Bootldr & CompactFlash.

Hi,

I have a iPaq 3850. I've installed the last available release of bootldr
on my machine (2.18.41).
I'm a newbie on Linux for Ipaq (although I'm using Linux for several
years on PC boxes)
Up to now, I did not overwrite the 'root' partition of the internal
FlashRom, so if I press the reset 'button' of the Ipaq, it boots WinCE
(PocketPC 2002), and if I press the central button of the joypad + the
reset 'button', it boots the bootldr (with Tux screen, etc.)

It seems that the last releases of the bootldr allow to boot from
various devices, like a CompactFlash card inserted in the back sleeve
(please correct me if I'm wrong)
I tried to put a zImage file on a VFAT CF, and the command 'boot vfat
zImage' seems to work: the Linux kernel is uncompressed in memory, then
boots.
However, it stalls when the kernel tries to find and mount the root
filesystem (/).
I tried to put a standard root filesystem on the same device (but it is
VFAT formatted, so I guess that the kernel may have some troubles with
such a poor filesystem), but the kernel does not seems to detect it. I
don't know how to specify to the kernel where to find the root
partition: the 'root=...' option may work, but I don't know how is named
the CF at boot time (/dev/hda1 ??)

My main problem is that I can't find up-to-date documentation about the
bootldr. I went through the CVS tree, but it seems the documentation is
only for 2.18.01, and I can't find any description for the new bootldr
options (command line via the serial port) that have been added since
2.18.01

* Where could I find some up-to-date documentation about the new boot
loaders (if there's any)?
* Is it possible to boot from a CF flash the whole Linux system, without
having to erase the 'root' partition of the iPAQ device, and what are
the parameters to give to the kernel ?
   - To do this, should I use the 'boot vfat' or 'boot ide' option
* What filesystem is recommanded on the compact flash to boot from it ?
I don't want to access this CF from Windows, so I don't need it to be
VFAT-formatted.

Thanks in advance,
Manu
Received on Mon Apr 29 2002 - 09:11:18 EDT