Some notes from my experiences with the alix 2d13 hardware, the information may be outdated already, but might be useful as reference anyway.
As mentioned in the comments, you do not need a serial cable, you need a serial port and a null-modem cable to connect.
sudo minicom -s
+-----[configuration]------+
| Filenames and paths |
| File transfer protocols |
| Serial port setup | <-
| Modem and dialing |
| Screen and keyboard |
| Save setup as dfl |
| Save setup as.. |
| Exit |
| Exit from Minicom |
+--------------------------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| A - Serial Device : /dev/ttyS0 | <-
| B - Lockfile Location : /var/lock |
| C - Callin Program : |
| D - Callout Program : |
| E - Bps/Par/Bits : 38400 8N1 | <-
| F - Hardware Flow Control : Yes |
| G - Software Flow Control : No |
| |
| Change which setting? |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----[configuration]------+
| Filenames and paths |
| File transfer protocols |
| Serial port setup |
| Modem and dialing |
| Screen and keyboard |
| Save setup as dfl | <-
| Save setup as.. |
| Exit |
| Exit from Minicom |
+--------------------------+
I use dhcpd3.
host alixa
{
hardware ethernet 00:C0:9F:84:4F:40;
fixed-address 192.168.53.240;
filename "pxelinux.0";
next-server 192.168.53.21;
}
mkdir /var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg
/var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default
DISPLAY pxelinux.cfg/boot.txt
DEFAULT lenny_i386_linux
LABEL lenny_i386_install
kernel debian/lenny/i386/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/lenny/i386/initrd.gz console=ttyS0,38400n8 fb=false --
LABEL lenny_i386_linux
kernel debian/lenny/i386/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/lenny/i386/initrd.gz console=ttyS0,38400n8 fb=false --
LABEL lenny_i386_expert
kernel debian/lenny/i386/linux
append priority=low vga=normal initrd=debian/lenny/i386/initrd.gz console=ttyS0,38400n8 fb=false --
LABEL lenny_i386_rescue
kernel debian/lenny/i386/linux
append vga=normal initrd=debian/lenny/i386/initrd.gz rescue/enable=true console=ttyS0,38400n8 fb=false --
PROMPT 1
TIMEOUT 0
/var/lib/tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/boot.txt
- Boot Menu - ============= lenny_i386_install lenny_i386_linux lenny_i386_expert lenny_i386_rescue
cd /var/lib/tftpboot/ wget http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/dists/lenny/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/debian-installer/i386/pxelinux.0 mkdir -p /var/lib/tftpboot/debian/lenny/i386 cd /var/lib/tftpboot/debian/lenny/i386 wget http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/dists/lenny/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/debian-installer/i386/linux wget http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/dists/lenny/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/debian-installer/i386/initrd.gz
tree /var/lib/tftpboot/
/var/lib/tftpboot/
|-- debian
| `-- lenny
| `-- i386
| |-- initrd.gz
| `-- linux
|-- pxelinux.0
`-- pxelinux.cfg
|-- boot.txt
`-- default
4 directories, 5 files
atftpd --verbose --daemon --no-fork --trace --user root --group root --logfile=/dev/stdout /var/lib/tftpboot/
I just realized my desktop computer lacks a serial port … the mainboards manual:
The COMA header can provide one serial port via an optional COM port cable. For purchasing the optional COM port cable, please contact the local dealer.
and I borrowed my pl2303-usb-serial-cable to a friend … But my notebook still got serial.
Press S while the memory counts up
PC Engines ALIX.2 v0.99h
640 KB Base Memory
261120 KB Extended Memory
01F0 Master 044A
Phys C/H/S 7866/16/63 Log C/H/S 983/128/63
PC Engines ALIX.2 v0.99h
640 KB Base Memory
261120 KB Extended Memory
01F0 Master 044A
Phys C/H/S 7866/16/63 Log C/H/S 983/128/63
BIOS setup:
(9) 9600 baud (2) 19200 baud *3* 38400 baud (5) 57600 baud (1) 115200 baud
*C* CHS mode (L) LBA mode (W) HDD wait (V) HDD slave (U) UDMA enable
(M) MFGPT workaround
(P) late PCI init
*R* Serial console enable
(E) PXE boot enable
(X) Xmodem upload
(Q) Quit
Press E to enable PXE boot.
PC Engines ALIX.2 v0.99h 640 KB Base Memory 261120 KB Extended Memory 01F0 Master 044A Phys C/H/S 7866/16/63 Log C/H/S 983/128/63 Intel UNDI, PXE-2.0 (build 082) Copyright (C) 1997,1998,1999 Intel Corporation VIA Rhine III Management Adapter v2.43 (2005/12/15) CLIENT MAC ADDR: 00 0D B9 1A 17 68 CLIENT IP: 192.168.53.240 MASK: 255.255.255.0 DHCP IP: 192.168.53.1 GATEWAY IP: 192.168.53.1
Now just press ENTER, the kernel will boot.
The most important thing to mention is disk partitioning:
lqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqu [!!] Partition disks tqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqk x x x This is an overview of your currently configured partitions and mount x x points. Select a partition to modify its settings (file system, mount x x point, etc.), a free space to create partitions, or a device to x x initialize its partition table. x x x x Guided partitioning x x Help on partitioning x x x x IDE1 master (hda) - 4.1 GB x x > #1 primary 50.0 MB f fat32 /dos x x > #2 primary 3.0 GB f ext3 / x x > #3 primary 1.0 GB f ext3 /opt x x x x Undo changes to partitions x x Finish partitioning and write changes to disk x x x x <Go Back> x x x mqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqj
The dos partition is meant for freedos/bio updates.
/etc/fstab add:
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults,nosuid 0 0 tmpfs /var/run tmpfs defaults,noexec,nosuid 0 0 tmpfs /var/log tmpfs defaults,noexec,nosuid 0 0 tmpfs /var/lock tmpfs defaults,noexec,nosuid 0 0
blkid
/dev/hda1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" UUID="5D02-5E5C" TYPE="vfat" /dev/hda2: LABEL="root" UUID="1dd9a756-16ff-4978-a639-2dac24732b9b" TYPE="ext3" /dev/hda3: UUID="a3f0e610-fb68-4272-9196-344fcf96b6f6" TYPE="ext3"
/etc/fstab change:
#/dev/hda2 / ext3 noatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1 UUID="1dd9a756-16ff-4978-a639-2dac24732b9b" / ext3 noatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1 #/dev/hda1 /dos vfat utf8 0 0 UUID="5D02-5E5C" /dos vfat utf8 0 0 #/dev/hda3 /opt ext3 defaults 0 2 UUID="a3f0e610-fb68-4272-9196-344fcf96b6f6" /opt ext3 defaults 0 2
/etc/grub/menu.lst verify:
serial --unit=0 --speed=38400 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1 terminal serial
change:
# kopt=root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/1dd9a756-16ff-4978-a639-2dac24732b9b ro
change:
# defoptions=console=ttyS0,38400n8 fb=false
change:
# altoptions=(single-user mode) single console=ttyS0,38400n8 fb=false
run:
grub-mkdevicemap update-grub
/etc/inittab verify:
T0:23:respawn:/sbin/getty -L ttyS0 38400 vt102
aptitude install openssh-server
The alix2d.13 has a battery powered clock, but the clock is not that stable. Therefore we'll install ntpd, keeping locks sync since 1970.
aptitude install openntpd
http://blog.robertalks.com/index.php/2009/09/10/kernel-2-6-31-final-released-for-debianubuntu-final/
wget http://dl.robertalks.com/kernel/2.6.31-final/linux-headers-2.6.31-final_1_i386.deb http://dl.robertalks.com/kernel/2.6.31-final/linux-image-2.6.31-final_1_i386.deb dpkg -i linux-headers-2.6.31-final_1_i386.deb linux-image-2.6.31-final_1_i386.deb
Note: I already updated to 2.6.32-deadlock due to some hostapd wifi issues. You can not run PAE enabled kernels on this plattform, and it is very hard to compile xtable-addons for the kernels provided by roberttalks.com
Note: I updated to 2.6.35.6-delaware in the meantime.
Removing services we do not need.
update-rc.d -f nfs-common remove update-rc.d -f portmap remove
2
My flash card died after less than 6hours, it survived exactly the install.
Therefore I decided to attach a 2.5” ide hdd to the alix board.
Getting the disk was easy, getting a 44pin ata cable in the required length was not.
The disk does not fit into the case, therefore it is mounted on the back.
The disk is attached as slave, and you can not run disk & flash in parallel.
But, now I have 160G storeage on this device, and do not have to care about flash media write cycles and random deaths.
3
Markus, I've got a 2.5 HDD fitted inside an AliX enclosure, it is possible.
4
Hi,
can you send me a picture of your alix internals & metrics where to place the hdd, so others can benefit?
I'd make a picture of my piggy back hdd setup too ;)
5
Hello Markus, a bit of a late reply.
Here are some photos of the ALiX HDD setup:
- http://i51.tinypic.com/1539z6o.jpg
The 44pin cable plugged next to the CF card.
- http://i52.tinypic.com/2ldhk05.jpg
The 2.5 on top of the CF card with the 44pin cable tucked underneath.
7
Very nice how to. Thanks, I used to it install on my alix2d2. It would be nice to mention though that you need a null modem cable not a serial cable, a straight through serial cable will not work. :)
8
Never figured somebody might try a standard serial cable, but you are right, added a hint.
Thanks for notice
Hey!,
Are you running debian on a full read-write filesystem? I thought flash based media wares out after 10000 writes ?