Disk On Chip Support

Forum: DSL Ideas and Suggestions
Topic: Disk On Chip Support
started by: VinCBR900

Posted by VinCBR900 on Jan. 16 2006,21:12

Has anyone recompiled the Kernel to include M-Systems DiskOnChip support?

For those unfamiliar, the DOC is a solid state Flash thingy that emulates a disk drive in DOS, and can be easily made to plug into a Network Card -
< http://www.linux-hacker.net/cgi-bin....ost=986 >

However, the 32bit linux kernel doesnt understand the DOS bios extension and needs a kernel mode driver.
< http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=8752473528 >

The DOCs are commonly used on thin clients with Windows CE, and it would be nice to install DSL instead.

I know the kernel is already a bit big, but it might be an idea to include the DOC driver as is not very large.

Cheers, Vincent

Posted by AwPhuch on Jan. 17 2006,01:12

Ummm.....have you been looking at the forums at all?!?

There is a new invention called a CFDISK which is a solid state Harddrive! It is in effect a HUGE A$$ DISK ON CHIP!!!!!!!!

To see it in operation in a fanless quiet ultra micro device...please check out the most excellent < Nano-ITX Computer The Damn Small Machine >

Smaller than a MICRO ITX!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian
AwPhuch

Posted by hawki on Jan. 17 2006,01:32

Hi
I haven't tried for a while but in previous versions it was already compiled in. You did need to download the GNU utils to mknod the following devices then mount them.

brw-rw-r-- 1 root root 93, 0 Jun 14 2005 nftla
brw-rw-r-- 1 root root 93, 1 Jun 14 2005 nftla1

Good luck

Posted by hawki on Jan. 17 2006,02:01

It looks like it still works in version 2.0

cfdisk 2.11z

Disk Drive: /dev/nftla
Size: 73891840 bytes, 73 MB
Heads: 16 Sectors per Track: 9 Cylinders: 1002

Name Flags Part Type FS Type [Label] Size (MB)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pri/Log Free Space 73.88

[ Help ] [ New ] [ Print ] [ Quit ] [ Units ]
[ Write ]

Print help screen

Posted by VinCBR900 on Jan. 17 2006,09:51

Cool! I will buy a DiskOnChip from Ebay and give it a go.
I wasnt interested in IDE flash disk replacements since they are more expensive than the $20 that a used DOC costs.

I doubt the frugal install script will work, as the bootloader needs to be special. If anyone else tries this, see
< http://lakeshoremicro.com/diskonchip-grub-howto.html >

Thanks for your help, Vincent

Posted by gex582002 on Jan. 24 2006,16:38

Hi VinCBR900,

If you get this working I would be interested in details.
I want to try it out but I would like this to fit on a 48MB DOC.

thanks,
gex582002