iB::Topic::Sombody tried DSL on Psion netBook?

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Topic: Sombody tried DSL on Psion netBook?, Will the standard 4.4.2 boot?

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Monkey 9

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Posts: 25
Joined: Dec. 2005

Posted: July 08 2008,19:32

I am gathering info about Linux on Psion.
Debian sarge install images are available..
As i allready tried both: DSL and Sarge on old notebooks, i prefer DSL because of the hw-detection, and the smooth look..
Beside that it is smaller and more complete.

This particular Psion, is a 7 series, converted to a netBook, with max Ram.(named 64MB, but realy about 50, when an Epoc ROM-Drive is used..)
(I do not know if that part could be used to store other vital info, to boot more quick with DSL?)
As i want to use the wifi, using the pcmcia-drive for swap space is not an option.

These days CF-Disks are very large, so if i use a big swap-space it will not be a real trouble, considering the 100.000 overwrite time.

My question: Will it boot as is: 4.4.2 ?
Or do i need to make special adjustments?

tia, for a useble Reply.. ;)

chaostic

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Posts: 328
Joined: Mar. 2005

Posted: July 08 2008,20:39

DSL is built for x86 processors. The Psion, as far as I could tell, is based on Intel's XScale processor, which is an ARM cpu.

So, off the bat, no.

Debian Sarge does have packages built for ARM. An enterprising hacker could rebuild dsl for arm, if they had the time and want to put in the effort.

Monkey 9

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Posts: 25
Joined: Dec. 2005

Posted: July 09 2008,08:07

I was prepaired for such an answer...., but do not like it anyway;)

So that would come down on using an ARM based kernel, and remaster DSL?

As compact as it is, DSL would be a perfect match for the Psion....

I am not in a hurry, and just bought another netBook, secondhand offcourse....i am going to look into it, with some spare time, every now and than...

thnx for the reply ;)

chaostic

Group: Members
Posts: 328
Joined: Mar. 2005

Posted: July 09 2008,08:15

I'm afraid that (afaik) any compiled executable would need to be recompiled for ARM, not just the kernel. Drivers specific for the Psion would need to be found and compiled. The current boot method (minirt) might not be compatible. The only thing in dsl that wouldn't need changing is the idea and maybe the filesystem. Even some of the scripts would need changing, depending on what version of a program you can compile for arm (if the program can be compiled for arm that is).

Of course, this is all conjecture, based on the efforts I seen done for porting DSL to the xbox.

curaga

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Joined: Feb. 2007

Posted: July 09 2008,09:12

Xbox is a celeron though, so it has been very much easier.

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16 replies since July 08 2008,19:32

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