Getting the Plug Computer Running with an Operating System
Contents |
How the Plug Boots and How to Configure the Boot Process
Serial Terminal for the Plug Computer
The first part of the persistent flash on the Plug Computer, /dev/mtdblock0, is reserved for U-Boot (http://www.denx.de/wiki/U-Boot). All the development kits come with a USB cable, and at one end of the USB cable is a mini-USB connector that fits into the right-hand side of the plug. The Plug Computer's mini-USB connection is directly connected to the edge connector port, which is very wide and thin compared to the mini-USB connection.
The mini-USB cable is relatively short so you may need to remove the Plug Computer's fixed power connector and replace it with the power cable in order to have it next to a computer (Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, or other) that accepts the other side of the USB cable.
The only requirement for the computer connected to the Plug Computer is that it be one that supports a serial terminal connection through a USB port, which almost all do now.
The next step is to download and configure the serial terminal program.
U-Boot Configuration on the Plug Computer
The first thing we should do is understand how the Plug Computer boots and how to Configure u-Boot on the Plug Computer. You can also read Basic u-Boot usage, if you are interested in how u-Boot works or if you want more information regarding different boot methods available, although it is not mandatory to get your plug running an OS.
Using the Network to Boot and Operate the Plug Computer
Setting up TFTP and NFS allows us to use the Plug Computer without flashing the NAND solid state storage until we ready. You should try Ubuntu on the Plug with TFTP and NFS or Gentoo on the Plug with TFTP and NFS depending on your needs and preferred development distribution.
Flashing the Plug Computer to Boot Itself
Once you have found an operating system that works for your configuration, you can flash the solid state storage on the plug computer and Configure u-Boot on the Plug Computer to boot from the local board rather than the network. Flashing an Operating System onto the Plug offers the ability to use the plug with no other devices on your network other than a DSL and cable modem!
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