Re: [iPAQ] Installing Via CF

The /dev/mtd* devices do relate to previous Linux partitioning. With
jffs2 there would be 4 of these. 0 = bootloader, 1 = parameters, 2 =
kernel and 3 = rootfs.

It is possible to pad each of these images up to the correct byte size
and then concatenate them together. The difficulty is getting a params
image as that is not normally passed around as a file. You could fill
the params block with 0s, do the CF install and then boot to a serial
console in bootldr and set the correct values. This still requires a
serial cable or cradle though.

Installing on one iPAQ and then backing up /dev/mtdblock* and creating a
CF install from that will allow complete CF installations.

As you noticed, this is only useful from CE to Linux and cannot be used
for Linux upgrades as the Linux bootldr does not understand parrot CF
card images.

So the mtd0-6 references would be the old cramfs/ext2 hybrid. but the
same procedure will work with mtd0-3 style jffs2 images.

Glenn Neufeld wrote:
>
> Greetings....
>
> I was going to try the method outlined on the Wiki by Tim Riker, wherein
> the Parrot loader is used to store WinCE to a CF card, and then the CF card
> is loaded with the Linux bootloader and kernel/filesystem flash image for
> the Parrot loader to flash-on-startup....but I am confused about dd'ing the
> kernel image onto the CF card; Tim refers to 6 files (mtdblock0..6) that
> are concatenated into one for copying onto the CF card along with the MACAW
> header that triggers the Parrot loader.
>
> After finally finding a CF card that the Parrot loader recognized (it
> failed on two, saying it had saved WinCE and the bootloader), I realized I
> should start reading up on bootloaders.
>
> Do these files pre-date the current releases (Familiar, Intimate,
> etc.)? Or can I dissect/reorder an existing image to make these files? Or
> can I just use an existing image file? Are the filesystems images jffs
> format? Or still cramfs?
>
> Questions, questions....
>
> -G!
>
> BTW My CF download check-summed against my WinCE bootloader image saved and
> offloaded via Activesync way back when I started enjoying the initial
> releases of iPaq Linux. I feel safer already.
>
> Glenn Neufeld _________________
> _____________| neuf@power.net |
>
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Tim Riker - http://rikers.org/ - short SIGs! <g>
All I need to know I could have learned in Kindergarten
... if I'd just been paying attention.