my IA-1 is now a happy part of my LAN, fully networked and able to display applications launched off my server, such as StarOffice, games, etc.!!! YAHOO!
i can now happily order another IA-1 and have a $99 Linux box on the network!
first of all, many thanks to all who have contributed, and especially those developers and junkbuster's http://nc.flyingbuttmonkeys.com/mirrors/IA1/ link... the ia-linux-16mb.img DOES work, DOES boot, DOES fit on a 16MB Sandisk CF, and DOES support my NetGear EA101 (purchased refurb'd for $9 for an Audrey)...
also, many thanks for those developers not calling me an idiot because of my whining on this list...
my happy story:
- i was initially frustrated because i thought that the IA-1 wouldn't work out of the box with Linux and couldn't use the Jailbait distro...
- my frustration grew out of attempts to use standard software tools to format, copy and create a bootable flash... i now know how to get junkbuster's working boot image of Jailbait Linux on CF...
- the ingredients are:
1. an out-of-the-box Compaq IA-1 (NOTE: you DON'T need to upgrade to 2.0 for USB networking if you're going to use Linux!)
2. a 16MB Sandisk CF
3. a Linux-supported USB Ethernet adapter; this adapter, in my case, is an EA101, which is the only supported Kawasaki adapter (although i suppose one could use qttools to reflash a compatible adapter with the EA101's vendor and device ID to make it appear as an EA101.); other Linux-supported Pegasus-based adapters include: SMC 202, Linksys USB 100TX, D-Link 650TX (i have not verified these, but these, and a few others are compiled in the pegasus.o kernel module)
4. dolly.exe (yes, that's right! dolly.exe was the solution to my problems in getting the .img file to CF! *and* i used a DOS window under W98!)
5. the ia-linux-16mb.img file
6. ranish partition manager
- my steps were:
1. DOS FDISK the CF to create a single DOS partition
2. use ranish partition manager (PART.EXE) to format the partition and mark it as bootable
3. renamed ia-linux-16mb.img to ia.img, then use DOLLY.EXE like this: dolly ia.img hd129: (Note: my CF showed as E: on my system)
4. popped the CF into the IA-1, which had been opened and shorted to allow access to the BIOS; in the BIOS, all IDE device options are enabled, and Drive D: was selected as the first drive in the boot order
5. plugged in the IA-1
6. the full LILO boot: prompt appeared! the default (and only boot image option) is 'hdb'
7. since the root password for the distro is unknown, i tapped the spacebar and typed:
hdb single
8. this boots Linux to 'single-user' mode, in which you arrive at the root prompt without the need for entering a username or password
note: you'll see error messages, but it's OK... it's a verbose boot output...
9. the distro boots the filesystem to read-only mode, so you must remount the root partition to make it writable like this:
mount -o remount,rw /
10. then use the passwd command to create a new root password:
passwd root
you'll be prompted to enter a new password and to then enter it again...
11. reboot the IA-1 with the NetGear EA101 plugged in (to reboot from Linux use '/sbin/shutdown -r now')
12. when Linux reboots, you can login with the username 'root' and your new password!
13. the EA101 will be automatically configured with an IP, default net and gateway... to change these settings permanently, you'll need to remount the filesystem and make the changes (see the Jailbait FAQ at: http://jailbait.sourceforge.net/faq.html)
14. you can also set the IP address of the eth0 interface manually without the need to write to the filesystem... simply use:
ifconfig eth0 down
ifconfig eth0 192.168.2.XXX netmask 255.255.255.0 up
15. you can then start an X session like this:
startx
16. click to launch an rxvt terminal window
17. allow other hosts to connect:
xhost +
18. telnet to another host (perhaps a server on the LAN), then export your display:
export DISPLAY=youripaddress:0.0
19. launch an X client, and it will appear on your IA-1's screen!
20. Enjoy!
notes:
- the boot can be squirrelly; if booting stops at the "hdb loading..........." prompt, wait five seconds then simply unplug and replug in the power... it will boot!
- the EA101 wasn't recognized the first time or so... i just rebooted once or twice, and it came up!
- i didn't test sound (don't really care, but will test)
- i am VERY happy about this, and i hope other Linux users will be too!
regards,
bball