Linux on the palm
Long ago, Linux for an ordinary windows user was something transcendental and incomprehensible, let alone Linux on mobile devices. Of course, many advanced remember Sharp Zaurus, but the majority of them round their eyes and think that this is the console ala dos and all. Alas, this is not all :) When I accidentally wandered onto a site dedicated to porting Linux to various handheld platforms, I decided to try to “marry” my PDA and one of the distributions of mobile OS. We must somehow use the dust gathering on the shelf :)
The whole process will take no more than 15 minutes. The first time I did was “porting” about 2.5 years ago and I’ll immediately say that the first time I didn’t succeed then, because I didn’t have the skills to manage Linux at all ... Okay, let's get down to business!
Iron:
1. PDA Asus A620 MyPal
2. CF memory card, Transnd 45x 1Gb (minimum size - 128 MB)
3. 12-in-1 card reader., (Any one that reads CF cards will do)
Soft:
1. Desktop with Linux (in my case it was Ubuntu 7.04 LiveCD)
2. Kernel image - zImage (2.6.x)
3. Initial RamDisk - initrd.
4. Opie shell (I will not say the version, but the distribution kit of January 30, 2006).
5. Linexec loader.
Links to utilities - at the end of the article.
')
Step 1. Formatting the memory card
If there are any necessary data on your memory card, you need to save it to a screw, otherwise everything can be lost. In general, for the purposes of experiments, you can get a card at 256-512 mb, it will cost 200-300 rubles. With hands naturally.
In order for everything to work, you need to format the memory card as follows:
Section 1. PRIMARY - FAT32 - 16 MB
Section 2. PRIMARY - Ext2 - all remaining space.
It should be noted that partitions must be primary, not extended. Otherwise it will not work, tested by experience. I think that it is not necessary to describe the formatting of the memory card itself. This can be done with any Linux formatting utility. In my case, it was the Gnome Partition Editor (like so called, I don’t remember exactly).
So, formatted, move on.
Step 2. Preparing files.
In the FAT32 section, in the root, fill in the linexec.exe boot loader, the zImage and initrd.gz kernel image. Next, write the file params.txt. We write the following to this file (the file is attached to the linexec archive):
Next, in the Ext2 section, also to the root, unpack the archive of the Opie distribution package.
On this preparations are over.
Step 3. Launch
No one bears any responsibility, we do everything at our own peril and risk ... as usual =).
After all the files are written, unmount the memory card, reboot the device and launch linexec.exe. After that, the device restarts itself, and the linux console window appears. Do not touch anything, the first download lasts about 1-1.5 minutes (then faster). If possible, read what is happening. If all else fails, a download error may be a sign of this due to incorrect formatting of the memory card (the first time I had it). If all is good, we can see the screen calibration window (as on windows mobile). Further - everything, you can begin to configure the device and its further use.
I must say that I liked the Opie environment the most. It is not the only one, but for me the most usable and with a bunch of installed software. As an option - GPE . But it may be about her next time, because his hands did not reach.
Some pictures:
1. Iron
2. Download
3. Opie
4. Konsole
5. Midnight Commander
More screenshots of Opie can be found at http://opie.handhelds.org/
Links to used resources:
1. Used materials site handhelds.org
The section on Asus A620 - http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/MyPal620
2. Distribution Opie
Used package can be downloaded here.
3. Linux kernel (for A620) - download here
4. Downloader - download here
5. RamDisk image - download here
All that was used - exclusively for the Asus A620. For other devices you can search here: http://handhelds.org
Results
Satisfied with the end result, as opium (see Opie) turned out to be usable, despite the fact that there is a popular belief that Linux on the PDA is not a tenant. It turned out that there was already more software preinstalled in the environment than in the “zero” windows mobile (2002/2003). There are also pdf readers, ftp client, irc client, office applications - text editors, spreadsheet editor, contact manager, and much more. I advise you to try, even if only for the sake of interest.
There are both pros and cons. The main disadvantage is stability. The device does not always wake up after standby. But if something accidentally “fell”, you will not lose any data, because everything is on the memory card and you can easily drag all the files through the desktop.
And yet, this is a very good use of old junk :)
The whole process will take no more than 15 minutes. The first time I did was “porting” about 2.5 years ago and I’ll immediately say that the first time I didn’t succeed then, because I didn’t have the skills to manage Linux at all ... Okay, let's get down to business!
Iron:
1. PDA Asus A620 MyPal
2. CF memory card, Transnd 45x 1Gb (minimum size - 128 MB)
3. 12-in-1 card reader., (Any one that reads CF cards will do)
Soft:
1. Desktop with Linux (in my case it was Ubuntu 7.04 LiveCD)
2. Kernel image - zImage (2.6.x)
3. Initial RamDisk - initrd.
4. Opie shell (I will not say the version, but the distribution kit of January 30, 2006).
5. Linexec loader.
Links to utilities - at the end of the article.
')
Step 1. Formatting the memory card
If there are any necessary data on your memory card, you need to save it to a screw, otherwise everything can be lost. In general, for the purposes of experiments, you can get a card at 256-512 mb, it will cost 200-300 rubles. With hands naturally.
In order for everything to work, you need to format the memory card as follows:
Section 1. PRIMARY - FAT32 - 16 MB
Section 2. PRIMARY - Ext2 - all remaining space.
It should be noted that partitions must be primary, not extended. Otherwise it will not work, tested by experience. I think that it is not necessary to describe the formatting of the memory card itself. This can be done with any Linux formatting utility. In my case, it was the Gnome Partition Editor (like so called, I don’t remember exactly).
So, formatted, move on.
Step 2. Preparing files.
In the FAT32 section, in the root, fill in the linexec.exe boot loader, the zImage and initrd.gz kernel image. Next, write the file params.txt. We write the following to this file (the file is attached to the linexec archive):
\ Storage card \ zImage
\ Storage card \ initrd.gz
console = tty0 init = / linuxrc root = / dev / ram0
Next, in the Ext2 section, also to the root, unpack the archive of the Opie distribution package.
tar –xzfv [path to archive]
On this preparations are over.
Step 3. Launch
No one bears any responsibility, we do everything at our own peril and risk ... as usual =).
After all the files are written, unmount the memory card, reboot the device and launch linexec.exe. After that, the device restarts itself, and the linux console window appears. Do not touch anything, the first download lasts about 1-1.5 minutes (then faster). If possible, read what is happening. If all else fails, a download error may be a sign of this due to incorrect formatting of the memory card (the first time I had it). If all is good, we can see the screen calibration window (as on windows mobile). Further - everything, you can begin to configure the device and its further use.
I must say that I liked the Opie environment the most. It is not the only one, but for me the most usable and with a bunch of installed software. As an option - GPE . But it may be about her next time, because his hands did not reach.
Some pictures:
1. Iron
2. Download
3. Opie
4. Konsole
5. Midnight Commander
More screenshots of Opie can be found at http://opie.handhelds.org/
Links to used resources:
1. Used materials site handhelds.org
The section on Asus A620 - http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/MyPal620
2. Distribution Opie
Used package can be downloaded here.
3. Linux kernel (for A620) - download here
4. Downloader - download here
5. RamDisk image - download here
All that was used - exclusively for the Asus A620. For other devices you can search here: http://handhelds.org
Results
Satisfied with the end result, as opium (see Opie) turned out to be usable, despite the fact that there is a popular belief that Linux on the PDA is not a tenant. It turned out that there was already more software preinstalled in the environment than in the “zero” windows mobile (2002/2003). There are also pdf readers, ftp client, irc client, office applications - text editors, spreadsheet editor, contact manager, and much more. I advise you to try, even if only for the sake of interest.
There are both pros and cons. The main disadvantage is stability. The device does not always wake up after standby. But if something accidentally “fell”, you will not lose any data, because everything is on the memory card and you can easily drag all the files through the desktop.
And yet, this is a very good use of old junk :)
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/19188/
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