wherein each new device gets a new, bigger number... (as the above 70-persistent-rules files will show) associated with MAC address for card. However, connman will only connect to wifi with the "wlan0" name in default state.

There is another similar fix in which the setting entry in /var/lib/connman/settings can be set to accept wlan4, etc, but would require extra effort of listing each wifi card by MAC and wlan(x).

And, as you already know, we're both too "dang" lazy to do that!!

E pluribus unum,(seems to apply here).

Joval the Hutt

ADDENDUM: The sequential numbering of new devices can be prevented by adding the kernel parameter "net.ifnames=0". But I don't know quite where or how to do that. Suggestions welcome, as this would be probably the best permanent fix, AFAIK.




Edited by joval 2021-08-20 5:20 PM

That's great, Joval the Hutt!

Will give this all a try.....and report back.....

Meanwhile, regarding Linksys card.....

On fleabay, some of the cards are described as "Linksys Wireless B Notebook Adapter 2.4GHz Model WPC11 v.4"

Is v.4 OK to use?

Also, given your recent connman work, do you think my Cisco Aironet 350 can now connect to WPA? If so, then don't need Linksys card or should I just get one?

Thanks,

Mark

That's great, Joval the Hutt!

Will give this all a try.....and report back.....

Meanwhile, regarding Linksys card.....

On fleabay, some of the cards are described as "Linksys Wireless B Notebook Adapter 2.4GHz Model WPC11 v.4"

Is v.4 OK to use?

Also, given your recent connman work, do you think my Cisco Aironet 350 can now connect to WPA? If so, then don't need Linksys card or should I just get one?

Thanks,

Mark

FYI... [don't buy the WPC11 v.4... it's an entirely different animal: It's a 32bit CardBus wifi card (has gold dimpled strip on socket end)and WON'T WORK . The J720 uses 16 bit wifi cards such as the WPC11 earlier v.3 models (which I have). The MA401 cards work well now that I've figured things out... no more "wifi voodoo" on the connection side.

I have some "new... virgin( well, was before my bro Jabba had his way with... er, I digress)" Aironet 350 cards including Linux driver CDROM in the box... will see what can be done. I think I paid $12 for the cards... work great onCMonex's ROM version of MP900c for WPA!

FYI AmbicomWL54 auto connecting well with the above fix.! Now, get 'er done!

Joval the Hutt

Thanks for info, Joval the Hutt......

To clarify, I bought new in the box Aironet 350 (says AIR-PCM 352 on backside label) and Ambicom WL54-CF v.2.1 card a few months ago.

So, unless one of the other cards you mention Linksys, etc, perform much better, than I will keep going with WL54 for now.

Best,

Mark

Hi Mark,

Oh, the WPC11 or MA401 are about 20 times faster than the WL54 but at least Lynx works with it (try text.npr.org to test it out and Let me Know if you are able to connect now . Working on Aironet 350 now.

I am continuing to refine my connman setup... better now using the SSID (name in hex) without using individual MAC's... means any wifi card will connect with SSID, further set up several "settings file entries for each of several different SSID (hex) " then can use connmanctl to pick the one you want... connects without a problem, one AP or another one! Working great!! Or use cmst. If configure one SSID as favorite=true, will auto connect on boot. So, I have mastered it, quick connections on boot... almost like a tablet. Then ssh and XForward into RasPi... to Firefox.(and the Taliban won't stand a chance! Gonna make them suckers dance!)

Ok, just now in process of loading/installing Linux driver for Aironet 350... wish me luck!

Reliable easy wifi is so-o-o-o nice!! You gonna like it.

et tu Marcus?

Joval

ADDENDUM: FYI Need to delete ethernet and wifi config entries in the /etc/network/interfaces (use root, nano)... on my hosted images...not needed with connman and rids us of delays and error alerts on boot up (smoother, faster, boot).




Edited by joval 2021-08-20 11:08 PM

Thanks for the info and update, Joval.....

You are making super progress!

Let me know if you get connected with Aironet 350 and if speed is similar to the Linksys card. If so, then I don't need Linksys. If 350 is slow, then I'll get a Linksys.....

Been very hectic at work the past few days....so, have had little time to test with 720....but will try to do so over the weekend.

Best,

Mark

Mark,

Yo comprendo...I've had some extra time off so have been able to work on these issues. Wow, yes, what progress! Used to be everytime I'd boot up Devuan I'd spend 20 minutes or more trying to get connected. Now, it's automatic... so delightful when matched with the RasPi...full phaser power, Captain.

It's not a Cosmo,but sure acts like one... "poor man's Cosmo" ..some might say. Sweet success finally!

The Aironet 350 linux driver issue is going to take time... looks like it needs to be compiled/made/created with tools. You may know more than I... I think in the end we will get the A350 up and running. Not sure when I want to go down that rabbit hole...though. I'd rather play with this little beastie rather than being stuck under the hood 24/7!

Thanks to you, Stefan, ntware,TimoBo and others...we have arrived, it's "good enough," Next, a new round of images incorporating these improvements... next week hopefully.

best regards,
joval

posted from my J720/Devuan-Ice/connmanWPA/RasPi/ Firefox little blue beastie

Edited by joval 2021-08-21 3:14 AM

Hi All,

First, a word of thanks to those of you who have given feedback and have had success with the hosted images.

I just reread this entire thread and realize several of you, Jake, can't_remember, molinar gave valuable feedback whiich is much easier to see now that I'm out of the jungle! Thanks again... kept me going.

ArchiMark :

seems we spent the better part of 6 weeks going around in circles because of 1). 2 faulty SD to CF adapters and 2). Using the wrong Bootloader since you had upgraded to the 128Mb ROM board!

The biggger ROM board required Stefan's special Bootloader, NOT kernel... I thought it was a 128Mb special kernel until I finally read Stefan's detailed journey of how and why he (the Jornada720 Wizard) created the ROM specific bootloader: He had to move the location of the 3.1.87 Kernel to a different DRAM memory location/register... which was an ingenious shortcut/workaround! But because of this, the 32/64Mb ROM bootloader NEVER could locate the critical Kernel and so gave the "Panic Alert" and stalled/crashed. Thus none of my disk images would boot until Mark figured this out and began using the "special" 128Mb ROM Bootloader to replace the regular 32Mb ROM bootloader present in my disk images ... which took about a month to figure out (Mark, please correct me if I'm wrong on this timeline). Stefan repeatedly alerted users to this fact... but as you can see, I was confused... thinking it was a kernel issue as I had no experience with the 128Mb ROM boards. Thus, ALWAYS read the fine print (especially Stefan's ... he continues to amaze)!

So-o-o-o, BLM... BootLoaders Matter!!!

I thought I was going to have to change the name of this thread to "Anything but Easy Devuan install from disk image!! Very pleased the overlooked error was found and corrected. (I apologize for speculating it might be an under-power issue with the bigger ROM board. too)

I am including both Bootloaders in my latest images, now.

For all our frustration finally getting here with the upgraded 128 Rom Boards, Mark's idea of using IceWM window manager was a brilliant discovery that brings the J720/Devuan port into the modern GUI interface world!!! A big plus is the Touchscreen calibration tool!!! Now, permanent fine tuning of the cursor / pointers makes using VNC a joy instead a "hit and miss" ordeal! I encourage all of you to use it as each J720 is unique in this manner. Just record the parameters into the /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/99-calibration.conf file to make it permanent! :0

That combined with the recent re-configuration of Stefan's Connman Wifi manager fix/solution has made fast WPA and slow WPA2 wifi connections reliable and automatic on boot up

A great team effort!! Thanks to All,

joval

posted on my trusty J720/Devuan-IceWM/connmanWPA/RasPi/VNC symbiotic beastie!



Edited by joval 2021-08-22 2:53 PM

Hi All,

The calibration adjustment mentioned above has made a big difference, as well as the dependable WPA wifi auto-connection, for VNC remote desktop usageto a RasPi. Currently, with a Netgear MA401 wifi card in WPA mode connecting to Raspberry Pi 3B+ and J720 64Mb ROM with stock battery==> I get 2 to 2 1/2 hours of mixed use! I believe with tethered ethernet you can get about twice that (that's a guess from what I recall).

Here are some pictures of my recent RasPi Jornada Docking station "prototype." Not much difference from stock docking station really, except usb and ethernet connecters off to one side. Modifications were made so it still "locks" the J720 in place, but currently charges from right side port only ( will remedy this later perhaps if feasible... this IS just a prototype... my hope is to fit the usb/ethernet connectors completely inside in a later revision with battery and charging from the Jornada power supply too).

So, what do you think of it???

Joval

Edited by joval 2021-08-23 5:46 PM
















Attachments
----------------
RasPiDock.jpg (444KB - 0 downloads)
RasPiDock2.jpg (525KB - 0 downloads)
RasPiDock3.jpg (552KB - 0 downloads)
RasPiDock4.jpg (140KB - 0 downloads)
RasPiDock5.jpg (464KB - 0 downloads)
RasPiDock6.jpg (824KB - 0 downloads)

Very cool, Joval!

Is that a USB-C cable/port I see on back of dock?

Did you purchase a board with the USB / ethernet ports to do this?

Best,

Mark