Recent Posts

11

Astro Slide - Hardware / Re: changed my battery now with video

« Last post by Zarhan on May 02, 2025, 02:44:48 pm »

Sorry, no pics as I thought that Astro Slide was my only working camera (I forgot about my second Astro Slide). Perhaps next time, for the other device.

Much appreciated, I hope you can at some point get pics from the second device!

12

Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: Update: C1000 / Akita support

« Last post by DiTBho on May 02, 2025, 02:03:51 pm »

Another thing: I know Xscale can "scale" the CPU frequency.
Can the Linux Kernel reduce the clock frequency at run-time?
It is useful to extend the battery usage time

if I use the PDA to write with { GNU/Nano, VIM, ... }
I do not need 400Mhz, I can very well work at 200Mhz

13

Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: Update: C1000 / Akita support

« Last post by DiTBho on May 02, 2025, 02:03:21 pm »

I would like to comment on the lines of kernel code that activate the suspension when the power/on button is pressed.
to prevent the PDA/Akita from crashing if accidentally pressed

Code: [Select]

disable apm_queue_event() on key_suspend
--- drivers/input/apm-power.c.original  2025-05-02 17:58:24.140000000 -0000
+++ drivers/input/apm-power.c   2025-05-02 17:58:23.788000000 -0000
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 {
        switch (keycode) {
        case KEY_SUSPEND:
-               apm_queue_event(APM_USER_SUSPEND);
+               // apm_queue_event(APM_USER_SUSPEND);
                pr_info("Requesting system suspend...\n");
                break;
        default:


14

Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: Update: C1000 / Akita support

« Last post by DiTBho on May 02, 2025, 02:02:32 pm »

Code: [Select]

macmini2-intel kernel-5.4.229-arm-akita # ./mybuild-2024 2
[step2] compiling
kernel-5.4.229(arm/zaurus-akita)
| vanilla + patches from Void
| status:
|  boots(from SD)
|  boots(from CF-microdrive)
|  usb-lan DM9601 works
|  suspend
|    failure on c1k
|    success on c3k
|  irda/raw serial, added, to be tested
toolchain(armv5tel-softfloat-linux-gnueabi:2.40.0/12)
-----------------------------------------------
checking myhost as qualified_host ... success
checking .config ... success
checking blobs ... success
-----------------------------------------------
gadget_to_do(build) ... overlay/build
cleaning ............... done
gadget_to_do(clean) ... kernel/clean
building kernel ... success
-----------------------------------------------
gadget_to_do(binary) ... overlay/binary
gadget_to_do(sweep) ... kernel/sweep
app_body    =kernel.zImage
app_size    =5003576 byte
app_size_max=6000000 byte
checking size ... passed
gadget_to_do(binary_report) ... overlay/binary_report
macmini2-intel kernel-5.4.229-arm-akita #

that's how I compile kernels for all the platforms I support, mainly MIPS, POWERPC and HPPA2.
I wrote a "builder" in bash-scripting + C/89, to help managing patches, configuration, and checks

Every build comes with a "profile", which tells about

• the toolchain, with constraints on the min and max versions of binutils and gcc
• the ecosystem (it's called "qualified machines", can also be a chroot, or a container), to ensure you are using the right setup, at least "tested"
• the final size of the kernel
• the final file-format { uboot, elf, bin, zImage, ... }
• etc...

Code: [Select]

checking .config ... success

Here, it checks a file in ensures that the .config contains options considered "essential", and that it does not contain options considered "to be avoided"

Code: [Select]

macmini2-intel kernel-5.4.229-arm-akita # cat profile/config_check.list
CONFIG_PANIC_TIMEOUT                 # without this, panic() loops forever

CONFIG_USB_NET_DM9601                # Davicom DM9601 USBv1.1 10/100 Ethernet NIC

not CONFIG_CMDLINE_FROM_BOOTLOADER     # do not allow the bootloader to pass cmdline
CONFIG_CMDLINE_FORCE                 # built-in cmdline
CONFIG_CMDLINE                       #
                                     # console=ttyS0,9600n8 console=tty1
                                     # noinitrd
                                     # root=/dev/hda2    /dev/sda2
                                     # init=/bin/bash
                                     # rootfstype=xfs ro
                                     # video=pxafb,mode:640x480-2
                                     # fbcon=rotate:1
                                     # (debug)
CONFIG_EXT2_FS
CONFIG_EXT3_FS
CONFIG_XFS_FS

CONFIG_IKCONFIG                      # save .config into /proc/config.gz

CONFIG_GPIO_PCA953X                  # set the GPIOs in Akita
....


15

Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: kexecboot-size, max-size?

« Last post by DiTBho on May 02, 2025, 10:49:16 am »

If there was a documented jtag port, I would like to erase the entire flash, and reprogram it from scratch, in a more intelligent way.

strange that no one has ever thought of this ...

... another alternative, physically unsolder the flash chip, reprogram it in the lab, re-solder it.

we'll see.

16

Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: kexecboot-size, max-size?

« Last post by DiTBho on May 02, 2025, 10:31:07 am »

Ok, so it's 1.2Mbyte max.

uboot ? yes, you can build a uboot to fit as a replacement for kexecboot kernel, but you have to port it yourself pxa support in uboot is not that recent I believe for pxa270 or any pxa.
kexecboot was a sensible choice back then...and still is

modern kernel (v5, v6) just don't fit into 1.2Mbyte
uboot is much smaller in size (<800Kbyte) and has much more potential
- tftpboot both kernel and ramrootfs
- ability to script warm boot, or cold boot

it is not a problem for me to support u-boot, even from scratch.
I will look into this.

17

Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: Update: C1000 / Akita support

« Last post by DiTBho on May 02, 2025, 09:59:19 am »

and as per above hint from ant:  CONFIG_GPIO_PCA953X=y is set in your kernel ?

yes

18

Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: Update: C1000 / Akita support

« Last post by greguu on May 02, 2025, 05:12:47 am »

There used to be separate kernels in OE/Angstrom for C1000 and C3x00 models.
Probably due to the minute hardware differences. I have a C1000 now, but just that alone does not tell me what is the difference.
Need to compare older 2.6 kernels for each I guess. OE repo may have some clues.

and as per above hint from ant:  CONFIG_GPIO_PCA953X=y is set in your kernel ?

19

Zaurus - Void Linux support / Re: kernel patches? to Vanilla

« Last post by greguu on May 02, 2025, 05:09:03 am »

MMC reverts are related to the SD card support (this is GPIO driven)
the others are supporting a certain CF card
fixing OTG support
bumping power budget on USB

so no, not only about GPIO

20

Zaurus - Arch Linux ARM support / Re: kexecboot-size, max-size?

« Last post by greguu on May 02, 2025, 05:01:32 am »

uboot ? yes, you can build a uboot to fit as a replacement for kexecboot kernel, but you have to port it yourself pxa support in uboot is not that recent I believe for pxa270 or any pxa.
kexecboot was a sensible choice back then...and still is