Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

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Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby peterries » Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:43 am

Hi,

just registered, because my chase after a Dockstar here in Germany seem to lead to nothing.
Sold out, too expensive nearly 100€ for a used case, buying in U.S. no option due to charges, custom fees and shipping...

So I decided to give Dockstar's successor, the GoFlex net a chance. I'd need a 1 TB HDD later anyway. One USB for a Debian USB Stick would be OK, or better a USB Hub to connect a Webcam or a DVB Stick later...

But my efforts to find a "noob-proof how to" always end up in this one thread here in this forum: http://plugboxlinux.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=382&sid=8e27df1de336ea4a9d31c4d533f715e0

But I'm not really sure about the first steps. The Dockstar Wikis and How-tos tell very detailed, when to disconnect from internet, when to boot and what commands to run.

My Linux know how is good, but when it comes to UBoot, serial consoles, brick warnings, I get careful. But googleing and reading forums haven't helped me up to now. May be GoFlex net and debian is still too new to be idiot proof.

Question would be: can Jeff Doozans How to for the Dockstar adopted 1 : 1?
Or must I install a Linux in NAND memory as described in Peaslaker's WiKi entry?

Or should I just wait some weeks until community has found a secure, realitvely easy way to do this?

Thanks for any information
best regards
Peter
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby playdude » Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:47 am

Technically a serial cable is not necessary, but I suggest you buy a dku-5 cable or ca-42 cable on ebay anyway because it will make life a lot easier.

I've got my Goflex Net set up the way you want to do it to yours so maybe I can help. From what I've learned from all over the place and testing peaslaker's uboot using his instructions and documentation, here's the workflow:

1. uboot chooses which device to boot from (usb, sata, flash)

2. uboot finds where the kernel is using the boot device in 1, passes boot parameters to the kernel, and boot the kernel

3. The kernel finds where the file system is using the boot parameters passed to it by uboot in 2, and initialises this file system. If you want to use Debian, all you need is a Debian file system in 3 and it will work.

The first step that needs to be done is to flash a new uboot that is capable of booting from USB and SATA. This is very dangerous so take a lot of care needs to be taken.
Use instructions specific to the Goflex Net here and starts from "SSH login install method" and ends with "You now have an up-to-date firmware."
http://www.Arch Linux ARM.com/index.php5?titl ... _ssh_login

Once that's done, congratulations, the worst is over. Things will get less scary and easier. It's just a matter of tweaking uboot variables until you get Debian to boot correctly.
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby tomcheng76 » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:59 am

Hi,
I have the same question. I want to install debian on the usb thumb. How can i check if at least one system is bootable after the ssh method is completed? i am completely a noob and what can i do to get familar with uboot system? Also, i have registered the device in seagate, software/firmware seems updated during the pogoplug services registration. is there any bad impact for this?

thanks :)
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby peaslaker » Mon Dec 13, 2010 1:09 pm

If you follow through on the UBIT install instructions to install Arch Linux ARM install Linux to NAND, you will have a working backup system, even if a subsequent debian install doesn't go according to plan.

UBIT provides sensible u-boot environment parameters to allow booting from external devices without having to alter anything at U-Boot level.

You just need to provide:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '/boot/uImage')

and, optionally

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '/uInitrd ')

... on your ext2 boot media. This can either be the first partition of the first USB drive or the first partition of the first SATA disk. Both will work in the UBIT U-Boot boot sequence.

If these are available they will be booted instead of the UBIT NAND-installed kernel. However...

U-Boot will set the arcNumber parameter to 3089 (the registered value for the GoFlex Net) and any kernel must have the GoFlex Net code in order to boot from this parameter and have working SATA ports. At the moment the only maintained kernel providing this is the UBIT kernel. Other kernels will not boot and/or provide SATA port functionality.

If you have installed UBIT Arch Linux ARM install Linux, you therefore don't need to put /boot/uImage on your external media. It will always be found on NAND memory, but the boot behaviour will still favour booting to external media just as long as U-Boot finds /uInitrd on an external drive.

For external boot, the UBIT U-Boot sends the kernel the parameters "root=/dev/sda3 rootfstype=ext3". If you have both SATA and USB devices plugged in, the first SATA drive will be /dev/sda. If you just have a USB drive, it will be /dev/sda.

Mixing and matching USB and SATA drives is a source of much complication, however at this stage if you unplug all devices, the system will boot into Arch Linux ARM install Linux, giving you a rescue system at the very least.

Debian's boot ramdisk does quite a bit to set up the file system and I haven't worked with it to see if it is compatible with the parameters I am sending from U-Boot. This is the starting point for GoFlex Net Debian pioneers.

1. Install the UBIT system in full
2. Set up a rootfs on /dev/sda3 (either SATA or USB, with SATA taking priority)
3. Set up an ARM imaged Debian ramdisk (uInitrd) on the first partition of the boot media (USB or SATA doesn't matter)
4. ... after that it is up to you...
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby tomcheng76 » Mon Dec 13, 2010 2:36 pm

I guess i bricked my goflexnet already :(
I follow the ssh method here - http://Arch Linux ARM.com/index.php5?title=Arch Linux ARM:Install_UBIT-aware_U-boot_to_mtd0#SSH_login_install_method, then i follow 6.2 Arch Linux ARM install Linux install procedure here - http://Arch Linux ARM.com/index.php5?title=Arch Linux ARM:Install_to_UBI/UBIFS#Plugbox_Linux_install_procedure. After rebooting, green led will blink forever. Any hope to do a reflash?

Thanks

Edited: Switched a usb thumb drive and reboot the device works :D, If you found your goflex net just keep flashing green color (no orange color ever), then you need another usb drive :)
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby peaslaker » Mon Dec 13, 2010 5:07 pm

If you have a green light, then the machine is live and not a brick. Its IP address may have changed.

Both U-Boot and kernel startup can be monitored over the net console:

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=373&hilit=+net+console#p2667

and Jedie added this page to the wiki:

http://Arch Linux ARM.com/index.php5?title=Net_console
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby tomcheng76 » Mon Dec 13, 2010 5:10 pm

Does anyone has a pre-built debain sequeeze rootfs? developer tools like build-essential is needed in the rootfs.

btw, great job Arch Linux ARM install community, the Arch Linux ARM install linux is quite easy to setup, just a little bit scary as i don't have serial/JTAG nor knowledge about embed stuff, i am lucky :oops:
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby tomcheng76 » Mon Dec 13, 2010 6:15 pm

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('peaslaker', 'I')f you have a green light, then the machine is live and not a brick. Its IP address may have changed.

Both U-Boot and kernel startup can be monitored over the net console:

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=373&hilit=+net+console#p2667

and Jedie added this page to the wiki:

http://Arch Linux ARM.com/index.php5?title=Net_console


Thanks for your net console guide, thumbup

I get the following boot log when i try to install debian on usb drive (Arch Linux ARM install linux on NAND don't have problem, which is a great backup system 8-) )
http://debian.pastebin.com/3PhBjcPs

my sfroot is downloaded from http://www.mediafire.com/sheeva-with-debian

i guess i am missing some critical knowledge so it won't boot, anyone knows how ? :D
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby playdude » Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:36 am

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('tomcheng76', '
')Thanks for your net console guide, thumbup

I get the following boot log when i try to install debian on usb drive (Arch Linux ARM install linux on NAND don't have problem, which is a great backup system 8-) )
http://debian.pastebin.com/3PhBjcPs

my sfroot is downloaded from http://www.mediafire.com/sheeva-with-debian

i guess i am missing some critical knowledge so it won't boot, anyone knows how ? :D


Looks like the uImage file you downloaded and copied to your USB drive failed to boot, so it hadn't got to the file system part yet. Boot your Goflex Net without any USB device attached. It should boot the uImage file in its flash. If it goes past "Starting kernel..." then find a way to copy the uImage file from flash to your USB drive and boot with this USB drive. Does this get you past "Starting kernel" ? If it does, make sure you have a Debian file system in ext3 partition 3 of your USB drive and see if it boots.
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Re: Debian on GoFlex net - any full noob how to?

Postby tomcheng76 » Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:58 pm

Without any external storage device, the boot log changed a lit, but it also stopped @ "Starting Kernel", though i can access the Arch Linux ARM install linux through ssh. I have checked that there is no new ip in DHCP client list of router when i use the USB drive, attached is both boot log. What should i do ?

Without externel storage: http://debian.pastebin.com/xJAR6JJm
USB drive with a debian rootfs extracted on sda3: http://debian.pastebin.com/3PhBjcPs
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