Re: [N8VEM-S100:242] Bootstrapping Lunux on the S100/68K...

[Pontus Oldberg <pontus....@invector.se>]

Mike,
It sounds like you are on the right track, start simple and build from a working solution.

I'm not sure about the memory though. Why not have a simple boot loader and use one of Andrews IDE cards and load the kernel from a flash card at startup?

If you're going for a flash solution, Andrew's EPROM/SRAM card should be able to hold 4pcs 4Mbit flash devices. If not directly, it should only require minor mods.

/Pontus

mike <mi...@pikeaero.com> wrote:

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>G'Day all,
>
>I spent a bit of time last night planning my approach on the
>Linux/68K/S-100 bootstrap solution.
>
>I think I would like to break it down into three distinct phases with
>the ultimate goal of a full fixed-disk bootable Linux with memory
>management.
>
>So starting with a baby step, phase 1 would look something like this:
>
>1) Build a bare-bones XIP -mcpu=68000 -nommu kernel with:
>   1.1) No-MMU support.
>   1.2) Hack up a device driver for the Interfacer-4 async card.
>   1.3) PPP/SLIP kernel module linked in.
>   1.4) RAM disk kernel module linked in.
>   1.5) Implement some kind of h/w timer + kernel support.
>
>So the only 'experimental' kernel code at this stage is the serial port
>driver (hack an existing UART driver), and the clock tick interrupt,
>both very straight forward to implement.
>
>With an XIP kernel I don't have to worry about the complications of the
>bootstrap loader, never mind even a disk i/o device, device driver,
>right off the bat.
>
>In any case, getting that far, I would then have a working kernel in ROM
>that I could then proceed to further bootstrap from.
>
>So I'm looking at the N8VEM/S100Computers.com ROM/RAM cards, so I would
>love to get some input from someone more senior with respect to
>experience with these cards...
>
>Let's say I want to have 16MB total memory, with minimum 2MB ROM
>(preferably FLASH), 4M would be bonus, to store the uncompressed XIP
>kernel and static data. Let's say I'm looking for the optimum
>combinations of cards to accomplish that in terms of bus slots.
>
>I've started puzzling over it a little bit, I just thought if one of you
>more senior guys might have some input that is not readily obvious.
>
>Kind Regards,
>
>Mike Sharkey
>
>
>
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