[LinuxBIOS] linuxbios on decTOP

[embedded linux]

DecTOP (AMD PIC)  is selling for $99 or (4 for $297)
http://www.dataevolution.com/dectop%20info%202.htm

Since this is similar to OLPC hardware, I assume this is supported? Anyone has any experience with this hardware?

Please forgive me this dicussion has happened before.

Thanks,
Krane

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[Uwe Hermann]

Hi,

On Wed, Sep 12, 2007 at 10:30:27PM -0700, embedded linux wrote:
> DecTOP (AMD PIC)  is selling for $99 or (4 for $297)
> http://www.dataevolution.com/dectop%20info%202.htm
>
> Since this is similar to OLPC hardware, I assume this is supported? Anyone has any experience with this hardware?

No experience here, and it's not supported out of the box. However, as
the chipset (GX2 northbridge and CS5535 southbridge, I think) is
already supported, it shouldn't be too much work.

I see one problem, namely that the ROM/BIOS chip is soldered on
to the board (and not in a socket), according to
http://www.enicomms.com/decTOP/DSCF1154.JPG

This will require some soldering (desolder the chip, solder on a
socket), so that you are able to insert a backup ROM chip in case of
problems with flashing (and for testing during development).

If you want to give this a try, please send us more information,
lspci -nnn, lspci -vvv, lspnp -v (note: 'lspnp'. not lspci this time).

Uwe.

[Jordan Crouse]

On 13/09/07 10:25 +0200, Uwe Hermann wrote:
> Hi,
>
> On Wed, Sep 12, 2007 at 10:30:27PM -0700, embedded linux wrote:
> > DecTOP (AMD PIC)  is selling for $99 or (4 for $297)
> > http://www.dataevolution.com/dectop%20info%202.htm
> >
> > Since this is similar to OLPC hardware, I assume this is supported? Anyone has any experience with this hardware?
>
> No experience here, and it's not supported out of the box. However, as
> the chipset (GX2 northbridge and CS5535 southbridge, I think) is
> already supported, it shouldn't be too much work.
>
> I see one problem, namely that the ROM/BIOS chip is soldered on
> to the board (and not in a socket), according to
> http://www.enicomms.com/decTOP/DSCF1154.JPG
>
> This will require some soldering (desolder the chip, solder on a
> socket), so that you are able to insert a backup ROM chip in case of
> problems with flashing (and for testing during development).
>
> If you want to give this a try, please send us more information,
> lspci -nnn, lspci -vvv, lspnp -v (note: 'lspnp'. not lspci this time).

It is a GX2 with a 5535.  You will have to desolder the ROM, but IIRC,
its pretty easy to get a socket on the PCB. The one big problem is that
there isn't a serial port, so you'll be stuck without any sort of output
until the kernel framebuffer comes up.  There's a clever hardware hack to
get around that by intercepting the DDC lines on the VGA, though, if you
are really interested (of course, you'll need to set up the serial port
accordingly in the LB code).

Other then that, I don't recall any huge gotchas, mainboard wise.

Jordan

[Peter Stuge]

On Thu, Sep 13, 2007 at 09:00:18AM -0600, Jordan Crouse wrote:
> There's a clever hardware hack to get around that by intercepting
> the DDC lines on the VGA, though, if you are really interested

Oh - so that's part of the 5535? I thought it was linutop only.

Do you happen to know if it's safe to draw the power needed for
the level conversion from some other pin on the VGA connector?

//Peter

[Jordan Crouse]

On 13/09/07 17:31 +0200, Peter Stuge wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 13, 2007 at 09:00:18AM -0600, Jordan Crouse wrote:
> > There's a clever hardware hack to get around that by intercepting
> > the DDC lines on the VGA, though, if you are really interested
>
> Oh - so that's part of the 5535? I thought it was linutop only.
>
> Do you happen to know if it's safe to draw the power needed for
> the level conversion from some other pin on the VGA connector?

I think it is, but I'm not a hardware engineer, nor do I play one on TV.
> //Peter