LinuxMCE - User contributions [en]

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-29T21:15:08Z

Cnd: compiling

[[category: tutorials]]
[[Category: Orbiters]]

=Mini2440 Orbiter setup and FAQ=

== FAQ for beginners on embeded technology and the mini2440 $99 single-board computer ==

=== What is LinuxMCE, and what embedded operating system runs it? ===

linuxmce is an home automation and multi media appliance solution based on top of ubuntu, and supports tons of input devices, from mobiles over PDAs to flat screens

=== How do I turn my mini2440 into an Orbiter? ===

Glad you asked :-) The porting for this is taking place right now. When instructions become available, we'll post them here. Follow the action via IRC or the links later in this page if you can't wait.

=== What is JTAG? Do I need it for anything? ===

JTAG is a common low level debug interface. you can operate cpus in single step mode and flash nand/nor that way and do low level debugging.

It is generally what developers use when developing low-level drivers, or as a recovery tool if you somehow destroyed your NOR flash (that's the code your embedded computer runs when you 1st turn it on)

=== What is vivi and u-boot? ===

vivi is the old bootloader.

uBoot is the new one - and can boot from SD cards.

These are kindoflike grub - code which runs at startup and helps with loading or booting the operating system - but can do other exciting stuff like flash new bootloaders into the NAND memory etc.

You hook your mini2440 serial cable (striaght-through - not a crossover) up to a terminal emulator on your desktop PC to access vivi or u-boot.

=== What is QT? ===

qt is a windowing toolkit developed into an embedded toolkit and such lately by trolltech, which was was acquired by nokia recently. If your device is running QT, it probably doesn't have X.

=== What is X or X11 ? ===

it's a graphical display environment that runs on Linux - the same as the original Microsoft version called "Windows" runs on MS-DOS

=== What's GPE ? ===

GPE is a desktop environment, and includes at least a lightweight web browser

=== What's OPIE ? ===

opie is another different desktop environment

=== What's cairo? ===

A display programming component allowing apps to write directly on diretfb without needing X11 or QT etc (works on mini2440). It's the graphical backend in most modern apps (Firefox etc). see http://www.cairographics.org/

=== What's SDL? ===

Another low-level screen/keyboard/mouse/etc library (works on mini2440). http://www.libsdl.org/

=== What's QEMU ? ===

qemu is a hardware emulator - you can experiment with running things on this, without needing to use the actual hardware device.

=== What is Android? ===

A new linux operating system sponsored by google, predominently java-based, designed for mobile phones and portable gadgets.

=== Does Android run on the Mini2440? ===

There are no working ports to this platform yet - rumours exist of a mostly-working port having been achieved to a similar platform recently, so it's probably not far off.

=== What is emdebian-grip-090306-armel-lenny-installed.tar.bz2 for ? ===

thats a fantastic linux distribution and content base you can run with your kernel

=== How do I see my mini2440 boot screen? ===

Hook up the serial port to a PC using 115200 baud (no flow control) - this is how you access vivi and u-boot.

=== What compiler switches do I need to build working code on a mini2440? ===

If you're staring at "illegal instruction error" problems, and using arm-none-linux-gnueabi-gcc (Sourcery G++ Lite 2008q3-72) 4.3.2, you need this:

-msoft-float -D__GCC_FLOAT_NOT_NEEDED -march=armv4 -mtune=arm920t

=== Where do I get a mini2440? ===

As of March '09 - there's 1 distributer in each of the USA, Japan, and Europe. The mini2440 is made in China, and many sellers on eBay provide (unsupported) units, with Chinese instructions. I know of only 1 distributer with English tools ( http://www.andahammer.com/ ) - please update this list if you can.

=== How easy is it to "brick" a mini2440? ===

basically you cannot really brick (kill) the unit - there is a NOR switch where you can boot from NOR in emergencies. The rest of the time, you store new bootloaders etc in the NAND flash, and set the switch to boot from that. If you kill your NOR too - you use the JTAG to fix that.

=== Where can I find out more info and get downloads for the mini2440? ===

Blog: http://bliterness.blogspot.com

Web: http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

Irc: #mini2440

general info: http://www.handhelds.org

more info: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Mini2440

some downloads: http://www.andahammer.com/downloads/

Qt 4.5 on mini2440 http://blog.cor-net.org/

Files and utils http://vt100.at/files/mini2440/

Manufacturer update info http://arm9.net/mini2440-update.asp (chinese)

Chinese downloads http://www.arm9down.cn/ [[http://www.arm9down.cn/mini2440/images-20090112.rar | jan_2009_release.rar]]

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-28T04:19:11Z

Cnd: more links

[[category: tutorials]]
[[Category: Orbiters]]

=Mini2440 Orbiter setup and FAQ=

== FAQ for beginners on embeded technology and the mini2440 $99 single-board computer ==

=== What is LinuxMCE, and what embedded operating system runs it? ===

linuxmce is an home automation and multi media appliance solution based on top of ubuntu, and supports tons of input devices, from mobiles over PDAs to flat screens

=== How do I turn my mini2440 into an Orbiter? ===

Glad you asked :-) The porting for this is taking place right now. When instructions become available, we'll post them here. Follow the action via IRC or the links later in this page if you can't wait.

=== What is JTAG? Do I need it for anything? ===

JTAG is a common low level debug interface. you can operate cpus in single step mode and flash nand/nor that way and do low level debugging.

It is generally what developers use when developing low-level drivers, or as a recovery tool if you somehow destroyed your NOR flash (that's the code your embedded computer runs when you 1st turn it on)

=== What is vivi and u-boot? ===

vivi is the old bootloader.

uBoot is the new one - and can boot from SD cards.

These are kindoflike grub - code which runs at startup and helps with loading or booting the operating system - but can do other exciting stuff like flash new bootloaders into the NAND memory etc.

You hook your mini2440 serial cable (striaght-through - not a crossover) up to a terminal emulator on your desktop PC to access vivi or u-boot.

=== What is QT? ===

qt is a windowing toolkit developed into an embedded toolkit and such lately by trolltech, which was was acquired by nokia recently. If your device is running QT, it probably doesn't have X.

=== What is X or X11 ? ===

it's a graphical display environment that runs on Linux - the same as the original Microsoft version called "Windows" runs on MS-DOS

=== What's GPE ? ===

GPE is a desktop environment, and includes at least a lightweight web browser

=== What's OPIE ? ===

opie is another different desktop environment

=== What's cairo? ===

A display programming component allowing apps to write directly on diretfb without needing X11 or QT etc (works on mini2440). It's the graphical backend in most modern apps (Firefox etc). see http://www.cairographics.org/

=== What's SDL? ===

Another low-level screen/keyboard/mouse/etc library (works on mini2440). http://www.libsdl.org/

=== What's QEMU ? ===

qemu is a hardware emulator - you can experiment with running things on this, without needing to use the actual hardware device.

=== What is Android? ===

A new linux operating system sponsored by google, predominently java-based, designed for mobile phones and portable gadgets.

=== Does Android run on the Mini2440? ===

There are no working ports to this platform yet - rumours exist of a mostly-working port having been achieved to a similar platform recently, so it's probably not far off.

=== What is emdebian-grip-090306-armel-lenny-installed.tar.bz2 for ? ===

thats a fantastic linux distribution and content base you can run with your kernel

=== How do I see my mini2440 boot screen? ===

Hook up the serial port to a PC using 115200 baud (no flow control) - this is how you access vivi and u-boot.

=== Where do I get a mini2440? ===

As of March '09 - there's 1 distributer in each of the USA, Japan, and Europe. The mini2440 is made in China, and many sellers on eBay provide (unsupported) units, with Chinese instructions. I know of only 1 distributer with English tools ( http://www.andahammer.com/ ) - please update this list if you can.

=== How easy is it to "brick" a mini2440? ===

basically you cannot really brick (kill) the unit - there is a NOR switch where you can boot from NOR in emergencies. The rest of the time, you store new bootloaders etc in the NAND flash, and set the switch to boot from that. If you kill your NOR too - you use the JTAG to fix that.

=== Where can I find out more info and get downloads for the mini2440? ===

Blog: http://bliterness.blogspot.com

Web: http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

Irc: #mini2440

general info: http://www.handhelds.org

more info: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Mini2440

some downloads: http://www.andahammer.com/downloads/

Qt 4.5 on mini2440 http://blog.cor-net.org/

Files and utils http://vt100.at/files/mini2440/

Manufacturer update info http://arm9.net/mini2440-update.asp (chinese)

Chinese downloads http://www.arm9down.cn/ [[http://www.arm9down.cn/mini2440/images-20090112.rar | jan_2009_release.rar]]

Mini2440

2009-03-28T04:13:50Z

Cnd: Qt 4.5 on mini2440

[[Category: Hardware]]
[[Image:Mini2440.jpg|thumb|200px|mini2440]]

= About =
This is a howto install uboot and a new kernel on the mini2440. Big thanks to BusError for the instructions and guidance. DISCLAIMER: This worked for me, if it eats your cat or burns your kitchen sink, don't blame me.

= Preparations =
== Toolchain ==
I used this one: http://www.codesourcery.com/sgpp/lite/arm/portal/package3696/public/arm-none-linux-gnueabi/arm-2008q3-72-arm-none-linux-gnueabi-i686-pc-linux-gnu.tar.bz2

Add the bin dir to the $PATH. If you have a toolchain with another prefix (like arm-linux-) adapt the CROSS_COMPILE environment variable in the next steps.

= Setting up the bootloader =
== Compiling uboot ==
Clone the git tree:
mkdir uboot ; cd uboot
git clone git://repo.or.cz/u-boot-openmoko/mini2440.git
Setup cross compiling:
export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-none-linux-gnueabi-
Prepare the mini2440 target:
make mini2440_config
Compile:
make all
This will give you a "u-boot.bin". If you get an error about a missing whatever-gcc, verifiy if there is a hardcoded CROSS_COMPILE setting in the Makefile

== Flashing uboot ==
We use the installed vivi bootloader to load uboot via usb. Power the board off, set the NOR switch to on, power the board on. You'll get the vivi output on the serial console. Press 'q' to go to the shell and do the "load flash" on address 0 with the size of "u-boot.bin" (238232 bytes in this example):

<pre>
[q] Goto shell of vivi
Enter your selection: q
Supervivi> load flash 0 238232 u
USB host is connected. Waiting a download.
</pre>

Use the "s3c2410_boot_usb" utility (http://mini2440.googlecode.com/files/s3c2410_boot_usb-20060807.tar.bz2) to upload the "u-boot.bin" via usb:
./s3c2410_boot_usb u-boot.bin
You'll see something like this as output, ignore the error message:
<pre>
csum = 0x9a6e
send_file: addr = 0x33f80000, len = 0x0003a298
Error downloading program
</pre>
and this on the serial console:
<pre>
Now, Downloading [ADDRESS:30000000h,TOTAL:238242]
RECEIVED FILE SIZE: 238242 (232KB/S, 1S)
Downloaded file at 0x30000000, size = 238232 bytes
Found block size = 0x0003c000
Erasing... ... done
Writing... ... done
Written 238232 bytes
Supervivi>
</pre>

Now power off the board, set the NOR switch back to off, and power on the board. We verify the version and then prepare config storage in flash:
<pre>
MINI2440 # version

U-Boot 1.3.2-dirty-moko12 (Mar 8 2009 - 13:50:19)

MINI2440 # dynenv set 40000
device 0 offset 0x40000, size 0x3fc0000
45 4e 56 30 - 00 00 04 00

MINI2440 # saveenv
Saving Environment to NAND...
Erasing Nand...Writing to Nand... done

MINI2440 # reset
</pre>
== Configure uboot ==
do a "printenv" to show active settings. Adjust the IP for uboot and the tftp server. We need proper IP connectivity to load the kernel with tftp. "setenv" is your friend. "saveenv" stores the setting to flash.

= Kernel =
== Compilation ==
Fetch from git:
mkdir kernel ; cd kernel
git clone git://repo.or.cz/linux-2.6/mini2440.git
cd mini2440
mkdir -p ../kernel-bin
Generate .config from mini2440 template:
CROSS_COMPILE=arm-none-linux-gnueabi- ARCH=arm make O=../kernel-bin/ mini2440_defconfig
Compile kernel and modules:
CROSS_COMPILE=arm-none-linux-gnueabi- ARCH=arm make O=../kernel-bin/
Generate "uImage" with the "mkimage" tool:
../uboot/mini2440/tools/mkimage -A arm -O linux -T kernel -C none -a 0x30008000 -e 0x30008000 -d ../kernel-bin/arch/arm/boot/zImage /tftpboot/uImage

== Flash kernel ==
Verify partitions, we need the offset for the kernel partition (probably 0x60000):
mtdparts
Erase the kernel partition:
nand erase 60000 <padded size>
Load the kernel with uboot into ram:
tftp 0x32000000 uImage
Note the size, pad it to 512 byte and use the nand write command to flash it:
nand write 32000000 60000 <padded size>.
== Configure uboot ==
We use a nfs chroot for now:
setenv bootargs console=ttySAC0,115200 noinitrd init=/sbin/init mini2440=1tb ip=192.168.80.12 root=/dev/nfs rw nfsroot=192.168.80.1:/home/public/arm
This is helpful for automatic booting:
setenv bootcmd 'nboot.e kernel ; bootm'
= Setting up embedian =
Follow this nice howto from BusError http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/wiki/Emdebian

= Troubleshooting =
== Write errors ==
When you have bad blocks in NAND, you'll get write errors. This gives more information: http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/NAND_bad_blocks

Clear the flash (do not reset the board till uboot is reinstalled, or you need to use NOR/vivi to reinstall uboot via usb):
nand scrub
Create new bad blocks table:
nand createbbt
Reflash uboot (use the size in the output from the tftp command and pad it to hit 512 byte boundaries for the nand write command)
tftp 0x32000000 u-boot.bin
nand write 32000000 0 <size of u-boot.bin>
reset
Create dynamic partitions:
dynpart
dynenv set u-boot_env
saveenv
reset
And then use write.e to write to the mtdparts, e.g.:
tftp 0x32000000 uImage
nand write.e 32000000 kernel
nboot.e kernel
= Links =
http://bliterness.blogspot.com/

http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

http://blog.cor-net.org/ (Qt 4.5 on mini2440)

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-24T14:50:03Z

Cnd: formatting spelling

[[category: tutorials]]
[[Category: Orbiters]]

=Mini2440 Orbiter setup and FAQ=

== FAQ for beginners on embeded technology and the mini2440 $99 single-board computer ==

=== What is LinuxMCE, and what embedded operating system runs it? ===

linuxmce is an home automation and multi media appliance solution based on top of ubuntu, and supports tons of input devices, from mobiles over PDAs to flat screens

=== How do I turn my mini2440 into an Orbiter? ===

Glad you asked :-) The porting for this is taking place right now. When instructions become available, we'll post them here. Follow the action via IRC or the links later in this page if you can't wait.

=== What is JTAG? Do I need it for anything? ===

JTAG is a common low level debug interface. you can operate cpus in single step mode and flash nand/nor that way and do low level debugging.

It is generally what developers use when developing low-level drivers, or as a recovery tool if you somehow destroyed your NOR flash (that's the code your embedded computer runs when you 1st turn it on)

=== What is vivi and u-boot? ===

vivi is the old bootloader.

uBoot is the new one - and can boot from SD cards.

These are kindoflike grub - code which runs at startup and helps with loading or booting the operating system - but can do other exciting stuff like flash new bootloaders into the NAND memory etc.

You hook your mini2440 serial cable (striaght-through - not a crossover) up to a terminal emulator on your desktop PC to access vivi or u-boot.

=== What is QT? ===

qt is a windowing toolkit developed into an embedded toolkit and such lately by trolltech, which was was acquired by nokia recently. If your device is running QT, it probably doesn't have X.

=== What is X or X11 ? ===

it's a graphical display environment that runs on Linux - the same as the original Microsoft version called "Windows" runs on MS-DOS

=== What's GPE ? ===

GPE is a desktop environment, and includes at least a lightweight web browser

=== What's OPIE ? ===

opie is another different desktop environment

=== What's cairo? ===

A display programming component allowing apps to write directly on diretfb without needing X11 or QT etc (works on mini2440). It's the graphical backend in most modern apps (Firefox etc). see http://www.cairographics.org/

=== What's SDL? ===

Another low-level screen/keyboard/mouse/etc library (works on mini2440). http://www.libsdl.org/

=== What's QEMU ? ===

qemu is a hardware emulator - you can experiment with running things on this, without needing to use the actual hardware device.

=== What is Android? ===

A new linux operating system sponsored by google, predominently java-based, designed for mobile phones and portable gadgets.

=== Does Android run on the Mini2440? ===

There are no working ports to this platform yet - rumours exist of a mostly-working port having been achieved to a similar platform recently, so it's probably not far off.

=== What is emdebian-grip-090306-armel-lenny-installed.tar.bz2 for ? ===

thats a fantastic linux distribution and content base you can run with your kernel

=== How do I see my mini2440 boot screen? ===

Hook up the serial port to a PC using 115200 baud (no flow control) - this is how you access vivi and u-boot.

=== Where do I get a mini2440? ===

As of March '09 - there's 1 distributer in each of the USA, Japan, and Europe. The mini2440 is made in China, and many sellers on eBay provide (unsupported) units, with Chinese instructions. I know of only 1 distributer with English tools ( http://www.andahammer.com/ ) - please update this list if you can.

=== How easy is it to "brick" a mini2440? ===

basically you cannot really brick (kill) the unit - there is a NOR switch where you can boot from NOR in emergencies. The rest of the time, you store new bootloaders etc in the NAND flash, and set the switch to boot from that. If you kill your NOR too - you use the JTAG to fix that.

=== Where can I find out more info and get downloads for the mini2440? ===

Blog: http://bliterness.blogspot.com

Web: http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

Irc: #mini2440

general info: http://www.handhelds.org

more info: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Mini2440

some downloads: http://www.andahammer.com/downloads/

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-24T14:45:27Z

Cnd: u-boot

[[category: tutorials]]
[[Category: Orbiters]]

=Mini2440 Orbiter setup and FAQ=

== FAQ for beginners on embeded technology and the mini2440 $99 single-board computer ==

=== What is LinuxMCE, and what embedded operating system runs it? ===

linuxmce is an home automation and multi media appliance solution based on top of ubuntu, and supports tons of input devices, from mobiles over PDAs to flat screens

=== How do I turn my mini2440 into an Orbiter? ===

Glad you asked :-) The porting for this is taking place right now. When instructions become available, we'll post them here. Follow the action via IRC or the links later in this page if you can't wait.

=== What is JTAG? Do I need it for anything? ===

JTAG is a common low level debug interface. you can operate cpus in single step mode and flash nand/nor that way and do low level debugging.

It is generally what developers use when developing low-level drivers, or as a recovery tool if you somehow destroyed your NOR flash (that's the code your embedded computer runs when you 1st turn it on)

=== What is vivi and u-boot? ===

vivi is the old bootloader.

uBoot is the new one - and can boot from SD cards.

These are kindoflike grub - code which runs at startup and helps with loading or booting the operating system - but can do other exciting stuff like flash new bootloaders into the NAND memory etc.

=== What is QT? ===

qt is a windowing toolkit developed into an embedded toolkit and such lately by trolltech, which was was acquired by nokia recently. If your device is running QT, it probably doesn't have X.

=== What is X or X11 ? ===

it's a graphical display environment that runs on Linux - the same as the original Microsoft version called "Windows" runs on MS-DOS

=== What's GPE ? ===

GPE is a desktop environment, and includes at least a lightweight web browser

=== What's OPIE ? ===

opie is another different desktop environment

=== What's cairo? ===

A display programming component allowing apps to write directly on diretfb without needing X11 or QT etc (works on mini2440). It's the graphical backend in most modern apps (Firefox etc). see http://www.cairographics.org/

=== What's SDL? ===

Another low-level screen/keyboard/mouse/etc library (works on mini2440). http://www.libsdl.org/

=== What's QEMU ? ===

qemu is a hardware emulator - you can experiment with running things on this, without needing to use the actual hardware device.

=== Where can I find out more info and get downloads for the mini2440? ===

Blog: http://bliterness.blogspot.com

Web: http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

Irc: #mini2440

general info: http://www.handhelds.org

more info: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Mini2440

some downloads: http://www.andahammer.com/downloads/

=== What is Android? ===

A new linux operating system sponsored by google, predominently java-based, designed for mobile phones and portable gadgets.

=== Does Android run on the Mini2440? ===

There are no working ports to this platform yet - rumours exist of a mostly-working port having been achieved to a similar platform recently, so it's probably not far off.

=== What is emdebian-grip-090306-armel-lenny-installed.tar.bz2 for ? ===

thats a fantastic linux distribution and contant base you can run with your kernel

=== How do I see my mini2440 boot screen? ===

Hook up the serial port to a PC using 115200 baud (no flow control)

=== Where do I get a mini2440? ===

As of March '09 - there's 1 distributer in each of the USA, Japan, and Europe. The mini2440 is made in China, and many sellers on eBay provide (unsupported) units, with Chinese instructions. I know of only 1 distributer with English tools ( http://www.andahammer.com/ ) - please update this list if you can.

=== How easy is it to "brick" a mini2440? ===

basically you cannot really brick (kill) the unit - there is a NOR switch where you can boot from NOR in emergencies. The rest of the time, you store new bootloaders etc in the NAND flash, and set the switch to boot from that. If you kill your NOR too - you use the JTAG to fix that.

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-24T14:43:54Z

Cnd: X11

[[category: tutorials]]
[[Category: Orbiters]]

=Mini2440 Orbiter setup and FAQ=

== FAQ for beginners on embeded technology and the mini2440 $99 single-board computer ==

=== What is LinuxMCE, and what embedded operating system runs it? ===

linuxmce is an home automation and multi media appliance solution based on top of ubuntu, and supports tons of input devices, from mobiles over PDAs to flat screens

=== How do I turn my mini2440 into an Orbiter? ===

Glad you asked :-) The porting for this is taking place right now. When instructions become available, we'll post them here. Follow the action via IRC or the links later in this page if you can't wait.

=== What is JTAG? Do I need it for anything? ===

JTAG is a common low level debug interface. you can operate cpus in single step mode and flash nand/nor that way and do low level debugging.

It is generally what developers use when developing low-level drivers, or as a recovery tool if you somehow destroyed your NOR flash (that's the code your embedded computer runs when you 1st turn it on)

=== What is vivi and u-boot? ===

vivi is the old bootloader.

uBoot is the new one - and can boot from SD cards.

These are kindoflike grub - code which runs at startup and helps with loading or booting the operating system

=== What is QT? ===

qt is a windowing toolkit developed into an embedded toolkit and such lately by trolltech, which was was acquired by nokia recently. If your device is running QT, it probably doesn't have X.

=== What is X or X11 ? ===

it's a graphical display environment that runs on Linux - the same as the original Microsoft version called "Windows" runs on MS-DOS

=== What's GPE ? ===

GPE is a desktop environment, and includes at least a lightweight web browser

=== What's OPIE ? ===

opie is another different desktop environment

=== What's cairo? ===

A display programming component allowing apps to write directly on diretfb without needing X11 or QT etc (works on mini2440). It's the graphical backend in most modern apps (Firefox etc). see http://www.cairographics.org/

=== What's SDL? ===

Another low-level screen/keyboard/mouse/etc library (works on mini2440). http://www.libsdl.org/

=== What's QEMU ? ===

qemu is a hardware emulator - you can experiment with running things on this, without needing to use the actual hardware device.

=== Where can I find out more info and get downloads for the mini2440? ===

Blog: http://bliterness.blogspot.com

Web: http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

Irc: #mini2440

general info: http://www.handhelds.org

more info: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Mini2440

some downloads: http://www.andahammer.com/downloads/

=== What is Android? ===

A new linux operating system sponsored by google, predominently java-based, designed for mobile phones and portable gadgets.

=== Does Android run on the Mini2440? ===

There are no working ports to this platform yet - rumours exist of a mostly-working port having been achieved to a similar platform recently, so it's probably not far off.

=== What is emdebian-grip-090306-armel-lenny-installed.tar.bz2 for ? ===

thats a fantastic linux distribution and contant base you can run with your kernel

=== How do I see my mini2440 boot screen? ===

Hook up the serial port to a PC using 115200 baud (no flow control)

=== Where do I get a mini2440? ===

As of March '09 - there's 1 distributer in each of the USA, Japan, and Europe. The mini2440 is made in China, and many sellers on eBay provide (unsupported) units, with Chinese instructions. I know of only 1 distributer with English tools ( http://www.andahammer.com/ ) - please update this list if you can.

=== How easy is it to "brick" a mini2440? ===

basically you cannot really brick (kill) the unit - there is a NOR switch where you can boot from NOR in emergencies. The rest of the time, you store new bootloaders etc in the NAND flash, and set the switch to boot from that. If you kill your NOR too - you use the JTAG to fix that.

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-24T14:41:04Z

Cnd: SDL

[[category: tutorials]]
[[Category: Orbiters]]

=Mini2440 Orbiter setup and FAQ=

== FAQ for beginners on embeded technology and the mini2440 $99 single-board computer ==

=== What is LinuxMCE, and what embedded operating system runs it? ===

linuxmce is an home automation and multi media appliance solution based on top of ubuntu, and supports tons of input devices, from mobiles over PDAs to flat screens

=== How do I turn my mini2440 into an Orbiter? ===

Glad you asked :-) The porting for this is taking place right now. When instructions become available, we'll post them here. Follow the action via IRC or the links later in this page if you can't wait.

=== What is JTAG? Do I need it for anything? ===

JTAG is a common low level debug interface. you can operate cpus in single step mode and flash nand/nor that way and do low level debugging.

It is generally what developers use when developing low-level drivers, or as a recovery tool if you somehow destroyed your NOR flash (that's the code your embedded computer runs when you 1st turn it on)

=== What is vivi and u-boot? ===

vivi is the old bootloader.

uBoot is the new one - and can boot from SD cards.

These are kindoflike grub - code which runs at startup and helps with loading or booting the operating system

=== What is QT? ===

qt is a windowing toolkit developed into an embedded toolkit and such lately by trolltech, which was was acquired by nokia recently. If your device is running QT, it probably doesn't have X.

=== What's GPE ? ===

GPE is a desktop environment, and includes at least a lightweight web browser

=== What's OPIE ? ===

opie is another different desktop environment

=== What's cairo? ===

A display programming component allowing apps to write directly on diretfb without needing X11 or QT etc (works on mini2440). It's the graphical backend in most modern apps (Firefox etc). see http://www.cairographics.org/

=== What's SDL? ===

Another low-level screen/keyboard/mouse/etc library (works on mini2440). http://www.libsdl.org/

=== What's QEMU ? ===

qemu is a hardware emulator - you can experiment with running things on this, without needing to use the actual hardware device.

=== Where can I find out more info and get downloads for the mini2440? ===

Blog: http://bliterness.blogspot.com

Web: http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

Irc: #mini2440

general info: http://www.handhelds.org

more info: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Mini2440

some downloads: http://www.andahammer.com/downloads/

=== What is Android? ===

A new linux operating system sponsored by google, predominently java-based, designed for mobile phones and portable gadgets.

=== Does Android run on the Mini2440? ===

There are no working ports to this platform yet - rumours exist of a mostly-working port having been achieved to a similar platform recently, so it's probably not far off.

=== What is emdebian-grip-090306-armel-lenny-installed.tar.bz2 for ? ===

thats a fantastic linux distribution and contant base you can run with your kernel

=== How do I see my mini2440 boot screen? ===

Hook up the serial port to a PC using 115200 baud (no flow control)

=== Where do I get a mini2440? ===

As of March '09 - there's 1 distributer in each of the USA, Japan, and Europe. The mini2440 is made in China, and many sellers on eBay provide (unsupported) units, with Chinese instructions. I know of only 1 distributer with English tools ( http://www.andahammer.com/ ) - please update this list if you can.

=== How easy is it to "brick" a mini2440? ===

basically you cannot really brick (kill) the unit - there is a NOR switch where you can boot from NOR in emergencies. The rest of the time, you store new bootloaders etc in the NAND flash, and set the switch to boot from that. If you kill your NOR too - you use the JTAG to fix that.

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-24T14:35:39Z

Cnd: cairo

[[category: tutorials]]
[[Category: Orbiters]]

=Mini2440 Orbiter setup and FAQ=

== FAQ for beginners on embeded technology and the mini2440 $99 single-board computer ==

=== What is LinuxMCE, and what embedded operating system runs it? ===

linuxmce is an home automation and multi media appliance solution based on top of ubuntu, and supports tons of input devices, from mobiles over PDAs to flat screens

=== How do I turn my mini2440 into an Orbiter? ===

Glad you asked :-) The porting for this is taking place right now. When instructions become available, we'll post them here.

=== What is JTAG? Do I need it for anything? ===

JTAG is a common low level debug interface. you can operate cpus in single step mode and flash nand/nor that way and do low level debugging.

It is generally what developers use when developing low-level drivers, or as a recovery tool if you somehow destroyed your NOR flash (that's the code your embedded computer runs when you 1st turn it on)

=== What is vivi and u-boot? ===

vivi is the old bootloader.

uBoot is the new one - and can boot from SD cards.

These are kindoflike grub - code which runs at startup and helps with loading or booting the operating system

=== What is QT? ===

qt is a windowing toolkit developed into an embedded toolkit and such lately by trolltech, which was was acquired by nokia recently. If your device is running QT, it probably doesn't have X.

=== What's GPE ? ===

GPE is a desktop environment, and includes at least a lightweight web browser

=== What's OPIE ? ===

opie is another different desktop environment

=== What's cairo? ===

A display programming component allowing apps to write directly on diretfb without needing X11 or QT etc. It's the graphical backend in most modern apps (Firefox etc). see http://www.cairographics.org/

=== What's QEMU ? ===

qemu is a hardware emulator - you can experiment with running things on this, without needing to use the actual hardware device.

=== Where can I find out more info and get downloads for the mini2440? ===

Blog: http://bliterness.blogspot.com

Web: http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/

Irc: #mini2440

general info: www.handhelds.org

more info: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Mini2440

some downloads: www.andahammer.com/downloads/

=== What is Android? ===

A new linux operating system sponsored by google, predominently java-based, designed for mobile phones and portable gadgets.

=== Does Android run on the Mini2440? ===

There are no working ports to this platform yet - rumours exist of a mostly-working port having been achieved to a similar platform recently, so it's probably not far off.

=== What is emdebian-grip-090306-armel-lenny-installed.tar.bz2 for ? ===

thats a fantastic linux distribution and contant base you can run with your kernel

=== How do I see my mini2440 boot screen? ===

Hook up the serial port to a PC using 115200 baud (no flow control)

=== Where do I get a mini2440? ===

As of March '09 - there's 1 distributer in each of the USA, Japan, and Europe. The mini2440 is made in China, and many sellers on eBay provide (unsupported) units, with Chinese instructions. I know of only 1 distributer with English tools ( http://www.andahammer.com/ ) - please update this list if you can.

=== How easy is it to "brick" a mini2440? ===

basically you cannot really brick (kill) the unit - there is a NOR switch where you can boot from NOR in emergencies. The rest of the time, you store new bootloaders etc in the NAND flash, and set the switch to boot from that. If you kill your NOR too - you use the JTAG to fix that.

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-24T13:24:07Z

Cnd: more links

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-24T13:18:09Z

Cnd: orbiter howto

Mini2440 FAQ

2009-03-24T08:00:53Z

Cnd: New page: category: tutorials Category: Orbiters =Mini2440 Orbiter setup and FAQ= == FAQ for beginners on embeded technology and the mini2440 $99 single-board computer == === What is Lin...

Talk:Control LinuxMCE with Gyro Remote

2009-03-24T06:11:13Z

Cnd: New page: What's UI2 ?

What's UI2 ?