Native Debian / Pocketworkstation

[dinorex]

Finally, I have succesfully made that env't out...

That's v. similar to meanie's capture screen in X/Qt but with CPU Utilization only 20-30%, with a dark-green background, and some small battery signals/keyboard signs in the right-top corner on the following screen ...  

 

[jpmatrix]

hmmm do you mean that you boot straight into debian with your Zaurus ??

[dinorex]

hmmm do you mean that you boot straight into debian with your Zaurus ??
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EXACTLY!

using UltraVNC as the capturing tool, i just managed to capture the vnc screen... but the actual screen's battery meter & keyboard icons are not present in this screen...  

plz also note that the CPU utilization is greatly reduced in the right bottom corner...
[img]http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5079/debian9ta.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]

[Sy Ali]

Ok, I'm interested.

Debian was next on my list of things to experiment with, but all the Debian-based Zaurus distributions are mostly unmaintained.

I've started a fan page:

http://jrandomhacker.info/D-Debian

[dinorex]

I try to make it as detail as possible, hope you guys can understand what I've done...  

Steps on installation of Debian/PocketWorkstation dual booting with Qtopia in Zauri

for any essential operations ( grouped in [] ), please refer to Meanie's customization guide as I don't explain his details again.

Additional equipments suggested:

a/ CF LAN / wifi card (for telnet the zaurus inside when issues occurred)
b/ a SD card with large capacity, if your Zaurus is under SL-C3000 (having SL-C3000 or over has the local MD which is sufficient enough)

1/ fetch zaurus-debian-big-v0.18.tgz (suggested location: http://pocketworkstation.org/files/zaurus-...-big-v0.18.tgz)
2/ if your Zaurus has no tcpip configured, enable so by simple Qtopia Network GUI / applet, install sudo ipk if it is absent
3/ enable telnetd inside your Zaurus: [ Enabling telnet ]
4/ for fastest performance, you can directly format your SD card into ext2 format; but for MD-equipped Zauri, a loop device is also a good choice for loop filesystem mounting (my mount-point choice is /hdd3/debroot with a loop device called /hdd3/debian.fs)

please also note that a swapfile needs to be built (around 256M is suggested). Background details: [ Debian/PocketWorkstation ]

debian.fs buliding steps: -

Code: [Select]

# su
# cd /hdd3
# mkdir debroot
# dd if=/dev/zero of=/hdd3/debian.fs bs=1M count=768 (i create a 768M loop device)
# echo y | /sbin/mke2fs debian.fs
# mount -o loop -t ext2 /hdd3/debian.fs /hdd3/debroot
swap file building steps: -

Code: [Select]

# su
# dd if=/dev/zero of=/hdd3/swapfile bs=1M count=256
# mkswap /hdd3/swapfile
remember to add these 2 entries in /etc/fstab

Code: [Select]

/hdd3/swapfile                                  swap    defaults            0  0
/hdd3/debian.fs                 /hdd3/debroot    ext2    loop               0  0
5/ extract the tar.gz into the /hdd3/debroot

Code: [Select]

# zcat zaurus-debian-big-v0.18.tgz | tar xvf - -C /hdd3/debroot
6/ in /hdd3 directory, run ./debroot/INSTALL.d/postinst.sh

All questions should be answered 'y' / 'yes', except the last question: Run 'Fbvnc' now?

7/ vi /usr/local/bin/Fbvnc (i have tried many model #s, but only this -hw c700 parameter is acceptable, you are welcome to try other hardware model #s and tell me for better result): -  

Code: [Select]

if [ -z "$1" ]; then
 Â       fbvnc -hw c700 127.0.0.1:1
else
 Â       fbvnc -hw c700 "$@"
fi
8/ vi /etc/debroot.conf as in this fashion: -

Code: [Select]

DEBROOT=/usr/mnt.rom/card

DEB_PATH=$HOME/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/usr/games

#DEB_QPE_WARNING=1

DEB_DO_MOUNTS=1

DEB_COPY_INTO_CHROOT="etc/resolv.conf"

DEB_COPY_INTO_NATIVE="etc/hosts"

#DEB_RUN_SERVICES=""
#DEB_RUN_SERVICES="inetd ssh lpd"
#DEB_RUN_SERVICES="ssh"

DEB_RUN_VNCSERVER=1

DEB_RUN_FBVNC=1

DEB_ZAPM_PROXY=1

DEB_RUN_ZAPMD=1

DEB_ROOTCMD=1
9/ in the /etc/rc.d directory tree, spot out the symbolic link to zdebian (in my case: rc5.d/S99zdebian) and delete it.

10/ vi /etc/rc.d/init.d/zdebian, change 1st line as #!/bin/bash

11/ in /home/zaurus, create by vi & chmod 755 2 files:-

sw-deb.sh : -

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/sh
clear
echo "zdebian stop.."
/etc/rc.d/init.d/zdebian stop
echo "kill Xvnc.."
echo "change launch.default to 'q'"
echo q > /home/zaurus/launch.default
echo "DONE."
exit 0
sw-qt.sh : -

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/sh
echo a > /home/zaurus/launch.default
sudo /sbin/reboot
killall qpe
killall qpeserver
killall qtsamba
clear
/home/root/usr/bin/chvt 2
/home/root/usr/bin/chvt 1
exit 0
then create launch.default by this command (in /home/zaurus): -

Code: [Select]

# echo a > launch.default
finally, a debian startup script, 'startd', can be created by vi as follows: -

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/sh
clear
sudo /bin/mount -o bind /mnt/card /hdd3/debroot/mnt/card
sudo /sbin/swapon /hdd3/swapfile
sudo ./zdebian start
12/ preparing for step 13: [ Remounting Filesystem as Read/Write or Read Only ]

13/ vi  /root/etc/rc.d/rc.rofilesys [this is the flag addition for 'dual-boot' selection as zdebian] (add last line)[/color]

Code: [Select]

               /bin/ledctl alarm 1
 Â               while [ "$DUMMY" = "" ]; do
 Â                       sleep 1
 Â               done
 Â       fi
fi
fi
#echo $LAUNCH > /home/sharp/etc/launch.default
cat /home/zaurus/launch.default > /home/sharp/etc/launch.default
14/ Revert back the read-only / system: [ Remounting Filesystem as Read/Write or Read Only ]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
play-around instructions: -

a. system is still in Qtopia normal state after these modifications, however, if you want to go into debian booting mode, open a Qkconsole / Terminal, type './sw-qt.sh' and the system will be rebooted
b. to that reboot final stage, a 'zaurus login:' prompt will come up
b. login using 'zaurus' account
c. you should see a zaurus console prompt, at that stage, you can type './startd' to start Debian
d. during this status, every reboot comes up the 'zaurus login:' prompt; if you want to switch back to Qtopia, just type  './sw-deb.sh' in that console, come along with 'sudo /sbin/reboot', the system can be back to normal again.

N.B. if you telnet your Zaurus after the ZDebian is running, you can still telnet into the "original normal login env't" instead of the "chroot env't" (ie. not rooted by /hdd3/debroot) which is a good troubleshooting tools for issues occurred - that's why i STRONGLY suggest you to enable telnet during your installation procedure.

[dinorex]

Actually, after i've tried with OpenOffice, her speed is not too amazing... But I'd like to try Abiword, Gnumeric. .... hope that their speeds can be faster

from the Help.txt contents (after you've successfully installed), the operating mechanism is in fact login from localhost fbvncserver (framebuffer) for X11 presentation, therefore the display speed may not be so fast as expected, yet if the speed for office apps can be optimized, it would be very good indeed

i'd like to make use to the X (xfbdev) in pdaXrom to native boot that  filesystem, (if that can be achieved, the 'native' can be more enhanced~!) but there is still no adequate xfbdev reached her requirements.... hope any guys can help on that....

(i'm now using my c1000 under pdaXrom this debian.fs loop device to try that... )

for the suspension, you can make use of the key combination (Fn + Cancel) to suspend and ON/OFF switch to resume....

Thanks for your friends' quote anyway, but, I am a Chinese actually....  

Ok, I'm interested.

Debian was next on my list of things to experiment with, but all the Debian-based Zaurus distributions are mostly unmaintained.

I've started a fan page:

http://jrandomhacker.info/D-Debian
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[Sy Ali]

Ok, I've fixed the document.

You have instructions to create startd.  Where does it go?

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/sh
clear
sudo /bin/mount -o bind /mnt/card /hdd3/debroot/mnt/card
sudo /sbin/swapon /hdd3/swapfile
sudo ./zdebian start
Also, it feels like many of your steps could be combined into one simple script.  This would make it easier for people to install and re-install.  Your script can create the appropriate text files like this:

Code: [Select]

# == Create sw-deb.sh and sw-qt.sh

cd /home/zaurus/

# create sw-deb.sh
echo "#!/bin/sh" > sw-deb.sh
echo "clear" >> sw-deb.sh
echo "echo \"zdebian stop..\"" >> sw-deb.sh
echo "/etc/rc.d/init.d/zdebian stop" >> sw-deb.sh
echo "echo \"kill Xvnc..\"" >> sw-deb.sh
echo "echo \"change launch.default to 'q'\"" >> sw-deb.sh
echo "echo q > /home/zaurus/launch.default" >> sw-deb.sh
echo "echo \"DONE.\"" >> sw-deb.sh
echo "exit 0" >> sw-deb.sh

# make sw-deb.sh executable
chmod 755 /home/zaurus/sw-deb.sh

# create sw-qt.sh
echo "#!/bin/sh" > sw-qt.sh
echo "echo a > /home/zaurus/launch.default" >> sw-qt.sh
echo "sudo /sbin/reboot" >> sw-qt.sh
echo "killall qpe" >> sw-qt.sh
echo "killall qpeserver" >> sw-qt.sh
echo "killall qtsamba" >> sw-qt.sh
echo "clear" >> sw-qt.sh
echo "/home/root/usr/bin/chvt 2" >> sw-qt.sh
echo "/home/root/usr/bin/chvt 1" >> sw-qt.sh
echo "exit 0" >> sw-qt.sh

# make sw-qt.sh executable
chmod 755 /home/zaurus/sw-qt.sh

# == Create launch.default
echo "echo a > launch.default" > /home/zaurus/launch.default
I don't know sh/bash very well, so I don't know if there is a concept of a "here document", like with Ruby:

Code: [Select]

file_contents = <this text appears in the file!
ENDTEXT
(and then write that array to a file)

[dinorex]

thanks for your work.... actually my understanding should be put them (startd, sw-deb.sh, sw-qt.sh) all in the /usr/local/bin so that the content inside the startd script should be from ./zdebian start to be changed as

Code: [Select]

/etc/rc.d/init.d/zdebian start...
and the switching scripts can also be directly run without ./ restrictions.

Ok, I've fixed the document.

You have instructions to create startd.  Where does it go?

[Sy Ali]

Ok, I've corrected startd, sw-deb.sh, sw-qt.sh

I hope to have some time this evening to try an install for myself.  I have a big SD card, but I don't have a network connection working yet.

You are developing it for pdaXrom, but I will probably use Cacko.  I don't know if that will make a big difference.

[dinorex]

You are developing it for pdaXrom, but I will probably use Cacko.  I don't know if that will make a big difference.
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NO, i am using that under SHARP ROM, not pdaXrom....
for Cacko, I think u can make since that's SHARP ROM derivative....

[alee16]

I'm confused, but interested.  Are you running Debian from within Cacko?  Are you basically installing full Debian (just like the Desktop version) or have you made it "lite"?

If not running from within Cacko, can you dual-boot?

[dinorex]

I'm confused, but interested.  Are you running Debian from within Cacko?  Are you basically installing full Debian (just like the Desktop version) or have you made it "lite"?

If not running from within Cacko, can you dual-boot?
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it doesn't run within qtopia / cacko.... it starts from the console env't (by passing out the qpe.sh script), calls out the fbvncserver and use Fbvnc to capture the X11 env't session.... therefore, there is no direct effect on the original Qtopia env't.

having tried with apt-get abi-word / gnumeric under this so-called 'native' env't, and compared to the speed of those in pdaXrom, I understand why this cannot be further - since the speed is still very slow as the codes are not optimised for arm processors (which is mentioned by meanie via PM).

therefore, if you've experienced so, you can just keep it and run it as a whole different chroot-ed env't [since you can compile-and-run under that], and appreciate the versatility of Z with some popular OS....

if running speed really matters, pinning to pdaXrom development is a better approach.

anyway, a drafted .xmodmaprc for c3100 is made (due to the original wrong key mapping is initiated - which is different from meanie's X/Qt version). ppl interested can download that if you like....

[alee16]

But I thought Debian has a lot of arm-packages?  Or are you talking about the system as a whole?

[adf]

the issue is processor/hardware optimization.  debian arm isn't really built for the zaurus, so we have to use a zaurus based setup, like cacko, and sort of peer into a self contained debian environment (pocketworkstation) using vnc or xqt or by using a X-server from pdaXrom or gpe and chrooting in.  the same app (say abiword) will run faster in pdaXrom or gpe than it will in chrooted debian due to system optimizations.  the gain from using debian is having a large repositroy and predictable behavior from the distribution.  you can , of course launch things like optimised medfiaplayers while in the deb environment, (or switch) so it can be a sort of "best of both worlds" kinda thing.


With so many people going back to the otimized 2.4/sharpishrom/pocketworkstation, maybe we should get some kind of incentive for klauss to keep working on Pocketworkstation?