Getting started with Linux on CM-X300

Preparation steps

It is possible to install Linux on CM-X300 using either an NFS share or a USB flash drive. The first method is preferred because NFS setup will ease further Linux evaluation and development.

• Obtain a PC workstation with serial communication port.
• For installation using NFS install TFTP server on host PC. For Windows machines we recommend TFTPD32 included in this distribution package.
• Download the Linux distribution package for CM-X300 from CompuLab's website . Unzip the package to a directory on your host workstation.
• All image files mentioned below can be found in images subdirectory
• Copy debian-image.ubi and cm-x300-kernel.jffs2 from Linux distribution package for CM-X300 either to a directory exported through NFS or to a USB flash drive.

Image installation

• Connect the host PC to the CM-X300 via a null modem cable supplied with the Eval Kit.
• Start terminal emulation software on your PC using the COM port to which the null modem is connected. Set baud rate to 38400 bps, 8 bit per frame, 1 stop bit, no parity, no flow control.
• Turn on the CM-X300. The U-Boot will start and you will get a command prompt.

If the boot settings of your CM-X300 are different than default, you may need to press and hold ^C while turning the CM-X300 on, in order to get command prompt.

Installation using NFS

• Connect CM-X300's ETH0 port to your local Ethernet
• Make sure that Linux kernel binary image kernel.img, ramdisk image ramdisk.img and bootloader script image first_boot.img are accessible by the TFTP server.

  - On Windows machine: copy kernel.img, ramdisk.img and first_boot.img to the same folder and point the TFTP server to that folder

  - On Linux machine: copy kernel.img, ramdisk.img and first_boot.img to TFTP sevrver root directory, usually /tftpboot or /tftproot.

• You can use U-boot dhcp command to obtain IP address or manually set ipaddr environment variable:

> setenv ipaddr <CM-X300 ip address>

• Set serverip environment variable and save the new environment to NAND flash:

> setenv serverip <host ip address>
> saveenv

• Use the following U-boot command to boot Linux on CM-X300:

> tftp 80400000 first_boot.img && autoscr 80400000

• During boot the CM-X300 tries to obtain an IP address using DHCP. If you do not have DHCP server you can set the CM-X300 IP address statically using ifconfig:

$ ifconfig eth0 <ip address>

• After the ramdisk image is loaded you will get Linux login prompt. Login as root into the system.
• Mount the NFS share containing cm-x300-kernel.jffs2 and debian-image.ubi image:

$ mount <host ip>:/path/to/nfs/share /mnt/net

• Format the NAND flash kernel partition and write the kernel image onto it:

$ flash_eraseall /dev/mtd4
$ nandwrite /dev/mtd4 /mnt/net/cm-x300-kernel.jffs2

• Format the NAND flash root filesystem partition and write Debian filesystem image onto it:

$ ubiformat /dev/mtd5 -f /mnt/net/debian-image.ubi

Installation using USB flash drive

• Make sure that CM-X300's ETH0 port is disconnected
• Make sure that Linux kernel binary image kernel.img, ramdisk image ramdisk.img, kernel JFFS2 image cm-x300-kernel.jffs2, Debian filesystem JFFS2 image debian-image.ubi and bootloader script image first_boot.img are present at the root directory of the USB flash drive.
• Connect USB flash drive to CM-X300. Use USB2 (host/slave) port.
• Use the following U-boot command to boot Linux on CM-X300:

> usb start
> fatload usb 0:1 80400000 first_boot.img
> autoscr 80400000

• After the ramdisk image is loaded you will get Linux login prompt. Login as root into the system.
• The USB flash drive will be automatically mounted under /media/sda1
• Format the NAND flash kernel partition and write the kernel image onto it:

$ flash_eraseall /dev/mtd4
$ nandwrite /dev/mtd4 /media/sda1/cm-x300-kernel.jffs2

• Format the NAND flash root filesystem partition and write Debian filesystem image onto it:

$ ubiformat /dev/mtd5 -f /media/sda1/debian-image.ubi

After Installation

1. Reset the CM-X300.

If the boot settings of your CM-X300 are different than default, you may need to press and hold ^C while turning the CM-X300 on, in order to get command prompt.

2. To start Linux type:

   > fsload; bootm

3. If you want Linux to start automatically, type:

   > setenv bootdelay <delay in seconds> 
   > setenv bootcmd "fsload; bootm"
   > saveenv
   > boot
   

If you want to get back to U-Boot prompt, hold Ctrl-C during reset.

Connection and Logging In

Use the following usernames and passwords to login:

Account with administrative privileges:

User: root
Password: 111111

Regular user account:

User: user
Password: 111111

In addition to these accounts CM-X300 allows anonymous FTP access.

See also

• Linux Development for XScale modules
• Linux Kernel for CM-X300
• Debian Linux for CM-X300
• U-Boot for CM-X300