Mark's Blog

In case something goes horribly wrong or if you want install a new Linux kernel on your SheevaPlug it is handy to network boot it. The Gentoo documentation assumes you can install tftp-hpa under Linux, but I have Windows and TFTPd32 – which is no problem for the task at hand.

First of all, please see a former blog of mine how to configure TFTPd32. Most noticeably how to do so and still leaving your DHCP configuration (e.g. that of your router’s) in place.

Copy uImage_kwplug (mirror copy) or any other kernel uImage to TFTPd’s /boot directory, as well as sheevaplug.initramfs (mirror copy).

Then,

1. Plug in the serial/USB converter cable.
2. Reset your SheevaPlug.
3. Run PuTTY, select COM5 at 115200 connection speed.
4. Hit any key when the countdown appears:

   USB 0: host mode
   PEX 0: interface detected no Link.
   Net:   egiga0 [PRIME], egiga1
   Hit any key to stop autoboot:  1

   (If it doesn’t, reset the SheevaPlug with cables attached.)

Now you’re in the Das U-Boot bootloader shell. For the fun of it we will update that bootloader by a version with SD-card support. Download it here (mirror) to TFTPd32’s root folder:

setenv ipaddr 192.168.1.13 (replace with the IP you want the plug to have)
setenv serverip 192.168.1.2 (replace with the TFTP server IP)
bubt u-boot.bin
reset

You can leave out the bubt command if you want skip updating.

After that procedure and a last reset enter this to restore settings for Linux:

setenv ipaddr 192.168.1.13
setenv serverip 192.168.1.2
setenv arcNumber 2097
setenv mainlineLinux yes
saveenv
reset

Now the network booting:

tftpboot 0x8000000 boot/sheevaplug.initramfs
tftpboot 0x2000000 boot/uImage_kwplug
setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200 root=/dev/ram rw
bootm 0x2000000 0x8000000

Linux kernel will load and you will find yourself at another shell. This time it will be the usual shell, with /dev folder, mkfs.ext2 and mount commands. Have fun experimenting!

Bookmark to:

Tags: embedded, GNU/Linux, SheevaPlug