Here are some answers to some of the questions that were recently asked:
If you want to mount a cramfs that you've copied to the root partition, you need
to change the params partition so it contains in the command line, the text:
command= ... root=/dev/mtdblock3 init=/linuxrc
Note that mtdblock3 is now the root partition. In the past it was /mtdblock0.
The current partitions are now:
0: bootp
1: params
2: kernel
3: root (optional)
The boot parameters are contained in the params partition. Its /dev/mtdblock1.
The params partition is just a ASCII text file that ends with at least two CRs in a row. The
rest of the partition is ignored. So, you don't have to mount it, you can just cat from it to
read it and cat to it to write it. Note, before writing it, I think you have to erase it first using
the "erase" program from the mtd utilities. There is a statically linked copy
on
http://bill.danielson.com/erase
The source is in the mtd package so one
could rebuild it, possibly statically linking it so there isn't an issue
which which libraries you are using (uclibc, etc). I used uclibc to
statically link it and its only then about 35K.
Search the webpal archives for "mtd" and you see how to use these
programs and what /dev entries you need if they aren't there already.
I've updated the linuxpgm.erx file to contain a newer bootp program. Some of the earlier
ones had problems programming partitions via bootp. If your bootp version is 3.2, you may have
problems and will have to reprogram you partitions (at least until you replace the
bootp with a new version) from linux.
Assuming you have a bootp that is 3.3 or later,
the easiest way to update the various partitions is to use the wpflash program in
either parallel or serial mode. If you haven't built a serial adapter, then
you have to use parallel mode. You'll need a linux box with a parallel port
and a laplink parallel connector (I used a Belkin f3d508-10 cable which costs
5-10 bucks). You install the parport driver on your linux system (modprobe parport
usually does this if it isn't already loaded) and then can use the wpflash -p write <partition-name> <file>.
The only tricky thing is sometimes the linux system and the webpal don't sync up when you
hit reset as requested....if this happens, try it again, or hold down the reset button,
start wpflash and then release the reset button on the webpal.
P.S. If anyone gets stuck with version 3.2 and can't reprogram their flash, I can reprogram
your flash if you mail it to me with return postage/mailer. Email me at the
address at the bottom of my web page http://webpal.bigbrd.com if you are interested.
Bill
