Himalaya Linux Booting Via Root NFS

Objective:

To have a root filesystem where your Himalaya Linux installation resides which persists reboots and crashes

Solution:

1. Install NFS server software on the host

   On a Debian system do: apt-get install nfs-user-server

2. Configure the host to export a directory to the Himalaya

   echo -e "/path/to/dir (rw,no_root_squash,no_all_squash)\n" > /etc/exports

3. Create the root filesystem

   You can use the content of the familiar based InitRD from http://handhelds.org/: initrd-2.6.3.gz

   mkdir /path/to/dir

   gunzip initrd-2.6.3.gz

   mount -o loop -t ext2 initrd-2.6.3 /mnt

   cp -a /mnt/* /path/to/dir/

4. Configure a kernel for the Himalaya

   make xconfig

   Build ethernet gadget driver into the kernel (i.e. not as a module)

   Activate IP: kernel level autoconfiguration (under Networking support/Networking options)

   Activate Root file system on NFS (under File systems/Network File Systems)

   make zImage; Install the kernel on your Himalaya where HaRET can find it

   make modules; Install all modules in the appropriate path under /path/to/dir/lib/modules/

5. Configure HaRET

   startup.txt:

   set KERNEL "zImage-2.6.3"
   set MTYPE 448
   set CMDLINE "root=/dev/nfs init=/linuxrc ip=192.168.0.206:192.168.0.205::::: nfsroot=192.168.0.205:/path/to/dir"
   bootlinux

6. Boot Linux

   Follow the instructions in HimalayaLinuxBooting

   When Linux boots on the Himalaya configure usbnet on the host

   ifconfig usb0 192.168.0.205 up

Caution:

Before physically disconnecting (uncradling) the Himalaya always shut down usbnet on the host

ifconfig usb0 down

Otherwise both Himalaya and the host might freeze