Netgear Stora

[nquest]

temporary post - part of guide.
Prerequesites
TFTP server
NFS server
TTL Serial Cable
(in future - all be done with usb flash drive and serial connection)

1. Serial connection to Stora
There is a 4 pin header near battery.
1 - GND (nearest batery)
2 - TX
3 - RX
Note - port is TTL or LVTTL.
Connection settings - 115200,8,n,1



2. u-Boot
2.1 Prtition table
Stock stora hav a 3 partitions

-Original-U-BOOT (1Mb)
-Original-Kernel (6Mb)
-Original-ROOTFS (249Mb)

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# cat /proc/mtd
dev:    size   erasesize  name
mtd0: 00100000 00020000 "u-boot"
mtd1: 00600000 00020000 "uImage"
mtd2: 0f900000 00020000 "root"


Custom kernel will be

-Original-U-BOOT (1Mb)
-NEW-Kernel (4Mb)
-NEW-ROOTFS (251Mb)

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# cat /proc/mtd
dev:    size   erasesize  name
mtd0: 00100000 00020000 "u-boot"
mtd1: 00400000 00020000 "uImage"
mtd2: 0fb00000 00020000 "root"


2.2 Environment variables
mainlineLinux yes
arcNumber 2743


3. Kernel.
patches
4. Rootfs on HDD

5. Rootfs on NAND
if you

[vdias]

On OpenStora ( http://www.openstora.com/ ) there is already loads of hacks and tutorials on this device... Right now i have a debian squeeze running on my stora...

But one step by step guide to install arch linux on nand is needed...

[vdias]

Seems no one is using this hardware with arch on it...

[markc]

Yes, that's a pity. I have a Stora and I've been waiting for a decent step by step tutorial as well.

[kmihelich]

We can't write guides for hardware we don't have, that's pretty difficult. Nor can we afford to go out and buy every device out there. If someone that owns one of these will write a guide, we'll be happy to get it on the main site.

[vdias]

I have the hardware... just need some kind of normal step by step procedure...

[vdias]

With the help of the users os openstora i manage to run debian on a usb plugged on the stora...

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1)
Download:
kernel image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1397036/stora_di/uImage.di
initrd image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1397036/stora_di/uInitrd.di
kernel image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1397036/stora_di/uImage
initrd image: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1397036/stora_di/uInitrd

Found them here: (http://www.openstora.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=217)

2)
Upload them to your tftp server.

3)
Start the Sora and stop the u-boot process

4)
setenv mainlineLinux yes
setenv arcNumber 2743
setenv ipaddr XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
setenv serverip XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
saveenv
reset

5)
stop the u-boot process
tftpboot 0x200000 uImage.di
tftpboot 0x800000 uInitrd.di
setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200n8 base-installer/initramfs-tools/driver-policy=most
bootm 0x200000 0x800000

6)
Install Debian, ignore all errors... ;)

7)
stop the u-boot process
tftpboot 0x200000 uImage
tftpboot 0x800000 uInitrd
setenv bootargs $(console) root=/dev/sdb1
bootm 0x200000 0x800000

8)
Login to your new Debian

Execute:
apt-get update
apt-get install uboot-mkimage initramfs-tools ntpdate
ntpdate-debian
cd /tmp/
wget http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1397036/stora_di/linux-image-2.6.33-2-kirkwood_kirkwood.1.1_armel.deb
wget http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1397036/stora_di/stora-flash
dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.33-2-kirkwood_kirkwood.1.1_armel.deb
chmod 744 /tmp/stora-flash
cd /boot
/tmp/stora-flash -i vmlinuz-2.6.33-2-kirkwood -r initrd.img-2.6.33-2-kirkwood
reboot

9)
And before changing the boot process check if everything is working, using:

stop the u-boot process and

setenv bootargs $(console) root=/dev/sdb1 rootdelay=5
usb reset
ext2load usb 0 0x200000 /boot/uImage
ext2load usb 0 0x800000 /boot/uInitrd
bootm 0x200000 0x800000

10)
If step 9 worked without problems you can save this setting to your stora, using:

stop the u-boot process and

setenv bootcmd_usb 'usb reset; ext2load usb 0 0x200000 /boot/uImage; ext2load usb 0 0x800000 /boot/uInitrd'
setenv bootcmd 'setenv bootargs $(console) root=/dev/sdb1 rootdelay=5; run bootcmd_usb; bootm 0x200000 0x800000'
saveenv
reset


Looking at the guide for dockstar form you guys, it seems that for arch you use a different way to configure uboot.

Trying to understand your process, and looking at Seagate GoFlex Net step by step guide (similiar hardware) i get lost on step 13...

[vdias]

no help on this one?

[markc]

Sorry I can't help you but you previous message says you get lost on step 13 but there doesn't seem to be a step 13 in the instructions you posted?

FWIW I've got a Stora and would like to get Archlinux on to it, so I can try and help. I've been waiting for the mythical step by step guide.

[vdias]

This guy found a way to run Arch Linux on Netgear Stora:

http://blog.thegiblins.com/2012/03/arch ... stora.html

But is using kernel image / initrd image built for Debian... is this a normal way to do it?