Re: Consistent ROM building success?

"Bruce D. Lightner" <lightner-2huV/[email protected]>
Newsgroups gmane.linux.uclinux.actiontec
Message-ID <[email protected]>
Robert Gash wrote:

> Has anyone mastered the art of consistently rebuilding ROMs that contain 
> (or don't contain, as may be the case) customized contents?

Yes.  It's pretty straightforward.  You need a Linux host with the uClinux 
toolchain supplied by Actiontec, a BOOTP server (DHCPD will work) and a 
TFTP server.  However, there are a couple of key things still missing... 
[sigh]

> I'd like to start working on building an image that can act as an 
> Ethernet to Ethernet firewall and possibly a network modem or fax 
> server, but all of my attempts at creating new images have resulted in 
> failure.

Please be patient.  The software that Actiontec has supplied us is missing 
a few key source files.  What they *have* supplied under GPL is not quite 
right.  The source files for reading/writing the flash chips on the 
"production" units are missing code for the actual flash chips that are 
being shipped.  Also, the code for the character-mode MTD driver that 
writes the 2048-byte  R/W "configuration" area in flash is missing key logic.

If you build a kernel with what they have supplied and load it, you will 
create a "door stop" by corrupting the bootstrap in flash, which will have 
to be recovered using the USB port.  You can often boot your new kernel 
once, but only once.  I know this.  I've been through this process myself 
countless times! :-)

Because I built my own console UART hardware and setup the kernel to show 
what's going on when it panics, I was able to track down what is going on, 
and then contact Actiontec through this user group.  They have promised to 
solve this problem by releasing the needed source code files, which are 
all GPL...which is great news.

Within the next day or two we expect to see the correct GPL code on 
Actiontec's Web site, or at least approval to distribute the missing stuff 
in some other way.

I share your impatience...

Best regards,

Bruce

-- 
  Bruce D. Lightner
  Lightner Engineering
  La Jolla, California
  Voice: +1-858-551-4011
  FAX: +1-858-551-0777
  Email: lightner-2huV/[email protected]
  URL: http://www.lightner.net/lightner/bruce/

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