Linux on Palm Zire 71 How-To
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DISCLAIMER
Before starting testing Linux on your Palm Zire 71 backup your data as actually there's no garanty 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 Zire 71 is actually in a very early stage, so expect to see every kind of problems and kernel errors.
Contents
Compiling from source
Tools needed
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![[WWW]](/moin/handhelds/img/moin-www.png)
palmos-sdk - PalmOS header files
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prc-tools - cross-compiler for m68k and ARM platforms
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pilot-link - application to upload files to PDA from Linux
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buildroot - for building custom initrd
Installing cross-compiler
Building the kernel
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grab linux-2.6.16 from kernel.org
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grab 2.6.16-omap2 patch from muru.com
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unpack linux, apply omap2 patch (patch -Np1 -i patch.patch), apply included palmz71 patch the same way. To compile type:
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make palmz71_defconfig
make
INSTALL_MOD_PATH=../modules make modules_install
This will build kernel for Z71 with default config. Kernel image (zImage) is located in arch/arm/boot/zImage, modules in ../modules/lib/modules/2.6.16-omap2-palmz71. Yes, this uses MODULAR kernel! We cant afford compiling everything in kernel anymore for size reasons. So you just copy those modules to second partition of your card. There is module loading script /etc/init.d/makenodes prepared, so if you use some more modules, be sure to tweak it too.
Building initrd
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In order just to build non-zero initrd do the following:
touch initrd; gzip initrd
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If you want to build custom initrd:
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Download current buildroot (use link above)
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tar -xjvf buildroot-snapshot.tar.bz2
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make menuconfig
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Select the programs you want included.
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Choose gzip under Target Options
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make
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You now should have root_fs_arm.gz. You may want to rename it to initrd.gz
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rename root_fs_arm.gz initrd.gz *
Building OPIE
Building GPE
Building the bootloader
Getting ready-for-use binaries
Installation process
Uploading files to PDA
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via USB: PILOTPORT=/dev/ttyUSB0 pilot-xfer -i garux.prc
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via serial port: PILOTPORT=/dev/ttyS0 pilot-xfer -i garux.prc
Some distribution may automatically create a link /dev/pilot, so you can transfer with
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pilot-xfer -p /dev/pilot -i garux.prc
Using Linux on PDA
To get into a Linux environment, simply run the program called Garux. It will give you a warning, ignore it. Currently no backup is necessary but is still recommended.
Return to PalmOS
Type reboot in Linux and wait a second.In case of a freeze up, simply click the reset button and all will be fine.
