Integrate the kernel into 49LF004...

[Rick Ant]

Hello,

Is it possible for me to integrate the Linux Kernel Into the Flash ROM 49LF004 and starting the X-server ?

Thanks

[Cristi Magherusan]

On Wed, 2009-06-24 at 19:04 -0700, Rick Ant wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Is it possible for me to integrate the Linux Kernel Into the Flash ROM
> 49LF004 and starting the X-server ?
>
> Thanks

Hello,

Yes it's possible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuzRsXKm_NQ

Buildrom is able to include the kernel, but it is unable to include the
X server inside the payload. LBDistro was able to do it, but it's
unmaintained since a couple of years so it may not work at all.

You can also take a look at my AVATT project, which is using buildroot
to help compiling userland programs. I modified buildrom to use images
generated by buildroot as payload. This should make very straightforward
including X or anything provided by buildroot inside the payload, with
the expense of some extra time(~30 minutes) spent on compiling the
toolchain, but only for the first time.

You can find my code at http://cristi.indefero.net/p/avatt/

Regards,
Cristi

[Cristi Magherusan]

Woops, I missed the part about your flash model... Unfortunatelly that
one is too small for such a task, and at least a 2MB one would be needed
to make a usable system.

Maybe you could fit 2.4 and X in 1MB, but it will be quite hard. No
chance with 2.6, though.

Cristi

[Harald Gutmann]

On Thursday 25 June 2009 04:04:08 Rick Ant wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Is it possible for me to integrate the Linux Kernel Into the Flash ROM
> 49LF004 and starting the X-server ?

Do you really want X in ROM?
It is possible, but you'll need some more space in the Flash. (1Mb is pretty 
less for Kernel + X)

Maybe you'll be fine on just using the Kernel in ROM & X from disk/DOM?
Have a look at the following discussion:
http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/coreboot/2009-June/050151.html
> Thanks

No problem,
regards Harald.

[Joseph Smith]

On Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:01:05 +0200, Harald Gutmann 
wrote:
> On Thursday 25 June 2009 04:04:08 Rick Ant wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > Is it possible for me to integrate the Linux Kernel Into the Flash ROM
> > 49LF004 and starting the X-server ?
>
> Do you really want X in ROM?
> It is possible, but you'll need some more space in the Flash. (1Mb is
> pretty 
> less for Kernel + X)
>
> Maybe you'll be fine on just using the Kernel in ROM & X from disk/DOM?
> Have a look at the following discussion:
> http://www.coreboot.org/pipermail/coreboot/2009-June/050151.html

Like I said:
Sorry to tell you, that the SST 49LF004 is a 512k fwh chip, and you will
never be able to fit coreboot + kernel + root filesystem on it. I suggest
purchasing a larger fwh chip.