I was incorrect about how to use the fw_setenv:
This:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
fw_setenv alarm_args='setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200 root=$device rootwait rootfstype=$rootfstype'
fw_setenv alarm_ide='if ext2load ide 0:1 0x800000 /boot/uImage; then setenv device /dev/sda2; setenv rootfstype ext4; run alarm_args; bootm 0x800000; else setenv isDisk yes; fi'
')
Should be:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
fw_setenv alarm_args 'setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200 root=$device rootwait rootfstype=$rootfstype'
fw_setenv alarm_ide 'if ext2load ide 0:1 0x800000 /boot/uImage; then setenv device /dev/sda2; setenv rootfstype ext4; run alarm_args; bootm 0x800000; else setenv isDisk yes; fi'
')
Something odd happens when I use the fw_setenv command, when I do and reboot I end up back at the Pogoplug OS. So I ended up re-downloading and re-running the ppv4-install.sh that I modified according to hydro changes. Before rebooting I plugged a HD setup with 2 partitions, /boot as a ext3 and / as a ext4, into the top Sata port on my PPv4. It booted and I was able to ssh into it. I shutdown, removed the HD plugged into the Sata port and then plugged in a HD that was setup with a single ext3 partition into the top USB port. I booted the PPv4 and was able to ssh in.
Thank you all for your help.