PalmTXHowTo

Linux on Palm TX How-To

DISCLAIMER

Before starting testing linux on your Palm TX backup your data as actually there's no guarantee that after a soft reset your PalmOS data and applications are preserved and/or not corrupted. The only way to restore the contents is to backup before starting testing linux, hard reset and restore your handheld data with a hotsync or with a backup tool(some applications may need to be reinstalled).

NOTE: the support for Palm TX is actually in a very early stage, so expect to see every kind of problems and kernel errors

Tools needed

To build the kernel:

In order to build the kernel you need a cross-compiler that generates code for the arm processor. Cross-compilers are often distributed as ToolChains, packages that contain all the tools needed to cross compile. Depending on your linux distro, you may find different toolchains binaries. Have a look at this page (DevelopmentToolchains) to have more information.

Some installations known as working:

Gentoo: crossdev (emerge crossdev and run crossdev -t arm-unknown-linux-uclibc)
Debian: scratchbox
Mandriva 2006: arm-linux-gcc-3.4.1.tar.bz2 package at ftp://ftp.handhelds.org/projects/toolchain

to build garux:

palmos-sdk - PalmOS header files
prc-tools - cross-compiler for m68k and ARM platforms
pilot-link - application to upload files to PDA from Linux

to create the initrd:

buildroot - for building custom initrd

Initramfs / Initrd

Newer releases of the kernel will use initramfs. To build an initramfs:

check out latest source: svn co https://svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/hackndev/linux4palm/initramfs initramfs
make
The result should be a file named: initramfs_data.cpio.gz, otherwise check error message(s).
Note: If you build an initramfs be sure to set the Initramfs Source to your archive in your kernel config.

However, If you still want to use an initrd: You can grab one from mem0.com

Building the kernel

The kernel containing the latest changes for the Palm TX is actually hosted by the project

Hack&Dev on SourceForge, so

check out the latest sources: svn co https://svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/hackndev/linux4palm/linux/trunk linux
cd linux
make palmtx_defconfig
make oldconfig
make

Root Filesystems

You can get prebuilt root filesystems from

Hack&Dev on SourceForge
mem0.com

From there you can modify and do as you please with them.

TODO: info about creating rootfs from scratch.

Bootloader: Cocoboot or Garux

While Cocoboot is the newer of the two bootloaders (and could be considered less stable), it has one big advantage over Garux: You don't have to recompile cocoboot for each kernel you build. Garux requires the kernel and initrd to be compiled into itself, but is tried and true (more stable).

Option 1: Building Cocoboot

Hack&Dev

SourceForge

check out the latest sources: svn co https://svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/hackndev/cocoboot/trunk cocoboot
cd cocoboot
make

This will create cocoboot.prc. If the file is not created, check the error message(s).

Option 2: Building Garux

Garux

SourceForge

login anonymously to the CVS: cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/garux login
check out the latest sources: cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/garux co -P garux
cd garux
copy the zImage to the garux directory
copy the initrd.gz to the garux directory
make clean
make palmtx

A file garux.prc will be created. If it doesn't, check the error message(s).

Uploading to PDA

linux.boot.cfg

create a new file (unix line endings only, no CrLf)
add the line: ROOT_DEV=/media/mmc1/put_your_root_image_name_here (replace put_your_root_image_name_here with your actual root image filename)
for a swap: SWAP_DEV=media/mmc1/put_your_swap_image_name_here (replace put_your_swap_image_name_here with your actual swap image filename)

Using pilot-link

via USB: PILOTPORT=/dev/ttyUSB0 pilot-xfer -i garux.prc
via serial port: PILOTPORT=/dev/ttyS0 pilot-xfer -i garux.prc

Some distributions may automatically create a link /dev/pilot, so you can transfer with
pilot-xfer -p /dev/pilot -i garux.prc

Using Card Export II

Start Card Export II on handheld
Linux: mount /dev/sdaN /mnt/card (replace the N in sdaN with the device number [ifyou only have ide drives this will most likely be sda1] Card Export makes the palm show up as a scsi device)
Windows: You should see a new drive under My Computer

General

copy the bootloader to /Palm/Launcher on the card
copy your root filesystem (ext2 image) to the root of the card
copy your swap file to the root of the card
copy the linux.boot.cfg file to the root of the card
Cocoboot users: copy your kernel (zImage) to the root of the card
Cocoboot users: if you use initrd copy your initrd (gzipped) to the root of the card

Return to PalmOS

Soft reset generally seems to work, but the only way to gaurantee everything is back to normal is to hard reset and a restore.

NOTE: backup your data!! There is No Guarantee that after a soft reset your PalmOS data and applications are preserved and/or not corrupted. The only way to restore the contents is to backup before starting testing linux, hard reset and restore your handheld data with a hotsysnch or with a backup tool (some applications may need to be reinstalled)

Handhelds.org - Open source for handheld devices