1
For Sale / Wanted / Re: [WANTED] Zaurus for Development
« on: April 17, 2023, 04:10:25 am »
Just out of courtesy, I want to give big thanks to Steward-Fu for the generous donation I received late last year!
Select language:
News:
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
2
Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: ARMv5 support dropped in Arch Linux ARM
« on: April 17, 2023, 03:46:29 am »
Not really, at least not all packages. Its quite a bit of work, not to mention the compile times / power usage.
Hence the void linux port, that focuses only on the packages that make sense for the Zaurus platform and as well those requested by the community.
Debian does still offer an armv5tel option I think, but I have not used it for a decade, so I do not want to comment on performance & usability.
But I can confirm another user had success using a recent void kernel with the debian rootfs.
Hence the void linux port, that focuses only on the packages that make sense for the Zaurus platform and as well those requested by the community.
Debian does still offer an armv5tel option I think, but I have not used it for a decade, so I do not want to comment on performance & usability.
But I can confirm another user had success using a recent void kernel with the debian rootfs.
3
Zaurus - Void Linux support / Re: Alpha Testing - Netsurf Browser
« on: April 17, 2023, 02:34:00 am »
Hi CommanderB.
Great, thanks for that. Is that a static build binary? How does gomokus perform on the zaurus ?
I can add gomokus to the next voidz feed perhaps. There is a pull request for void that may help building it https://github.com/void-linux/void-packages/pull/42646
Great, thanks for that. Is that a static build binary? How does gomokus perform on the zaurus ?
I can add gomokus to the next voidz feed perhaps. There is a pull request for void that may help building it https://github.com/void-linux/void-packages/pull/42646
4
Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: ARMv5 support dropped in Arch Linux ARM
« on: March 24, 2023, 03:08:01 am »
just for reference, does anyone got some mirror links ?
tardis and yatli are dead :'(
tardis and yatli are dead :'(
5
Zaurus - Other distros support / Re: Linux kernel version 6 support
« on: March 24, 2023, 02:53:26 am »
Hey, just an update.
I did find minimal time to play with 6.2 kernel and basic device tree earlier this year, but it would not boot for me.
It seems I may need to debug the platform code on 6.1 first, to get it to boot, before using 6.2+ as some code already was dropped that may have impact on the Zaurus series.
While I had not the time to dig much deeper yet, I came across these :
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.4-PCMCIA-Char-Dropping
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.4-CardBus-USB-Dropping
Looking further, it does impact Zaurus:
https://lore.kernel.org/all/Y07d7rMvd5++85BJ@owl.dominikbrodowski.net/
While the PXA PCMCIA driver is not yet to be purged and marked as + (eg may stay) it still an indicator of whats to come:
+ PCMCIA_PXA2XX - pxa2xx_base.c pxa2xx_base.h pxa2xx_mainstone.c pxa2xx_sharpsl.c : bugfix in 2016
Wireless CF cards typically used by Zaurus already have a [-] (eg get removed if no maintainers found):
[-] drivers/net/wireless/intersil/hostap/hostap_cs.c no specific activity since tree reorganization 2015
[-] drivers/net/wireless/intersil/orinoco/orinoco_cs.c no specific activity since tree reorganization 2015
[-] drivers/net/wireless/intersil/orinoco/spectrum_cs.c no specific activity since tree reorganization 2015
[-] drivers/net/wireless/marvell/libertas/if_cs.c no specific activity since tree reorganization 2015
Long story short, while it looks like there is not much userbase anymore and I am on my own to keep this platform alive, I have not yet caved in, but with the extra pressure mounting to support / maintain extra stuff to keep it usuable (eg PCMCIA and cards), its getting beyond not only my very limited spare time to dedicate to this, but also my skill set as well.
So anyone keen to keep this stuff in the kernel, may pitch it to the kernel mailing list
I still have some laptops with CardBus and PCMCIA and I expect others have too, but it will be seen if kernel support is to remain on the long run..
Good News is 6.1 is a LTS and if we get it to boot on Zaurus we should be good for some time to come, but the writing is clearly on the wall....
Cheers,
Greg
I did find minimal time to play with 6.2 kernel and basic device tree earlier this year, but it would not boot for me.
It seems I may need to debug the platform code on 6.1 first, to get it to boot, before using 6.2+ as some code already was dropped that may have impact on the Zaurus series.
While I had not the time to dig much deeper yet, I came across these :
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.4-PCMCIA-Char-Dropping
https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.4-CardBus-USB-Dropping
Looking further, it does impact Zaurus:
https://lore.kernel.org/all/Y07d7rMvd5++85BJ@owl.dominikbrodowski.net/
While the PXA PCMCIA driver is not yet to be purged and marked as + (eg may stay) it still an indicator of whats to come:
+ PCMCIA_PXA2XX - pxa2xx_base.c pxa2xx_base.h pxa2xx_mainstone.c pxa2xx_sharpsl.c : bugfix in 2016
Wireless CF cards typically used by Zaurus already have a [-] (eg get removed if no maintainers found):
[-] drivers/net/wireless/intersil/hostap/hostap_cs.c no specific activity since tree reorganization 2015
[-] drivers/net/wireless/intersil/orinoco/orinoco_cs.c no specific activity since tree reorganization 2015
[-] drivers/net/wireless/intersil/orinoco/spectrum_cs.c no specific activity since tree reorganization 2015
[-] drivers/net/wireless/marvell/libertas/if_cs.c no specific activity since tree reorganization 2015
Long story short, while it looks like there is not much userbase anymore and I am on my own to keep this platform alive, I have not yet caved in, but with the extra pressure mounting to support / maintain extra stuff to keep it usuable (eg PCMCIA and cards), its getting beyond not only my very limited spare time to dedicate to this, but also my skill set as well.
So anyone keen to keep this stuff in the kernel, may pitch it to the kernel mailing list
I still have some laptops with CardBus and PCMCIA and I expect others have too, but it will be seen if kernel support is to remain on the long run..
Good News is 6.1 is a LTS and if we get it to boot on Zaurus we should be good for some time to come, but the writing is clearly on the wall....
Cheers,
Greg
6
New products and alternatives / Re: MNT Pocket Reform
« on: March 24, 2023, 02:39:45 am »
The crowdfunding started last week on this model. https://www.crowdsupply.com/mnt/pocket-reform
I was playing with the thought of getting one, just because its odd and has a M2 WWAN slot.
but.. I can not get myself to spend so much for a device that is so slow and chunky.
Not sure.. anyone made the decision to get one ?
I was playing with the thought of getting one, just because its odd and has a M2 WWAN slot.
but.. I can not get myself to spend so much for a device that is so slow and chunky.
Not sure.. anyone made the decision to get one ?
7
Zaurus - Void Linux support / Re: Alpha Testing - Netsurf Browser
« on: February 02, 2023, 03:57:57 am »Hey greguu I'm planning to give this a go at some stage.For reference as mentioned in IRC: #oesf @ oftc.net
Couple of questions:
Can your images run in qemu-system-arm?
Do you have pxaregs installed?
Kexecboot seems to screw up my Zaurus ability to use gadget ethernet (g_ether) to be useful.
Thanks,
Dan
- qemu works reasonably well, but best to test on actual hardware.
pxaregs are not included in any voidz repo, but can be added if needed.
USB gadget mode was broken for ages, but was fixed last year thanks to yatli. Fix was for 5.4 kernel and will be included in next build.
8
Zaurus - Void Linux support / Re: Alpha Testing - Netsurf Browser
« on: January 19, 2023, 03:51:02 am »
I forgot to mention the loading and rendering of websites is impressively "fast". . .
9
Zaurus - Void Linux support / Alpha Testing - Netsurf Browser
« on: January 19, 2023, 01:54:06 am »
Hi everyone,
a while back I did an experimental build of a very basic test image for voidz that included the Netsurf Browser, running in framebuffer mode, rotated and with touch screen support. This voidz image does not have a package feed and is only for testing, so run it of a SD card.
And I need some testers. Constructive feedback is welcome and will aid building a new voidz rootfs for the Zaurus series.
https://github.com/greguu/voidz-mklive/releases/tag/v0.4
Cheers,
Greg
a while back I did an experimental build of a very basic test image for voidz that included the Netsurf Browser, running in framebuffer mode, rotated and with touch screen support. This voidz image does not have a package feed and is only for testing, so run it of a SD card.
And I need some testers. Constructive feedback is welcome and will aid building a new voidz rootfs for the Zaurus series.
https://github.com/greguu/voidz-mklive/releases/tag/v0.4
Cheers,
Greg
10
Zaurus - Other distros support / Re: Linux kernel version 6 support
« on: January 16, 2023, 01:13:12 am »
Just back out of the holidays and I stumbled across this commit (2023 Spring Cleaning). https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/soc/soc.git/commit/?h=for-next&id=94ac29dc59d029c6ff61509e3b58fa0beb1f2966
While not unexpected, it is still sad to see such a large amount of unmaintained ARM SoC's getting purged.
The good news is the Cxx00 series (Akita/Spitz/Borzoi) is to remain within linux 6.2 and this gives again some time to move them to device tree, or at least assist in the process of it and do some testing.
Unfortunately, the bad news is that Corgi, Tosa and Poodle are marked as to be removed. I just got a Corgi donated :\
It would be a good idea to move the discussion into the #oesf IRC channel on oftc.net to work out some plan / project / work load sharing for those with some experience in kernel development and device tree. Leave a post below if you like to join the effort.
While not unexpected, it is still sad to see such a large amount of unmaintained ARM SoC's getting purged.
The good news is the Cxx00 series (Akita/Spitz/Borzoi) is to remain within linux 6.2 and this gives again some time to move them to device tree, or at least assist in the process of it and do some testing.
Unfortunately, the bad news is that Corgi, Tosa and Poodle are marked as to be removed. I just got a Corgi donated :\
It would be a good idea to move the discussion into the #oesf IRC channel on oftc.net to work out some plan / project / work load sharing for those with some experience in kernel development and device tree. Leave a post below if you like to join the effort.
11
Zaurus - Other distros support / Re: Linux kernel version 6 support
« on: November 03, 2022, 11:33:32 pm »
Everyone is waiting for @yatli to join the party 
12
For Sale / Wanted / Re: [WANTED] Zaurus for Development
« on: November 03, 2022, 11:31:00 pm »
Thanks Steward, I did respond via PM to your offer. Please get back to me via PM.
Note: Also big thanks to Varti for donating a C1000 and C3000 recently !!
Note: Also big thanks to Varti for donating a C1000 and C3000 recently !!
13
Zaurus - Other distros support / Re: Linux kernel version 6 support
« on: August 11, 2022, 10:39:13 pm »
Great initiative.. perhaps some are interested to join the IRC channel for collaboration on this effort... ?
14
New products and alternatives / Re: MNT Pocket Reform
« on: July 20, 2022, 12:38:26 am »
I am not expert on it, but the SODIMM SoM modules are an industry standard I believe, so there would be quite a wide option of modules and very likely future upgrade paths, even from other vendors. There are even PXA270 SODIMM available. More interesting is their hint at potential use of RISC-V modules in the future!
The M2 slot for a 5G module and SIM card slot make it also attractive. Recently got a Quectel RM502Q that has not seen much usage yet and would hopefully fit.
The small screen with the large bevel seems to be the only let down I can see, but perhaps this will change once a prototype is available.
Definitely interested. Just because its so odd.
The M2 slot for a 5G module and SIM card slot make it also attractive. Recently got a Quectel RM502Q that has not seen much usage yet and would hopefully fit.
The small screen with the large bevel seems to be the only let down I can see, but perhaps this will change once a prototype is available.
Definitely interested. Just because its so odd.
15
Zaurus - Other distros support / Re: Linux kernel version 6 support
« on: July 14, 2022, 01:40:55 am »Good stuff, great to see someone picking up the void build.
It's a bit work to keep following upstream, but if regularly build, it's manageable.
I dropped the ball on it as there was not really much of a user-base, at least not known to me via this forum.
In regards to the DT patched for the ZipIt, these can be found here: https://github.com/openwrt-zipit/openwrt-pxa-target/tree/master/pxa/patches-4.4
The ZipIt is quite different in some aspects to the Zaurus, but the CPU is the same.
The patches may give some insight on how to move from platform file to DT though.
..
Yes, need to try the latest kernels. How does the 5.16 work for you vanilla ?
I would think it will just boot, but did mmc and pcmcia/cf work out of the box ?
Does the screen fade white if not used for a while ?
Yatli did some fixes for 5.4 here recently as well : https://github.com/yatli/linux-zaurus-5.4
..
I build kexecboot natively on Arch Linux ARM the last time as always keen to avoid setting up OE build chain for some reason.
There should be support for DT in kexecboot, but I never used it.
For a new kexecboot kernel that eventually will use DT, we will need to append the .dtb to the zImage as the Zaurus bootloader will not understand DT.
I hope we can actually trim a newer 5.x or even 6.x to fit into the kernel Zaurus kernel partition! It was getting pretty tight with 4.x even.