Hi ...
I am also working with same MPC 860 but we are using some custom OS.
I am also eager to get answer to these questions but I can anser some of
them.
Please read my answer to corrosponding qsts.. and if you have got any
input from other
mailing list please share with me..........
> I want to run Linux (linuxppc) on a custom MPC860 board with 32MB DRAM
> and 2-4MB of Flash. This is pure memory mapped flash (not ide
> compatible).
>
> What do I need to build and boot an embedded linux system ?
>
> 1) Cross Compiler: I have egcs-1.1b built from the RTEMS build scripts
> for powerpc.
I dont know from where you can get cross compiler?Will gcc work?
> 2) C libraries: Do I need these and how are they compiled ? Is newlib
> or glibc required ?
>
> 3) Kernenl sources: How to cross compile ? Is it as simple as
> CC=powerpc-eabi-gcc & make ?
>
> 4) What about support executables like init, bash/ash/sh ? Are the
> sources included with the kernel or do I have to get them elsewhere and
> compile them with the cross compiler ?
They dont come with kernel ...you will have to get source saperately and
compile withcross compiler.
> 5) I guess I need to write a bootloader. What does the bootloader have
> to do and how do I pass parameters to the kernel ?
Better refer lilo.. there is an mailing list for lilo also..
> 6) If I have a root file system image compressed in Flash, how does it
> get uncompressed into RAM. How do I tell the kernel where the root FS
> is ?
For compressed file system in flash..
All you have to do is....
* compress your file system.. and rename it with " initrd"
* find out the size of "initrd"
* and pass initrd parameters to kernel while booting either thru
bootloader or anyway..
* recent kernel will find out that file and load it from where it
booted..
And for specifying the root FS :
for intel platform there is command "rdev".
but I dont think rdev will work for cross compiled kernel.
so you have to change appropriate device in kernel source
before compiling..
More you need to do this:
Write an block driver for Flash and then flash is seen as
one block device ( ide) by kernel and you :)
but it is easy to write block device for PC but for embedded
system it would be difficult....please contact me if you think to do so
I can help you.
More please share other inputs..
Bye
All the best..
Regards,
Naushit
> Thanks,
> Brendan Simon.
>
> PS. Are there any HOWTOs which cover booting from Flash (not Flash IDE
> drives).
> Ta.
