Wishlist/LiveUSB distro
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Usually, all you need for this with an USB storage device (flash USB stick or external drive) is a partition, flagged "bootable" (see fdisk), containing a boot loader (say grub). But the problem is that specifications vary between motherboards, so there are variants and mandatory requirements to define (here would be a good idea), so that one can optimize/maximize the compatibility. | Usually, all you need for this with an USB storage device (flash USB stick or external drive) is a partition, flagged "bootable" (see fdisk), containing a boot loader (say grub). But the problem is that specifications vary between motherboards, so there are variants and mandatory requirements to define (here would be a good idea), so that one can optimize/maximize the compatibility. | ||
− | Testing has to be conducted to | + | Testing/further research has to be conducted to determine: |
− | * if a bootable-flagged partition doesn't mess openmoko up | + | * if a bootable-flagged partition / grub doesn't mess openmoko up |
* if the phone can still act as a phone, or if the booted os can use the gprs functions | * if the phone can still act as a phone, or if the booted os can use the gprs functions | ||
* if the phone can recharge on mass storage mode (from the usb cable) | * if the phone can recharge on mass storage mode (from the usb cable) | ||
+ | * if a dedicated partition for each payload is needed (see memtest example...) | ||
+ | * if multi-boot is possible: grub? | ||
Similar functionality can be found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizpy the Wizpy portable media player] | Similar functionality can be found in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wizpy the Wizpy portable media player] |
Revision as of 17:03, 25 March 2007
Wishes warning! This article or section documents one or more OpenMoko Wish List items, the features described here may or may not be implemented in the future. |
Contents |
Introduction
An openmoko device could act as the perfect geeky swiss knive: go anywhere with your Linux desktop and tools
When the openmoko device is in mass storage mode, a host computer should be able to boot on it, presenting a grub menu offering to boot into several images / partitions (payloads) on the transflash: memtest, UBCD (the ultimate boot cd), a lightweight security oriented livecd distro, you name it...
Usually, all you need for this with an USB storage device (flash USB stick or external drive) is a partition, flagged "bootable" (see fdisk), containing a boot loader (say grub). But the problem is that specifications vary between motherboards, so there are variants and mandatory requirements to define (here would be a good idea), so that one can optimize/maximize the compatibility.
Testing/further research has to be conducted to determine:
- if a bootable-flagged partition / grub doesn't mess openmoko up
- if the phone can still act as a phone, or if the booted os can use the gprs functions
- if the phone can recharge on mass storage mode (from the usb cable)
- if a dedicated partition for each payload is needed (see memtest example...)
- if multi-boot is possible: grub?
Similar functionality can be found in the Wizpy portable media player
Transflash partitioning schema example
- 2 Gb: /dev/sd? (where N is the transflash's number)
- 700 Mb: /dev/sd?1 : containing bootable iso, FAT16
- 1300 Mb: /dev/sd?2 : openmoko & bootable os home partition, EXT3?
- eventually a swap
That way, one can install a new iso when it's released. An updater script shall be written.
Linux distro Howto
Summary: When the neo/openmoko device is connected in mass storage mode to a linux host,
- Partition the transflash into livecd (bootable flag) & home partition
- Format the created partitions
- Extract the iso's contents onto the livecd partition
- Rename isolinux.cfg and edit it syslinux.cfg (see ubuntu tutorial link)
- Make the partition bootable using syslinux:
$ sudo syslinux -f /dev/sd?
See Howto install ubuntu (or any other distro) on usb stick
Memtest86+
Grub example (from stock /boot/grub/menu.lst ubuntu install):
title Ubuntu, memtest86+ root (hd0,2) kernel /memtest86+.bin quiet boot
Interesting distros/payloads
System diagnostics / recovery
- Memtest86+ Very small
- The Ultimate Boot CD
- System Rescue CD
- Recovery IS Possible < 80 MB
General purpose
- Knoppix 700 MB CD-ROM
- PuppyLinux < 100 MB
Security-oriented: pentesting, forensics, anonymous webbrowsing