← previous next →
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: Rom Confusion  (Read 6449 times)

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« on: October 25, 2005, 06:02:14 pm »
Hello all,

  I am new to Zaurus land, and here is a brief history of how I got here. I did some PocketPC programming for a friend, and as payment, I was offered a PDA. I was given an iPAQ to test on, but now that the project is done, I was offered a Zaurus SL-5500 (pretty stock config, it seems) as payment (since his company has use for the iPAQ -- and it was kind of useless anyhow). Since I use Linux for pretty much everything I do, I thought that the Zaurus would be a better fit (since I could never quite get the PocketPC to sync properly with Kontact or Evolution).

  Well I got the thing the other day and I still have some time to decide if I want to keep it or the take the iPAQ back. When I powered the Zaurus up, it was running a Sharp ROM (something like version 2.73 -- linux 2.4.6). It seemed to work pretty well, but there were some pretty serious bugs. So I decided to upgrade the newest Sharp ROM (3.13). That one worked better, but I lost the ability to sync in Linux. No good. So from there I decided to try thekompany.rom. Same problems as the Sharp ROM. So from there I went to OZ/Opie. I like the interface very very much, and it is quite snappy. Overall I say well done.

  However, I am having some problems installing additional packages. Any time I try to install packages, I get a device full error. I have been using a 32MB CF card for flashing, and I do not have an SD card. I also should note that I do not have a CF card reader for my PC, so I have to use sftp to copy stuff onto the CF card.

  Does anyone have any advice about how to get additional packages on the OZ/Opie system WITHOUT using any external media as part of the file system? I am stumped.

  I really like how easy Opie is to use, but the inability to install additional packages seems to be a major drawback to all of this. Is there a way maybe that I could take the Opie ROM, and build a new one with the packages that I would like built in?

  Any help is greatly appreciated.
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005

lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4512
    • View Profile
    • http://people.bath.ac.uk/enpsgp/Zaurus/
Rom Confusion
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2005, 06:26:40 pm »
Quote
Does anyone have any advice about how to get additional packages on the OZ/Opie system WITHOUT using any external media as part of the file system? I am stumped.

Opie consumes the majority of the 16MB flash on the 5500.

You can uninstall things, then reboot (so the jffs2 will free the space) then install new stuff, or you could flash a different kernel so that you have a RAM-disk (this is what the Sharp ROMs have - a 32-32 split between RAM and RAM-disk).

However, I'd recommend you just get an SD/MMC card, format it as ext2 and install apps there - they can then be linked into the main filesystem using ipkg-link.

Drop me a line if you want any more info and I'm of course always about on the forum,


Si
Logged
C750 OZ3.5.4 (GPE, 2.6.x kernel)
SL5500 OZ3.5.4 (Opie)
Nokia 770
Serial GPS, WCF-12, Socket Ethernet & BT, Ratoc USB
WinXP, Mandriva

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2005, 06:34:06 pm »
I appreciate the advice. Unfortunately, I don't think that my wife will let me buy an SD card right now. *sigh*.

Am I correct in assuming that /media/ram is a volatile FS, meaning that data saved there would be lost were the Zaurus to reset?
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005

lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4512
    • View Profile
    • http://people.bath.ac.uk/enpsgp/Zaurus/
Rom Confusion
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2005, 06:42:28 pm »
In general yes (I think - though I seem to remember that a simple reboot saved the contents of the RAM-disk while a reset erased it), however depending on your kernel /media/ram may not actually have anything mounted to it.

SD cards are rather cheap these days - the largest RAM-disk you will get is 32MB and a 32MB SD card costs next to nothing nowadays (though bigger is better of course).

I just looked on ebuyer and a 512MB SD card costs £18.49 (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12364137235&action=c2VsZWN0X3Byb2R1Y3Rfb3ZlcnZpZXc=&product_uid=61427)

As a proportion of one shoe, that's almost nothing


Si
Logged
C750 OZ3.5.4 (GPE, 2.6.x kernel)
SL5500 OZ3.5.4 (Opie)
Nokia 770
Serial GPS, WCF-12, Socket Ethernet & BT, Ratoc USB
WinXP, Mandriva

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2005, 07:39:20 pm »
I think that what I might do is tell the person who hired me to do the work, that I will keep the Zaurus, but since it is used, I will need him to throw in a 128MB SD card. :-)

I just made a test file in /media/ram and it lasted through a reboot, but I haven't yet done a reset to test.

I am using the 48/16 kernel, but I think that I am going to put the 32/32 kernel on it.
« Last Edit: October 25, 2005, 07:45:26 pm by Meaulnes »
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005

Cresho

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1609
    • View Profile
    • http://home.earthlink.net/~cresho/
Rom Confusion
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2005, 08:06:46 pm »
go to my zaurus site. which is zaurusvideo down....click on the pda icon and scroll down.  It shows you how to sync with windows.
Logged
Zaurus C-3200 (internal 8gb seagate drive) with buuf icon theme, cacko 1.23 full,  and also Meanie's pdaxqtrom-Debian/Open Office
Zaurus SL-5500 Sharp Rom 3.13 with steel theme
pretec pocket pc wi fi
ambicom bt2000-cf bluetooth-made in taiwan
simpletech 1gb cf
pny 1gb sd
patriot 2gb
ocz or patriot 4gb sd(failed after 2 weeks)only on z
creative csw-5300 speakers in stereo
DigiLife DDV-1000 for video, Audio, Picture recording playable on the zaurus
Mustek DV4500-video recorder, pictures, voice record on sd for z

zaurusthemes.biz | ZaurusVideo | Zaurus Software

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2005, 08:43:30 pm »
Quote
go to my zaurus site. which is zaurusvideo down....click on the pda icon and scroll down.  It shows you how to sync with windows.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=100939\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Thanks, but I am not interested in syncing with windows
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2005, 11:30:52 pm »
OK ....

So I decided to try to install the packages to /mnt/ram. And more problems have ensued. When I try to install opie-mail, it tries to update ipkg on root, and I run out of space on the device, and have to reflash to get anything done. This is all if I use the ipkg command line tool. The Package Manager just seems to hang whilst downloading packages. Determined that I was going to lick this thing (why is it so hard to get a linux based PDA to work with a linux desktop machine?), I decided to try installing konqueror-embedded. I got an error about an unresolved dependency with libqte2. It appears that the specific version that konqueror is looking for is not available from the openzaurus feeds. I actually have little confidence that it would install even if it were available.

So even if I do buy an SD card, how am I supposed to be able to update the system in root? I am getting tempted to set the Zaurus back to the default ROM, give it back to the guy, tell him to keep the iPAQ, and ask for a iRiver media player or something.

*ARGH*

Sorry if I seemed pissed. It is more frustration. Before I tried to mess with Opie, it had appeared that most people were having excellent luck with it on the SL-5500.

What I still can't figure out how Sharp could release a version of a Linux based PDA ROM that can't be synced with a linux box. Just can;t get my head around that one ....
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005

lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4512
    • View Profile
    • http://people.bath.ac.uk/enpsgp/Zaurus/
Rom Confusion
« Reply #8 on: October 26, 2005, 07:55:30 am »
Quote
When I try to install opie-mail, it tries to update ipkg on root, and I run out of space on the device, and have to reflash to get anything done.

Is opie-mail not already installed?

If you try to install a later version, it will try to upgrade all of the packages on which it depends. I'd just flash this image which is the latest available: http://www.openzaurus.org/official/unstabl.../sl5000,sl5500/

Then you shouldn't have ipkg trying to upgrade things randomly.

Quote
The Package Manager just seems to hang whilst downloading packages.

I understand there's a memory leak in it somewhere.

Quote
I got an error about an unresolved dependency with libqte2. It appears that the specific version that konqueror is looking for is not available from the openzaurus feeds. I actually have little confidence that it would install even if it were available.

Your version of ipkg suffers some confusion when cvs appears in the version. You could do -force-depends here and it will work fine.

Quote
So even if I do buy an SD card, how am I supposed to be able to update the system in root?

I wouldn't recommend trying to use ipkg to upgrade the packages - as you've seen you will probably run out of space - it's simply a function of the size of Opie and the relatively small amount of flash on the 5500. I'd just flash a new image.

Quote
What I still can't figure out how Sharp could release a version of a Linux based PDA ROM that can't be synced with a linux box. Just can;t get my head around that one ....

Anything in here to help you?: https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=11783


Si
Logged
C750 OZ3.5.4 (GPE, 2.6.x kernel)
SL5500 OZ3.5.4 (Opie)
Nokia 770
Serial GPS, WCF-12, Socket Ethernet & BT, Ratoc USB
WinXP, Mandriva

lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4512
    • View Profile
    • http://people.bath.ac.uk/enpsgp/Zaurus/
Rom Confusion
« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2005, 07:56:28 am »
Ah, the zImage in that download dir is probably a 64-0, so unless you do get an SD/MMC card this will be troublesome for you. I'm sure the other kernels will be built and added soon.


Si
Logged
C750 OZ3.5.4 (GPE, 2.6.x kernel)
SL5500 OZ3.5.4 (Opie)
Nokia 770
Serial GPS, WCF-12, Socket Ethernet & BT, Ratoc USB
WinXP, Mandriva

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2005, 10:04:15 am »
Lardman,

  I really appreciate your help. I flashed the Z with the the 32/32 kernel of OZ 3.5.3 and used the opie that was in http://www.openzaurus.org/official/unstabl.../sl5000,sl5500/, which looks to be opie 1.2.0 or something like that.

It does not have opei-mail installed by default (which I found surprising), nor does it have a web browser installed by default, which are, for the most part the 2 things I would really like to have to make this Z usable for me. (I admit that I would like to have a few games, but those I can live without until I am able to purchase an SD card).

I will read through the link that you sent and see if there is anything in there.

Since the version of Opie on the OZ server (which is slower than tar, BTW) seems to be old, is it possible to get a newer version of the initrd.bin from somewhere else and flash with that and the 32/32 OZ kernel? Is it possible to run a kernel newer than 2.4.18 on the 5500?

I am our of commission for a while right now, since I tried to flahs something different last night and now the Z won't boot. I have yanked the battery to see if it will reset itself back to factory defaults, but if not, I will have to wait for a friend to put some ROMs on my CF card for me (I don't have a reader).

Thanks again.
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005

lardman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4512
    • View Profile
    • http://people.bath.ac.uk/enpsgp/Zaurus/
Rom Confusion
« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2005, 11:18:15 am »
Quote
It does not have opei-mail installed by default (which I found surprising), nor does it have a web browser installed by default, which are, for the most part the 2 things I would really like to have to make this Z usable for me.

Size limitations. There was a poll recently asking people what they'd like installed by default in the new images. This is why an SD card really is pretty essential.

Quote
Since the version of Opie on the OZ server (which is slower than tar, BTW) seems to be old

It's not old per se, just older than the very recent RCs which are still being produced now for the various machines, etc.

I don't have any issues with the speed thing, but I've heard that some others do, can't help you there I'm afraid.

Quote
is it possible to get a newer version of the initrd.bin from somewhere else and flash with that and the 32/32 OZ kernel?

As there's no 32-32 kernel available for download (yet), no, you're probably stuck with 3.5.3 or something based on it (try hentges: http://www.hentges.net/misc/openzaurus/oz3...pie1.2.0.shtml).

Quote
Is it possible to run a kernel newer than 2.4.18 on the 5500?

There is work underway to get 2.6.x running on it, however due to the binary nature of the SD driver, there will be no SD support unless someone gets some info on the locomo chip (which is used to control the SD port iirc).


Si
« Last Edit: October 26, 2005, 11:18:43 am by lardman »
Logged
C750 OZ3.5.4 (GPE, 2.6.x kernel)
SL5500 OZ3.5.4 (Opie)
Nokia 770
Serial GPS, WCF-12, Socket Ethernet & BT, Ratoc USB
WinXP, Mandriva

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2005, 12:09:07 pm »
Quote
As there's no 32-32 kernel available for download (yet), no, you're probably stuck with 3.5.3 or something based on it (try hentges: http://www.hentges.net/misc/openzaurus/oz3...pie1.2.0.shtml).

This link appears to be bad. But I found the ROMs available from the hentges.net site. Are they different from the ones available from OZ.org?
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2005, 12:31:30 pm »
OK I see what the deal is with the Hentges stuff ... sounds cool. Question though ... can I install the hentges initrd and kernel, then format my CF card and install the cardfs on the CF card after the initial boot?
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005

Meaulnes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 13
    • View Profile
Rom Confusion
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2005, 01:45:00 pm »
w00t! I got it .... here is what I did ....

I flashed the Z with the Hentges rom, but since I only have the CF card for now, I did not put the CardFS stuff on the CF card. Once I got into the Z, I setup the networking, and formatted the CF to ext2.

Then I scp'd the CardFS file to /media/ram. I had to edit /etc/hutils to trick it into think that my CF card was actually an SD FS, I changed the variable $SD_MOUNTPOINT to /media/cf.

Then I left Opie, and ran the .sh installer file.

It installed the CardFS to my CF Card. Upon reboot, I had a ton of applications installed....

They all don't work, but at least they are there. More to come ....
Logged
SL-5500
OZ 3.5.3
Opie 1.2
First encounter with a Zaurus: Oct. 21, 2005
Pages: [1] 2
← previous next →