On Saturday 15 February 2003 09:40 pm, mycal62 wrote: > tell us more Please > > Civileme wrote: > > Well, I have a device that will prevent that, if ever I have time to > implement it. > > Civileme
It's not Mandrake. It is a 32M DiskOnChip in a standard Dual-In-Line Pack frequently used in BIOS storage though the BIOS is usually a 2M EEPROM. Using some of the prebuilt stuff from www.linuxbios.org, and adding in a few things, I have built a ROM image of linux kernel 2.4 compiled for a specific Board, with FramebufferX, Python, ROX, and PointlessWM. I am working on a / image for HD that will load the rest of the system. What about the BIOS? Well there isn't anything but linux and you need a password to boot, and it is hardwired in the DOC in an /etc/passwd (non-shadowed) file which is overtaken when / is mounted from disk. The DiskOnChip is available here and there if you look hard for about $75 in single quantities including shipping. Boards with DIP Bioses are getting harder to find, though, and you MUST compile the kernel for the board. Furthermore there is an extra-scary step in flashing the DOC, because you have to lever up the BIOS chip you booted with to make the kernel image and swap in the DiskOnChip--Yes, the BIOS EEPROM IS _REALLY_ hot-swappable, but if you make a mistake you fry many things including possibly yourself. As for a rescue CD--well none is necessary so the linuxbios is set up NEVER to boot from CD or from floppy, only from itself, and then to seek a loadable full linux system. On the first board I used, which was unfortunately a real cheapie, I booted linux with framebuffer X in about 5 seconds. Now the second board is being readied, and I have to wait til I have a job for funds to complete the project, (need DDR and Processor and case, cause the last one was sold....) Civileme
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