Difference between revisions of "LinuxTag 2007 Workshop"

Revision as of 01:54, 25 May 2007

Also see the workshop page on linuxtag.org.

Level: Intermediate / Advanced
Max number of attendees: 20
Length: Circa 2 hours

LinuxBIOS developers walk through how to configure and compile a LinuxBIOS that can be used to boot a Linux system on your VIA EPIA, EPIA-M or EPIA-MII from a boot server on the network, from a local IDE device or from a CompactFlash card. (CF is only available on EPIA-MII but with an adapter the CF card works exactly like an IDE device)

The workshop teaches attendees how to

Pushpin flash

• configure and build EtherBoot for their EPIA board to boot from network
• configure and build LinuxBIOS with VGA support and the EtherBoot payload
• hotswap flash chips
• flash the new LinuxBIOS to an empty flash chip in Linux
• configure and build FILO for their EPIA board to boot from IDE or CF
• finally rebuild LinuxBIOS using FILO as payload instead of EtherBoot

• optional: configure a boot server

(the presenter will run a boot server for those who can only bring their EPIA board)

Attendees should bring the following to the workshop

• an EPIA, EPIA-M or EPIA-MII board with power supply, keyboard and monitor or serial console
• an x86 Linux system with gcc 4.x (this can be either on the EPIA board or on a separate system)
• if you bring two systems (e.g. EPIA+laptop), remember to bring a crossover network cable
• one straight networking cable for each system
• one spare flash chip for the EPIA board or EUR 6 to purchase a pushpin flashchip

Attendees are expected to have experience with Linux system administration, open source software compilation and installation, and boot loaders.