Hi Andrew and others,
1st thx Andrew for your reply.
However, I have few doubts and questions as bellow.
What I got -
VIA EPIA MoBo with 800 MHz CPU and 2 MB Flash.
What I want -
Replace existing BIOS with LinuxBIOS. Put Linux Kernel on Flash. Put initrd image on flash. Make self contained minimal system on flash.
What I know -
How to compile my own kernel (2.4.x and 2.5.x) How to make initrd (uClibc and BusyBox)
What I did in past -
Made a boot floppy (1.44 MB) with BusyBox, ModUtils, IPTables, thttpd, ssh, uClibc and udhcp (kernel+initrd)
What I think -
BIOS+PIX+VidBIOS =< 384 KB (Within upper mem? from 640K to 1M Limits?) Have 1024 - 384 = 1664KB mem in Flash?
The doubts are -
Can I use that 1664 KB Flash to put Kernel+InitRD to make system self content? Can I put LinuxBIOS on BIOS and ask it to load my kernel and InitRD from Flash? Do I have to retain VidBIOS? Some of my apps need X Server? I need to retain VidBIOS for VESA 2.0 and VESA FB?
The idea is to make the system self contained and not to depend on network for booting. Whenever I want the system to boot of the network I can use in-built PIX.
I can also upgrade my Flash to 4 MB if every thing can not be put on 2 MB.
Also I need to backup my existing BIOS+PIX+VidBIOS and restore if something goes wrong. I don't have access to DOS oe Win. What are my options?
I know these are lots of questions. Thx in advance for your time and answers and pointers.
With warm regards,
On Mon, May 26, 2003 at 02:39:15PM +0800, Andrew Ip wrote:
Hi Dinesh,
While looking @ LinuxBIOS project web site I come across your name in status page. I need whatever help/pointer u can give about VIA/EPIA Flash BIOS. I need some how-to for puting Linux on 2/4 MB Flash which comes with MoBo. Any help/pinters will be greatly appreciated.
There is a README file under freebios/src/mainboard/via/epia for describing how-to enable and write flash. IIRC, the latest version of flash_rom (in src/utils/flash_and_burn) supports EPIA. You can just use flash_rom to flash rom under Linux.
-Andrew