testing and researching

[Jakob Praher]

hi all,

I'd like to do some embedded systems and cluster research and would like
to use linuxbios as the building block.

Has anybody tried to use linuxbios as the bios in a vm like bochs or
vmware, so that one can "play" with linuxbios in software only?

Additionally I'd like to know, whether you prefere the LinuxBiosKernel
(I mean that there is no "real" linux kernel in the bios) over the
LinuxKernel in Bios approach. If you are using LinuxBiosKernel are you
using a standard ATA flash disk, or are there better ways to boot the
LinuxKernel.....

I'd also apprechiate a good and cheap hardware configuration, that works
with linuxbios, especially:

* in todays boards: is the flash bios big enough for the LinuxBiosKernel
* if not, which flash chips would you prefer?
* what board would you choose for clustering testing purposes (it should
have state of the art peripheral stuff and modern chipsets, etc).

thanks in advance
-- Jakob

[Stefan Reinauer]

* Jakob Praher  [041102 12:38]:
> I'd like to do some embedded systems and cluster research and would like
> to use linuxbios as the building block.
>
> Has anybody tried to use linuxbios as the bios in a vm like bochs or
> vmware, so that one can "play" with linuxbios in software only?

I started a build for qemu, a free x86 (plus a lot of other
cpus/architectures) emulator, see http://fabrice.bellard.free.fr/qemu/

there's a target emulation/qemu-i386 but it needs some fixing since the
last major restructure...
> Additionally I'd like to know, whether you prefere the LinuxBiosKernel
> (I mean that there is no "real" linux kernel in the bios) over the
> LinuxKernel in Bios approach. If you are using LinuxBiosKernel are you
> using a standard ATA flash disk, or are there better ways to boot the
> LinuxKernel.....

There is no such thing as a LinuxBIOS-Kernel. Basically LinuxBIOS
initializes the machine just far enough so a Linux (or any other) kernel
can be started from flash or IDE(disk/cf/...)
This kernel or application is reffered to as "payload" in LinuxBIOS
contect.
Since most flash devices are too small to fit in a standard linux
kernel, other payloads are used that allow loading a Linux kernel or
other operating system from a file system or over network. Examples for
payloads are: OpenBIOS, etherboot, filo (See mailinglist archive for
more information).
> in todays boards: is the flash bios big enough for the LinuxBiosKernel

If you load a Linux kernel from an IDE device, it fits easily in every
common flash device out there. Otherwise you will at least need 512k or
more of flash.. I don't think that Linux in flash is a good solution,
but others on this list have a different opinion and proofed that it
works fine.
> if not, which flash chips would you prefer?

You always need something that is compatible to the already available
flash device (LPC/parallel/3V,5V,12V...)
> what board would you choose for clustering testing purposes (it should
>
> have state of the art peripheral stuff and modern chipsets, etc).

Clearly AMD64 boards with AMD8111/8151/8131 chipset. They are best
supported so far. Many boards from Tyan come with this chipset, but
there are machines/boards available from other vendors as well..

Stefan

ram not usable

[Gin]

Hello,
I am using the Config file for mainboard tyan/s2735 to build the image
because it has the same chipset (E7501) with my target sytem. The
Southbridge(ICH3-s) and superio(SMSC) is different but I think it should
be fine. I got the console working but it failed with the initializing
Ram. When I run the ram test, the value I read out is different from
what I wrote in.

1. Should the RAM-init code work in my board since it has the same
Northbridge? Or there could be a mainboard specific problem?

2.
There is a Config.lb file under /src/mainboard directory. Should I
modify it to fit our board structure? In the end, there is PCI Device
Tree like structure, is it the exact PCI devices on that mainbaord?

Thanks, we are very anxious to get this going. We have customers waiting
to use it.

Gin