CF vs SD on 5500 - best choice? also WiFi.

[ksignorini]

Hello all.

I just purchased an SL-5500 which should be arriving this week.  I have a few questions, though, before I go out an buy some peripherals.

I have looked around (a lot) and have decided that I will go with OpenZaurus and opie for my OS.  I think it offers the most for my uses/style.  I am now trying to decide on which choice of memory and wifi card I should go with.

So, some questions if you all don't mind:

1)  What are your feelings on the Linksys WCF12 wireless card on a 5500 with OZ?

2)  Which is a better choice for memory?  I suspect that I will move data from my computer to my Z via network, but if I didn't I would probably use a (256MB) spare CF card I have.  As far as main storage space, I was thinking about picking up a 512MB SD card.  This way, with the SD card, I don't have to worry about removing my storage when I plug in the wireless card.  Is this a smart way to go?

3)  Are there any differences between using a CF and an SD card?  

4)  Does the SL-5500 support MMC cards as well as SD in the SD slot?

5)  And slightly off-topic (but if you have an answer it would be most appreciated):  if I use the 64-0 image for OZ, does this mean that applications I install all get put into main memory and if I pull the SD/CF card out, I would essentially not lose any apps?  That said (remember I have never seen a Z up close and personal) is it easy enough to store data on the CF/SD card?  Can the SD card become my "home" in OZ?

Thanks so much, everyone.

Kent!

[lardman]

1) What are your feelings on the Linksys WCF12 wireless card on a 5500 with OZ?

Only one I've tried; works fine.

2) Which is a better choice for memory? I suspect that I will move data from my computer to my Z via network, but if I didn't I would probably use a (256MB) spare CF card I have. As far as main storage space, I was thinking about picking up a 512MB SD card. This way, with the SD card, I don't have to worry about removing my storage when I plug in the wireless card. Is this a smart way to go?

SD for storage, especially if you'll be using the CF slot for your WiFi card, etc.

3) Are there any differences between using a CF and an SD card?

No, nothing much (other than where they are mounted and what the /dev entries are called of course)

4) Does the SL-5500 support MMC cards as well as SD in the SD slot?

Yes; but some people have reported problems with v. large - 1Gb - mmc cards (I only have a 128MB card).

5) And slightly off-topic (but if you have an answer it would be most appreciated): if I use the 64-0 image for OZ, does this mean that applications I install all get put into main memory and if I pull the SD/CF card out, I would essentially not lose any apps? That said (remember I have never seen a Z up close and personal) is it easy enough to store data on the CF/SD card? Can the SD card become my "home" in OZ?

It depends where you choose to install them; the choices are:

root, ram, cf, sd. Using 64-0 you won't be able to install to ram. If you install to root then you'll have the apps no matter what; if you install to sd or cf, the apps will not work when you remove the card (but will work again when you put it back in).

SD card can become /home, but in truth why would you want to do this anyway (I've never understood) - you can install anything to sd/cf and it will be symlinked into its correct location.


Si

[ksignorini]

Thanks!

Do you think you could explain the difference between root/RAM?  

How do most OZ users allocate?  (I know it's preference, but what makes best sense?)

Thanks,
Kent!

[lardman]

root is the flashROM; RAM is a RAM-disk which is takes up part of the 5500's 64Mb.

I think most people go without a RAM-disk and install stuff to root and to storage cards.


Si

[panyo]

SD card can become /home, but in truth why would you want to do this anyway (I've never understood) - you can install anything to sd/cf and it will be symlinked into its correct location.


Si

Does this work for you with OZ3.5.1 and GPE ? I have to make links by hand when I use
ipkg install.

[ksignorini]

root is the flashROM; RAM is a RAM-disk which is takes up part of the 5500's 64Mb.

So with the 64-0 image, are we talking 64MB root and 0MB RAM?

Thanks,
Kent!

[lardman]

So with the 64-0 image, are we talking 64MB root and 0MB RAM?

The root fs size on a 5500 is 16Mb. This is fixed as it's the size of the flashROM chip.

The 64-0 means that the RAM is plit into 64Mb used for running things and 0Mb for a RAM-disk.

Does this work for you with OZ3.5.1 and GPE ? I have to make links by hand when I use
ipkg install.

Have you tried 'ipkg-link mount /mnt/sd' or 'ipkg-link add <package name>' or similar....? ipkg doesn't create the symlinks automatically.


Si

[panyo]

Does this work for you with OZ3.5.1 and GPE ? I have to make links by hand when I use
ipkg install.

Have you tried 'ipkg-link mount /mnt/sd' or 'ipkg-link add <package name>' or similar....? ipkg doesn't create the symlinks automatically.


Si

Working on this, but have not realy made progress.
When I try mount I get an error

Code: [Select]

mnt/sd/usr/lib/ipkg/info/*.list: No such file or directory
When I try to link I get Package not found.

Things work when I link by hand. ipkg claims it cannot find things (on my cf card, and added
to /etc/ipkg.config). ipkg update  says 'Downloading files' from the right location
and says it succeeded.
Thanks for the help.

[panyo]

Ok, I was making a mistake in the previous post, but a problem still exists. The command should be

Code: [Select]

ipkg-link mount /mnt/cardHowever, there is still a problem. The links do not survive

Code: [Select]

shutdown -h.
I suppose I could put this in a startup file, but it will make rebooting quite slow.

I see that in the upgrades directory for OZ3.5.1 we have this note:

2004.10.04  CoreDump   Updated sharp-sdmmc-support to r6, fixing a bug wiping library symlinks after a reboot.

And I have installed this to root. I got an warning saying that

Code: [Select]

System startup links for /etc/init.d/sd already exist.Find only shows me two things named sd, and I tried removing them before re-installing with --force-overwrite. What am I doing wrong?

[lardman]

Find only shows me two things named sd, and I tried removing them before re-installing with --force-overwrite. What am I doing wrong?

With -force-overwrite you don't have to try removing them as they will be overwritten anyway.


Si